Used Audi A4 cars for sale

Used Audi A4 pros and cons

Is a used Audi A4 a good car?

Audi might be increasingly a maker of SUVs, but it's more traditional saloon and estate models such as the A4 that show off the four-rings at its best. It’s the motoring equivalent of Alan Shearer — hugely popular in the nineties, since overshadowed by more exotic performers, but always the consummate professional. 

The Audi A4 is an alternative to the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, and Jaguar XE, and it has long appealed to a huge swathe of buyers — from entry-level company car user-choosers to those buying the high-performance S4 and RS4 models — largely thanks to its understated good looks. 

The current Audi A4 has been around since 2015 — a long time for any car — but has been regularly updated to keep it feeling fresh, with a major update in 2019 bringing slightly smoother styling and an upgraded infotainment system. 

It doesn’t really matter which version you choose — you’ll get a very handsome, slightly aggressive-looking car, which is easily mistaken for the larger, more expensive Audi A6.

The 2019 update brought along a new 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system — previously the screen had to be operated by the click-wheel controller on the centre console — and smart digital instruments. 

The whole cabin is generally pretty gorgeous, with high-quality materials and subtle use of fillets of aluminium and brushed stainless steel. Only top-spec models came with electric seat adjustment though, but you probably won’t miss that too much. 

Space is actually very good — indeed it’s only recently that the BMW 3 Series has become as roomy as the A4, while the boot is quite generous. At 480 litres, it was more than decent for a four-door saloon back in 2015, and if you need more space — or just more versatility — then there’s the gorgeous Avant estate with its 495-litre boot and fold-down back seats. 

The A4 has had a number of engine choices over the years, starting with a 1.4-litre petrol turbo and a whole horde of 2.0-litre diesels. There’s also the option of a 3.0-litre diesel, and the brilliant 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel S4 version, which is rare but worth snapping up if you can find one. The turbo V6 petrol-engined RS4 was always less powerful than the equivalent BMW M3, but came with an Avant estate body, and with standard quattro four-wheel drive — optional on lesser models — was better in the winter than the BMW. There was also the option of the A4 Allroad, with four-wheel drive, raised up suspension, and plastic body extensions to give it more of an SUV-look, and which is surprisingly capable off-road. 

The best choice for long-haul drivers is to track down a 2.0-litre TDI Ultra diesel, which could do better than 60mpg, and which had 100g/km CO2 emissions under the old fuel economy testing system. Later versions came with a smooth and frugal 1.5-litre petrol turbo, or heavily updated 2.0-litre diesels. 

Increasingly, the A4 came as standard with the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox (S-Tronic as Audi calls it) but beware how that combines with the 2.0-litre diesel — at low speeds it can be very slow-witted and a bit sluggish. 

A4s with quattro four-wheel drive are the best to drive, but even those which only power the front wheels are pleasant enough. No A4 — other than the S4 or RS4 — is as much fun to drive on a twisty road as a BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE or Alfa Romeo Giulia, but they’re all comfortable and quiet on bigger roads. The popular S-Line versions look sportier and get lower, firmer suspension which isn’t always great around town. 

What to look for when buying a used Audi A4

Watch for clogged diesel particulate filters, and problems with the exhaust gas recirculation valve (part of the turbo). Also make sure that the infotainment system has received all of its updates as it can otherwise be very laggy and awkward to use, and can even brick itself in extreme circumstances.

The A4 has been recalled for problems with airbags and seatbelts, suspension dampers, towing brackets, and issues with collapsing front seats. 

The A4 finished a lowly 44th in the Driver Power owner survey’s Top 50 cars to own, with poor marks for reliability, which doesn’t bode well. Audi as a brand didn’t do great either, coming 27th out of 32 makes in the same survey, with 21% of owners reporting faults. 

Audi A4 FAQs