2018 Audi A4

header-image
Rating8.0

Ranked #5 in 

Compact Sedan
Write Review
$36,000 - $50,000
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on June 10, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Potent engine

Too expensive with options

Base trim gets heated front seats as standard

Cabin is nicely set up

Rivals offer more powerful editions

Premium Plus trim gets additional latest safety features

Responsive infotainment system

New Black Optics package

Versatile all-road performance

Specs & Features

$36,000

price

190 hp @ 4200 rpm

horsepower

236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

torque

7-Speed Auto-Shift Manual w/od

transmission

2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

Slotted above the Audi A3 sedan, the 2018 Audi A4 is every bit of fun as advertised. Often ranked amongst the top luxury sedan offerings in the US, the A4 is set to receive a multitude of feature updates this year. Starting from an MSRP of $36,000, the base Premium Audi A4 gets heated front seats from now on. The next-in-line Premium Plus trim gets the latest in terms of advanced safety tech as standard. Apart from this, the A4 also gets new alloy designs.

2018 A4 is known for its classy elegant design and best-in-class ride quality, aided by a turbocharged 2.0L engine tuned to two states of tune. Its dynamic and comfortable ride quality is meant to satisfy the people on-boarding it. The A4 lineup also includes a compact sports S4 sedan and an alternative A4 Allroad wagon which is sold as a crossover SUV. With that being said, in order to serve the buyers in a better way, all A4's are offered with standard, sport, and adaptive suspensions.

Buying Advice

The Premium Plus trim with a 252 horsepower TFSI engine strikes a balance between performance and luxury features like Full LED headlights, a premium audio system and 7.0 inch color display. If you are looking for an immersive luxury experience then go ahead with Prestige trim which comes with features like Audi virtual cockpit and MMI navigation

Comparative Analysis against Competition

Audi for the 2018 A4 has introduced a new Black Optic Plus package that sprinkles a black and red finish inside. Additionally, the lineup has been added with the Quattro all-wheel-drive variants and we have witnessed a reduction in the number of models available with front-wheel drive. The cockpit looks way appealing and adventurous with the high-resolution infotainment setup. As of now, no rival offer same level of high-end technology as the 2018 A4. Having said that, with the potent 2.0L turbo unit at the helm, the 2018 A4 rivals the likes of the Mercedes Benz C-Class, and the BMW 3-Series.

Features
9.0/10

The 2018 Audi A4 is offered in a total of 3 varied trims, namely Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Prices for the same start from an MSRP of $36,000 for the base Premium trim, whereas the Prestige goes over for $45,500. The compact luxury sedan is offered in a total of 3 engine choices. While the FWD is standard across the lineup, Quattro AWD is set as optional. Audi has filled up the A4 with the latest tech features across the trim table. Given below is the gist of standard features you get with every trim available.

Trims Premium Premium Plus Prestige
MSRP $36,000 $39,200 $45,500
Key Features Heated front seats Additional to Premium: Additional to Premium Plus:
  Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights Audi side assist with pre sense rear Audi Virtual cockpit
  Audi Smartphone interface Full LED headlights Head-up display
  Leather seating surfaces Audi advanced key-keyless start, stop, and entry MMI Navigation plus with touch
  17-inch wheels The 7-inch driver infotainment system Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
  Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interface Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound with 19 speakers Traffic jam assist

We Recommend

With plenty of character and an unmatchable feature list, the 2018 Audi A4 Premium Plus for the price of $39,200, is certainly the best trim on offer in the lineup. Premium Plus focuses more on the sumptuous cabin front of the car, offering the prospective buyer all of the latest and greatest in terms of infotainment tech features. Especially on the audio front, which is taken care of by the premium Bang & Olufsen sound system with 19 speakers.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

Audi A4, in spite of its segment-leading performance figures, does fare well on the fuel efficiency front. The 2018 A4 Ultra, is the most fuel-efficient car in the lineup with an EPA-rated 27 MPG in the city and 37 miles to the gallon out on the highway. This is with the FWD setup. Opt for the A4 Quattro option, and the figures drop down to 24 and 34 MPG in the city and highway respectively.

Models 2018 Audi A4 2018 BMW 3-Series 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
City (MPG) 24 23 24
Highway (MPG) 34 34 33
Combined (MPG) 27 27 27
Fuel Capacity 15.3 gallons 15.8 gallons 17.4 gallons

As the Quattro A4 comes with two different transmission units, the 7-speed DCT, and the 6-speed manual, the manual setup is rated at 24 and 33 MPG in the city and highway respectively. The A4 Allroad brings that number down by 2 MPG. The V6 S4, on the other hand, even with its potent engine setup, is rated at 21 MPG in the city and 30 miles to the gallon out on the highway. Also, all Audi A4 versions are featured with automatic start/stop to save fuel up to some extent.

Interior
8.0/10

Long gone are the days when the A4 was a compact car. Take a seat inside and you might think you're in a midsize sedan, with sufficient legroom for four amply sized adults aboard - edmunds.com

2018 Audi A4 Seating and Comfort

The 2018 Audi A4 offers a practical yet premium interior setup. A comfortable long-distance traveler, the Audi A4 is no more a compact car. With much sportiness and technology upgrades, the sedan offers comfortable ride quality. While being inside, you may get a feel of sitting in a midsize sedan. The legroom in the rear is better than the 2018 BMW 3-Series. Even tall people can find comfort in the rear.

All models for 2018 now come with leather upholstery as standard. The cabin is stylish and upmarket with more emphasis on the latest technology. The premium materials used in the cabin make it way classier than the Mercedes C-Class. The well-built cabin of the 2018 A4 is also an advantage. To sum it up, the quality of the cabin and the luxurious setting is quite in line with what you'd expect from a German marquee brand.

Models 2018 Audi A4 2018 BMW 3-Series 2018 Mercedes-Benz C Class
Passenger Capacity 5 5 5
Front Head Room (in) 38.9 40.3 40.9
Front Shoulder Room (in) 55.9 55.1 55.3
Second Head Room (in) 37.4 37.7 37.1
Second Leg Room (in) 35.7 35.1 35.2
Second Shoulder Room (in) 54.5 55.1 55

The 2018 Audi A4 Sedan has the following interior features on offer-

  • Audi Cargo Box
  • USB Cables
  • Audi Guard Protection Kit
  • Audi Guard All-Weather Floor Mats
  • Cargo Net
  • 40-20-40 folding rear seats
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control

2018 Audi A4 Infotainment

2018 Audi A4 comes installed with an MMI infotainment system which is integrated with an 8.3-inch TFT touchscreen system, with responsive voice commands and an intuitive central knob. There is a recent addition of handwriting recognition that lets you search direction quickly too. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard now too. The optional Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster is certainly appealing and catchy, displaying navigation information with elegance.

Some of its other infotainment features are:

  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Auxiliary Audio Input And USB With External Media Control
  • 180 Watts Stereo Output
  • 19 Total Speakers Bang & Olufsen sytem
  • USB Connection
  • Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
  • SiriusXM radio support

2018 Audi A4 Cargo Capacity

The 2018 Audi A4 has a 13 cu. ft of cargo capacity, which is big enough to hold a couple of suitcases for that weekend trip. In terms of cargo size, the A4’s boot space is certainly best for the class.

Cargo Area 2018 Audi A4 2018 BMW 3-Series 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Trunk Volume (ft3) 13 13 12.6

A4's 40/20/40-split folding rear seats also allow extra room at the back in order to fit more stuff. The 2018 A4 has also got plenty of cabin storage for keeping personal items and they are easy to reach out to.

Exterior
8.0/10

Though not especially adventurous, the Audi A4 is thoroughly modern and up-to-date outside and especially inside - thecarconnection.com

The Audi A4 has always offered more of a conservative and subtle exterior layout. After inspecting the car closely, we found that there’s nothing in the exterior that has been left unchanged. The sports sedan is longer and wider, with more angular lines across the grille. The detailing is sharp with the character lines running through the side profile. Unlike the old model where the tail lamps were weakly approached, the new A4 has gets bold cuts to the trunk end.

The 2018 A4s design looks evolutionary. The design lining beautifully connects the front spoiler and the rear bumper top, along with the roofline. This enhances the sporty look and elongated silhouette of the sedan. In order to make the design more unified, the carmaker has made crisp shoulder lines towards the headlights. Moreover, also catering to the A4's sophistication, are the large 18-inch Dynamic design wheels.

Models 2018 Audi A4 2018 BMW 3-Series 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Length (in) 186.1 182.5 184.5
Width (in) 72.5 71.3 71.3
Height (in) 56.2 56.3 56.8
Wheelbase (in) 111 110.6 111.8
Base Curb Weight (lbs) 3626 3541 3472
Track Width, Front (in) 61.9 60.3 61.5
Track Width, Rear (in) 61.2 61.9 60.9

Some of the exterior features on offer with the 2018 A4 are-

  • Rear window defroster
  • Rain detecting wipers
  • LED headlights and DRL's
  • 18-inch 5 spoke Dynamic Design wheels
  • Sunroof

Safety
8.0/10

The well-built 2018 Audi A4 has one of the best safety quotients in this compact luxury segment. When it comes to crash-tests, the NHTSA, gave the A4 a full 5 on 5 stars, while the IIHS honored it with the "Top Safety Pick+" honor. The A4 also has one of the best active and passive safety feature lists available in this segment, which is not only meant to keep you safe while in an accident but to also keep you safe before the accident itself too.

Here’s the list of all safety features in the 2018 Audi A4:

  • Stability Control
  • Emergency Braking Assist
  • Auto Delay-Off Headlamps
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring
  • Traction Control
  • High beam assist
  • Lane-keeping assist
  • Adaptive cruise control with stop and go function
  • Blindspot warning
  • Rear cross-traffic alert

Competition
7.0/10

2018 Audi A4 vs 2018 BMW 3-Series

Both the compact luxury sedans, the 2018 Audi A4, and the 2018 BMW 3-Series are close competitors. Both offer a robust engine and also a similarly luxurious interior space. When it comes to high performance, the Audi A4 is a bit more powerful than the Bimmer.

Although, after multiple drive tests, the Audi A4 turns out to be more satisfying than the two. Plus for the price it comes at, the 2018 A4 is certainly the best out of the two.

2018 Audi A4 vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Only few luxury sports sedan matches the interior appeal of the Audi A4. Although when it comes to class, Mercedes is that one name that comes to our mind in the first place.

Mercedes-Benz has offered comfortable seats and premium materials in the cabin but also comes with a long list of optional safety features. Audi A4, on the other hand, comes with a superior infotainment interface.

Final Verdict

For over a decade, the A4 has been ruling the compact luxury sedan segment like a boss. The A4 has epitomized Audi’s reputation for its excellent driving capability and solid designing. Adding features such as Virtual cockpit and the MMI infotainment interface has certainly uplifted the sedan’s portfolio. The new 2018 Audi A4 also offers improved Gas mileage. In sports steering mode, the 2018 A4 feels adept and responds promptly. With fun-to-drive handling, the car has also scored very well in safety ratings as well. Car buyers who are seeking something more powerful may need to put up more cash and see other alternatives like the high-performance S4.

Trims

    Tech Ultra Premium Plus S
    $36,000 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 190 hp @ 4200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg
    Tech Ultra Premium S
    $36,000 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 190 hp @ 4200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg
    Ultra Premium
    $36,000 onwards
    • 17-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • Driver Lumbar support
    • Front and rear Fog lights
    ultra Tech Premium Plus
    $38,700 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 190 hp @ 4200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg
    Ultra Premium Plus
    $39,200 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 190 hp @ 4200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 28 mpg
    Premium
    $40,500 onwards
    • 7-Inch central display
    • Audi'S Drive Select
    • Audi'S MMI infotainment system
    • Automatic xenon headlights
    • Forward collision mitigation system
    • Heated power front seats
    • Sunroof
    • Tri-Zone climate control
    Premium Plus S
    $40,500 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl AWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 252 hp @ 5000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 27 mpg
    Prestige
    $40,500 onwards
    • Ambient lighting
    • Head-Up display
    • Lane departure warning
    • Top-Down parking camera system
    • Upgraded interior trim
    Tech Premium Plus
    $40,500 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl AWD 6M
    • Horsepower: 252 hp @ 5000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 27 mpg
    Tech Premium
    $43,200 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl AWD 6M
    • Horsepower: 252 hp @ 5000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 27 mpg
    Premium Plus
    $43,700 onwards
    • 19-Speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system
    • Audi'S blind-spot system
    • Crash mitigation system
    • Front and rear parking sensors
    • Led headlights
    Ultra Prestige
    $45,500 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 7AM
    • Horsepower: 190 hp @ 4200 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$36,000- $50,000

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.03

Horsepower

252 hp @ 5000 rpm

Torque

273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$23,570- $35,800

Gasoline

8.41

192 hp @ 5500 rpm

192 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

5

Read Review

$28,100- $35,100

Gasoline

6.25

201 hp @ 6800 rpm

180 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

5

Read Review

$33,000- $45,750

Gasoline

7.39

206 hp @ 6800 rpm

182 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$38,195- $73,700

Gasoline

7.7

280 hp @ 5200 rpm

306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

5

Read Review

$31,950- $49,500

Gasoline

8.35

186 hp @ 4400 rpm

221 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

5

Read Review

$49,700- $61,400

Gasoline

7.27

252 hp @ 5000 rpm

273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

5

Read Review

$43,650- $49,925

Gasoline

8.16

292 hp @ 5400 rpm

280 lb.-ft. @ 1900 rpm

5

Read Review

$51,400- $55,800

Gasoline

9.04

354 hp @ 5400 rpm

369 lb.-ft. @ 1370 rpm

5

Read Review

$34,900- $50,950

Gasoline

7.33

180 hp @ 5000 rpm

200 lb.-ft. @ 1250 rpm

5

Read Review

2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    2018 Audi A4

    Ranked #7

    5.7 sec14.4 sec130 mph
    3.4 sec12.7 sec193 mph
    2018 BMW M3

    Ranked #2

    4.1 sec12.3 sec155 mph
    2018 Audi S4

    Ranked #3

    4.4 sec13.1 sec155 mph
    2018 Audi S3

    Ranked #4

    4.7 sec13.6 sec155 mph
    4.7 sec--

    2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      2018 Audi A4

      Ranked #3

      27 mpg37 mpg31 mpg15.3 gal.413.10/566.10 mi.
      29 mpg41 mpg34 mpg14.5 gal.420.5/594.5 mi.
      30 mpg38 mpg33 mpg14.8 gal.444/562.4 mi.
      27 mpg36 mpg30 mpg15.8 gal.426.6/568.8 mi.
      25 mpg36 mpg29 mpg17.8 gal.445/640.8 mi.
      2018 Audi A3

      Ranked #5

      26 mpg35 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.377/507.5 mi.

      2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        2018 Audi A4

        Ranked #16

        186.1 in.72.5 in.56.2 in.7 in.111 in.
        206.7 in.74.9 in.58.7 in.5.3 in.126.4 in.
        195.5 in.72.2 in.57.2 in.6 in.114.6 in.
        195.2 in.78.2 in.57.4 in.4.1 in.116.5 in.
        2018 Audi A6

        Ranked #4

        194.2 in.73.8 in.57.8 in.7 in.114.6 in.
        194.1 in.73.4 in.58.2 in.8 in.112.2 in.

        2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          2018 Audi A4

          Ranked #13

          27.1 cu.ft.101.1 cu.ft.27.1 cu.ft.
          12 cu.ft.95.4 cu.ft.218.9 cu.ft.
          2018 Mazda 6

          Ranked #2

          14.7 cu.ft.99.7 cu.ft.148.9 cu.ft.
          2018 Audi S4

          Ranked #3

          13 cu.ft.116.8 cu.ft.101.7 cu.ft.
          10.4 cu.ft.91 cu.ft.10.4 cu.ft.
          13.7 cu.ft.97 cu.ft.13.7 cu.ft.

          2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            2018 Audi A4

            Ranked #1

            27.1 cu.ft.27.1 cu.ft.27.1 cu.ft.60 ft.
            -14.4 cu.ft.-74 ft.
            -13.1 cu.ft.--
            14.3 cu.ft.14.3 cu.ft.14.3 cu.ft.-
            2018 BMW M3

            Ranked #5

            63 cu.ft.12 cu.ft.63 cu.ft.-
            13.5 cu.ft.12.3 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.-

            2018 Audi A4 vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              2018 Audi A4

              Ranked #3

              -1058 lbs.3450 lbs.
              3500 lbs.1149 lbs.3619 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3739 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3373 lbs.
              -908 lbs.3093 lbs.
              -1475 lbs.3395 lbs.

              Top Audi Cars

              2018 Audi S8

              Horsepower : 605 hp @ 6100 rpm

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 3.6 sec

              #1

              2018 Audi RS 7

              Horsepower : 560 hp @ 5700 rpm

              MPG Combined : 17 mpg

              0-60 : 3.7 sec

              #2

              2018 Audi R8

              Horsepower : 532 hp @ 7800 rpm

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 3.4 sec

              #3

              2018 Audi S7

              Horsepower : 450 hp @ 5800 rpm

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 4.5 sec

              #4

              2018 Audi S6

              Horsepower : 450 hp

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #5

              2018 Audi RS 5

              Horsepower : 444 hp @ 5700 rpm

              MPG Combined : 21 mpg

              0-60 : 3.7 sec

              #6

              2018 Audi RS 3

              Horsepower : 400 hp @ 7000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 22 mpg

              0-60 : 3.9 sec

              #7

              2018 Audi TT RS

              Horsepower : 400 hp @ 7000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 22 mpg

              0-60 : 3.6 sec

              #8

              2018 Audi SQ5

              Horsepower : 354 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 21 mpg

              0-60 : 5.1 sec

              #9

              2018 Audi S4

              Horsepower : 354 hp @ 5400 rpm

              MPG Combined : 24 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #10