- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0T, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
260kW, 500Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 7.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2017 Audi S4 Avant new car review
What is it?
While Audi calls it the S4 Avant, a more accurate name might be F-117 Nighthawk.
This is the motoring version of a world-class stealth bomber, the performance variant of Audi's junior executive sedan and wagon that shares forgettable looks with standard A4 models while packing surprisingly explosive performance.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
Ok, the wagon is not particularly cheap at $102,900 plus on-road costs, nearly double the price of a standard A4. But it starts to make sense when you factor in the S4's considerable performance and strong standard features compared with lesser models.
You get a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, an 8.3-inch stereo screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay connectivity and 360-degree cameras, three-zone climate control, leather seats and more.
The S4 also brings extra grunt along with multi-mode sports suspension, 19-inch wheels with Hankook performance tyres, sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and oversized brakes.
Our test example arrived on the scary side of $120,000 thanks to a handful of optional extras that further elevate the S4's appeal.
We reckon Audi's S performance package is a must have at $5900, bringing quilted Nappa leather sports seats with a driver's massage function, extended leather trim throughout the cabin and carbon fibre interior trim that helps the S4 feel genuinely special.
While we're at it, the $5600 Technik pack's 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, heads-up display and LED matrix headlights are nice to have, the $2950 rear sport differential is essential for enthusiast drivers (it should be standard, who else would buy this car?), heated seats ($750) are essential for that winter escape to the ski fields, metallic paint ($1846) is a must, and a panoramic sunroof ($2990) really does brighten the interior.
What's under the bonnet?
An all-new engine that replaces the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 of the previous model with a turbocharged unit of the same capacity. Considerably lighter and 5 per cent more fuel efficient while making 15kW and 60Nm more than before, the new motor offers excellent responses as well as a decent whack of performance.
Audi ditched its S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission for a conventional eight-speed automatic unit that is much smoother around town while offering similar outright performance. While it doesn't quite have the razor performance edge of the old dual-clutch unit, we reckon it's a better bet overall.
That new engine delivers surprisingly punchy performance, working with Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system to help the wagon reach 100km/h in less than five seconds. There aren't many V8s that can keep up with that - and fewer still stand a chance of hanging with the S4 in damp conditions.
What's it like to drive?
The S4 is a competent performance car - it goes, stops and turns the way you expect a $100,000 machine to perform. Effortless, precise and almost idiot-proof, it's a machine that engenders confidence in drivers thanks to its sky-high abilities and predictable nature.
Part of that is down to a new chassis with revised suspension that allows for better body control while weighing 75 kilos less than the old model.
It has a broader scope of ability than more expensive machines such as a Mercedes-AMG C63 or BMW M3. While those cars always feel a little tense and narrow-focused, the S4 is a more relaxed proposition in everyday driving... and yet it is still capable of killer performance.
The latest version of Audi's Quattro delivers 60 per cent torque to rear axle most of the time, though it is also capable of delivering 85 per cent to either end under the right conditions. That sport differential mentioned earlier pushes power across the rear axle to help the car turn into corners, lending it a sense of agility that we think is key to the S4's argument. Better still, almost all of the S4's driving elements can be fine tuned using Audi's drive select system, allowing you to tailor the car's behaviour to any particular mood.
What's it like inside?
Audi is responsible for some of the best interiors in the luxury car game, and the S4 is no exception.
Everything you touch is perfectly positioned and well thought-out, especially the relationship between its flat-bottomed, paddle shift-equipped steering wheel and outstanding digital driver's display pinched from the TT S coupe.
The optional Nappa sports seats offer plenty of support while looking sensational, and the car's infotainment system just might be the best in the business.
Even without any optional extras, the S4 presents beautifully thanks to Matt brushed aluminium detailing (that can be replaced with piano black for no additional cost, or carbon fibre accents for an additional $1000) and LED ambient lighting in a choice of 30 colours.
Is it safe?
Yep. The S4 is fitted as standard with an expansive electronic support network that includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active cruise control with lane keeping assistance.
Other systems include an exit warning feature that keeps an eye out for other vehicles to warn you against opening a door into the path of traffic, and a turn assistance feature that watches for other cars that may cross your path at intersections.
On a simpler note, all-wheel-drive traction, excellent tyres and high-performance brakes could help keep you out of trouble.
Would I buy it?
Absolutely. And then I'd stick a "2.0 TDI" badge on the back before flying a few low-level missions.
What else should I consider?
The new Mercedes-AMG C43 follows a similar theme, using all-wheel-drive and boosted six-cylinder power to offer a taste of high-performance motoring. BMW's 340i (a modern favourite formerly known as the 335i) has its own brand of executive performance, and Volvo's Polestar go-fast wagon is about to return in updated four-cylinder form.
You could also consider the upcoming RS4 wagon, which will offer even more devastating performance in a somewhat shouty package for another $50,000 or so.
But then you'd lose the stealth factor, and there's no fun in that.
2017 Audi S4 Avant pricing and specifications
Price: From $$102,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol
Power: 260kW at 5400-6400rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1370-4500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.8L/100km