- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
4.2i, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
253kW, 410Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 13.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Nothing beats roar power
Audi S4 and A4 S-Line
Good: S4 -- Mean V8. Tiptronic auto works better than most. Great seats. Grip and poise. Fit and finish quality. S-Line -- A balanced, light, responsive handling package. Confident in the wet. Well equipped. Big boot. Full-sized spare.
Bad: S4 -- Needs muscling through tight corners. Brake pedals too high (both cars). Hard to see instruments. Average headlights. Tight rear seat leg room. Tyre noise. S-Line -- Not the slickest manual gearbox around.
Verdict: It's the car that counts, not the badge.
Stars: S4 -- 4 (out of 5). S-Line -- 4 (out of 5).
Audi recently introduced a couple of new variants to its A4 range, as part of its never-ending quest to break the will of BMW and Benz badge slaves.
The A4 quattro S-Line, priced at $69,500 for the sedan and $73,100 for the Avant wagon, goes up against BMW's 2.2/2.5-litre six-cylinder 3 Series sedans, now available in Executive and Sport specification, and the 2.6/3.2-litre V6 C class sedans.
The S-Line has a 140kW version of the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine -- its most powerful iteration in the A4 line-up -- with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The tweaked drivetrain is complemented by a more aggressive suspension/wheel/tyre package and a subtle body kit developed by Audi's performance affiliate, quattro GmbH, which also does the fire-breathing RS models.
The standard equipment list is boosted with sports seats and steering wheel, leather upholstery, 10-speaker audio with a CD stacker and plenty of faux carbon fibre cabin decor.
Moving up several rungs on the ladder, the latest S4, priced at $129,500 (sedan and Avant), has V8 power -- a compact 253kW 4.2-litre -- as an alternative to the high-performance sixes from BMW (M3) and Benz (C32 AMG), neither of which has a V8 available in their 3 Series and C Class line-ups. A six-speed manual is standard; the six-speed tiptronic auto adds $3000.
Leather-upholstered, power-adjustable Recaro sports seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, take-no-prisoners suspension and brakes, and a direct steering rack are further attractions on the S4.
Both cars are fitted with traction and stability control to supplement the all-wheel drive, plus the full range of crash protection gear, including curtain airbags.
Drive spent a couple of weeks with the S-Line and S4 sedans back-to-back. As has been the case with other recent Audi tests -- notably the A8 limo -- we came away convinced that, when it comes to competing with BMW and Benz, there's no problem at all with Audi's hardware.
The 1.8's 140kW of power is line ball with BMW's 2.5-litre six, so there's enough to have fun with. The turbo works almost seamlessly, producing a strong, hand-in-the-back shove from about 2500rpm to the 6400rpm redline. It sounds angry and urgent, as a sporty four should.
The S-Line gets from rest to 100kmh in 8.4 seconds. It feels quicker. The six-speed manual is a bit agricultural, with a fairly long throw lever and clutch, which takes up quite abruptly.
The S4 4.2 litre V8's high outputs -- 253kW of power at 7000rpm and 410Nm of torque at 3500rpm -- only hint at its capability.
It's a silk-wrapped hammer, characterised by a relentless surge of power when you put your foot down at any speed and sensational top-end performance. It is impeccably smooth, never feels strained, and makes a deliciously deep, throaty sound no six can emulate. However, the 3.2 six in BMW's M3 does have a seductive, more feral note all of its own.
Audi claims a zero-100kmh time of 5.6 seconds for the S4. We couldn't get close to this -- the test car averaged low sixes.
The six-speed tiptronic auto has paddles on the wheel and a sport shift mode if you prefer to just steer. It's one of the best autos around in its ability to pick and hold the gears. We still prefer a manual, but the tiptronic's enjoyment factor is high.
Audi has long claimed that its quattro system produces better-handling cars than those that send power to one end only. This is true of front-drivers, but against an A-grade rear-drive machine, particularly with traction and stability control, the quattro drivetrain has pros and cons.
It's still unbeatable in wet or slippery conditions, where four wheels putting the power to the road have a higher grip threshold than two.
But it adds weight to the car and in some situations the steering is made less responsive by the drive going through the front wheels.
The S4 has phenomenal grip on the road (it runs 235/40 tyres on the 18-inch wheels), but in tight corners it feels quite front-heavy. You need to work hard at the wheel to counter the engine's torque and get it pointed and through a bend.
The rear-drive M3, in contrast, requires only a flick of the wrist to aim and fire, and its balance is perfect. The S4 would have the M3's measure at autobahn speeds -- 200kmh plus -- where the BMW does get a bit nervous and twitchy.
The S-Line, with a lighter engine up front, and much less torque to deal with, has a finely balanced, more neutral feel than the S4, with crisper, lighter steering that requires considerably less effort. Its 235/45x17 Continental tyres have no shortage of adhesion, either.
Both cars work best when you get on the go pedal early. They hunker down and drive out of a corner with poise and control. At open road speeds, their stability and composure is also excellent.
Neither is underdone in the braking department. The S4 gets pizza-tray-sized discs and a dual-rate servo booster. However, Audi positions its brake pedal too high above the accelerator so you almost have to lift your leg, rather than just your foot, to step on it.
Ride comfort, while not exactly luxurious, is sufficiently compliant to live with on a long journey. The suspension rolls over gentler bumps and absorbs larger ones effectively, though at all times you can feel the texture of the bitumen. The S-Line's overall ride quality is slightly harsher than the S4.
At highway speeds, tyre thrum is quite intrusive in both cars.
The S4's Recaro driver's seat is firm, heavily bolstered from knee to shoulder and a very comfortable place to sit for several hours. The S-Line's seat is less body-hugging, though equally comfortable. Both have an extendable cushion for thigh support; the S4 gets power adjustability in every direction, (including height and lumbar) while the S-Line makes do with manual adjustment.
Both have a height- and reach-adjustable, small-diameter steering wheel that is nicely contoured and wrapped in leather.
Fit and finish quality is up to the usual Audi standard -- better than Benz and BMW.
In the back seat, space is tight if tall adults are up front. The S4's seat is deeply contoured for two, firm, and supportive. The S-Line has a flatter bench, which is also reasonably comfortable.
The A4 has the biggest boot in its class. It can be extended with the split-folding rear seat back. The S4's V8 puts it in a class of one, though in price, performance and specification the M3 is its obvious target. I'd take the M3 -- it's a lighter, better-balanced sports car -- but can also see the attraction of four doors, the all-weather grip of quattro and the very pleasant prospect of letting that humdinger of a V8 off its chain.
Before you drive any of the German brands, do yourself a favour and have a steer in Subaru's new 3.0-litre Liberty, particularly with the six-speed manual gearbox. At $51,990, it's the performance car bargain of the year.
Vital signs
Audi S4/A4 S-Line
Engines: S4 -- 4.2-litre 32-valve fuel-injected V8; S-Line -- 1.8-litre 20-valve turbo four.
Power: S4 -- 253kW at 7000rpm (above average); S-Line -- 140kW at 5700rpm (average).
Performance: S4 -- 0-100kmh in 6.3 seconds (quick); S-Line -- 8.4 (average).
Brakes: Discs with ABS, EBD and ESP (excellent; pedal poorly located).
Economy: S4 -- 9-11 litres/100km highway; 16-18 city (good); S-Line -- 7-8 and 10.6-13.5 (average).
Prices: Recommended retail: S4 -- $129,500; S-Line -- $69,500 (Avant $73,100).
Main options: S4 -- Tiptronic auto $3000; metallic paint $1250; sunroof $2950; satnav $7000; S-Line -- sunroof $1800; metallic paint $1500; Bose sound $1800.
Warranty: Three years/unlimited km (above average).
Residual value: S4 -- approx. 69 percent after two years (average); S-Line -- approx. 73 percent (average).
Safety rating: Four stars out of five (Euro NCAP, 2001 A4).
Alternatives:
BMW M3 3.2 -- $143,100
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG -- $150,900 Liberty 3.0R-B -- $51,990
Prices and details correct at publication date.