2020 Audi A4

Launched in 2016, the A4 has gone through a mid-cycle change and as mild as it might sound, there are pretty visible upgrades if not significant. This has not only added more character to the A4 but makes it more appealing too. Starting from those new headlamps with "Eyebrow" LED to its new taillight and bumper design. In 2020, these new compact is a looker from every angle. With all those dapper and the Quattro, the base Premium A4 costs $40,000.

The upgraded looks do work in favour of this sedan but, the A4 is posted to be a daily-friendly car. Has Audi added enough bells and whistles for a non-interrupted, easy, daily ride? Let's find out. 

The A4 comes in three trims. The base Premium trim at $37,400 has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a standard infotainment feature, heated front seats, and a 7-inch center display further enrich the cabin experience in this trim. The Premium Plus trim features a 12.3ínch TFT display with Audi virtual cockpit and MMI touch display with a 10.1" center screen. The Prestige trim gets Heads-up display, and Bang &Olufsen sound system with 3D surround feature.

Models	Premium (45 TFSI)	Premium Plus (45 TFSI)	Prestige (45 TFSI)
MSRP	$37,400	$42,900	$46,200
Key Features	7.0 inch colour driver information display system	Adds to Premium features	Adds to Premium Plus features
	AUDI Connect Care	Audi virtual cockpit plus (12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster)	MMI Navigation Plus System
	Adaptive damping system	Audi Phone box	Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound with 19 speakers and 755 watts
	Audi drive select with off-road mode	Hands-free tailgate release	Audi Active lane assist
	Audi Pre-sense	Audi side assist and Pre-sense Rear assist	Audi Adaptive Cruise assist
	Three-zone automatic climate control	LED headlights with Daytime Running Lights	Top camera view system
	Single Frame Grille	Driver seat memory	HUD with Navigation system Information
	Adaptive Cruise Control	Anti-theft alarm system	Matrix design LED headlights
	Heated front leather seating		Ambient LED Interior Lighting Plus Package
	Apple Carplay, Google Android Auto

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The Premium Plus with Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel-drive would be the best bang for your buck. It has all the necessary features and none of the fancy extras to complicate your experience. The LED headlights with DRL signature and Audi’s virtual cockpit along with the MMI Navigation system make all the more desirable.

The Audi A4 Prestige 45 TFSI's smooth and powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces excellent acceleration. Strong brakes and sharp handling also help make the A4 enjoyable to drive. But the A4's steering limits driver engagement. - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The A4's 2.0-litre inline-four turbo producing 248 horsepower is more than enough to take this sedan on short trips to the grocery store or the office. This is not a performance-oriented vehicle. The efficiency and effectiveness of the engine are refined thanks to its automatic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Though the power really hits higher up on the rev range at lower revs, the throttle feels numb and watered down, which is ideal in city drives. Audi has further tuned down the engine, producing 188 horsepower for better fuel economy.

Models	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz C300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
MSRP	$42,000	$42,030	$41,400	$38,300	$42,250
Engine	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
Transmission	7-Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic	9 Speed automatic	7 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic
Horsepower	248 hp@ 5000rpm	311 hp@ 6600rpm	255 hp@ 5800rpm	300 hp@ 6400rpm	255 hp@ 5000rpm
Torque	273 lbs-ft@ 1600rpm	277 lbs-ft@ 4800rpm	273 lbs-ft@1800 rpm	295 lbs-ft@ 1500rpm	295 lbs-ft@ 1550rpm

German sedans like the Mercedes-Benz C300 and the BMW 330i with their bigger engines give a tough competition to the A4. The Lexus IS 350 and Infiniti Q50 comes with V6's instead of four-bangers making 300+ hp. The Infiniti and BMW have torque-rich engines that make the sedan punchy and fun to drive.

Acceleration

 

The Audi A4 may not be a performance sedan that can launch off from drag strips, but it delivers excellent acceleration figures. 60 miles an hour from a standstill takes merely 5.1 seconds while the quarter-mile takes 13.8 seconds. The Quattro system gives an immense boost to the acceleration compared to the rear-wheel-drive sedans.

Models	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz C300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
0-60 MPH	5.1 sec	5.6 sec	5.9 sec	5.5 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter mile	13.8 sec	14 sec	N/A	13.8 sec	13.7 sec
Engine	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.5	N/A	6.8	7.7	N/A

Audi's Quattro-wheel drive helps the A4 reach 60 miles per hour quicker than its competitors and it manages to stay ahead in the long run too. Close to its heels, the BMW 330i is just 0.2 seconds short of the Audi, followed by the Infiniti Q50 at 5.5 seconds, while the Mercedes takes 5.9 seconds to reach the quarter-mile mark.

Ride and Handling

The understated looks betray the superb handling and driving dynamics of the A4 sedan, thanks to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system and other advanced drive-assist features. The low stance keeps the sedan planted through the corners and there is minimal body roll. The ride feels firm and decisive but can still manage to absorb most of the bumps and vibrations.

 

The slight understeer character in conjunction with the precise steering makes the A4 feel weighted and fun to drive at high speeds. In the city premises, the A4 is easy to manoeuvre through tight spots and parking lots.

Braking

The trims with Quattro-drive uses 13.3-inches disc brakes up front and 13-inches at the back. The non-Quattro ones come with 12.4 and 11.8-inches at the front and rear wheels, respectively. The pedal is easy to modulate and delivers smooth deceleration without sharp jerks. 

Even under heavy braking, the suspension setup keeps the sedan balanced and there is no significant brake fade upon continuous usage. 

Model	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz 300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Brake Front (in.)	13.3	13.2	13	12.6	13.7
Brake Rear (in.)	13	13	11.8	12.1	13.7
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3627	3594	3472	3727	3764
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	177 (70-0)	N/A	N/A	N/A

The rivals have slightly smaller brakes to manage the sedans, but you won’t really notice any major differences. However, the BMW 330i has improved brake performance for 2020 and may prove to be a challenge for the Audi.

Even in this arena the Audi triumphs over its competition, the turbocharged 2.0L is a thrifty engine which gives you up to 34 miles to the gallon on the highways while managing 23 miles to the gallon in the city. The combined average comes to 27 which makes the Audi a pretty affordable daily driver.

Model	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz 300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
MPG (city)	23	20	23	20	23
MPG (highway)	34	28	34	29	33
MPG (combined)	27	23	27	23	27
Range (miles) (city/highway)	413/520	348/487	400/592	400/580	N/A
Tank Capacity (gal)	15.3	17.4	17.4	20.0	15.6

In comparison, the Lexus and Infiniti with V6s manage 20 mpg in the city and a respectable 28 mpg on highways. The Merc and BMW aren’t far behind the Audi and give up to 23 mpg in cities and 33 on highways.

The stylish, functional and well-built cabin puts an emphasis on technology. The optional Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster gets most of the attention, re-creating analog gauges while also displaying navigation and entertainment information. - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

If there’s one thing the Audi A4 is best at, it’s the comfortable passenger seats. The spacious interior has plush leather seats with comfortable bolstering and support for long journeys. Most of the surfaces are soft to the touch, however, a few hard plastic parts still manage to sneak in. 

The seats at the back can easily accommodate three adults with great ease and have plenty of headroom for the taller passengers too. 

Model	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz 300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.3/41.3/55.9	38.2/55.9/44.8	37.1/55.3/NA	39.5/56.7/44.5	38.7/56/42
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.4/54.5/35.7	36.9/53.4/32.2	37.1/55/NA	36.8/56.1/35.1	37.6/54.6/35.2

Even the Infiniti and Lexus offer generous legroom for its passengers, while the Mercedes compromises on the headroom with its sloping roofline. The BMW 330i has upgraded interior for 2020 and is now more spacious than ever before.

Cargo Capacity

The A4 sedan has great cargo space at the back, with a huge trunk at the back and a huge opening to improve accessibility. 

The interior is also conducive to storage options and is exceptionally ergonomic. 

Model	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz 300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	13	10.8	12.6	13.5	17

 

Infotainment System

The giant high-definition screen inside the Audi is easy to use and intuitive while driving. Although Apple CarPlay is available as standard, operating it with the rotary knob often gets tricky. It comes equipped with MMI navigation plus with MMI touch system which is one of a kind. 

The A4 is equipped with Audi Connect which means it will give you an inbuilt 4G LTE connection. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard for this variant. Some of the features are: 

• 8.3-inch touch screen infotainment 
• 11.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• Advanced Audi MMI software
• 10- speaker system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
• Bluetooth mobile connectivity
• HD-Radio with satellite navigation
• Audi drive select display 

Audi A4’s exterior doesn’t push any boundaries, it just reinforces them. The plain sheet metal on the outside is punctuated with sharp lines that define its edges, perhaps more than any other sedan like it. - Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

Unlike the sharp styling creases you’d find on the A5, the A4 is rather tame and civilized, giving it a sleeper status. As for the updates, the A4 has received a larger front grille and more creases on the hood. The generic layout of the sedan resembles the Volkswagen Passat and the Skoda Superb. With the 4-ringed badge up front, the A4 gets the premium flair accented by the chrome grille and LED daytime running lights.

Model	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI tronic Quattro Prestige sedan	Lexus IS 350 sedan	Mercedes Benz 300 sedan	Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan	BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)	3627	3594	3472	3727	3764
Length(in)	186.1	184.3	184.5	189.6	185.7
Width(in)	72.5	71.3	71.3	71.8	71.9
Height(in)	56.2	56.3	56.3	56.8	57
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	5.3	3.8	5.1	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	111	110.2	111.8	112.2	112.2
Track width (in) F/R	61.9/61.2	60.4/61	61.5/60.9	60.8/61.8	62.3/62.9

Compared to the Lexus and the Infiniti, the Audi feels much smaller in size and dimensions. Merc and BMW are practically the same sizes as the Audi but the Merc gives you a bigger passenger room inside. The BMW’s short stature benefits its maneuverability in tight spaces.

Audi A4 is one of the most selling sedans in the segment. Audi has incorporated the construction of chassis with high tensile steel and aluminum chassis which adds the strength while keeping the weight low. Audi A4 comes loaded with a plethora of safety equipment which is standard across the range of these luxury sedans.

Safety features

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Audi pre sense basic
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• SIDEGUARD Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3...
• Back-Up Camera

Audi A4 vs Mercedes-Benz C300

The Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan is a comparatively more luxurious and powerful sedan against the Audi A4. However, the Audi A4 is one of the forerunners in the infotainment arena, but the Merc keeps up with its revamped system. 

In terms of practicality, the Mercedes trumps the Audi with not only with a better cabin but also with a larger cargo bay.

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS 350

The Lexus IS 350 is one of the biggest threats to the A4, it gets a massive V6 compared to the inline-4 of the Audi, potent enough to compete with the S4 at the price of the A4. The interior is decked out with premium materials and exotic styling, a departure from the vanilla interiors of the Audi you’ve been seeing for ages. 

However, in terms of driving feel, Lexus still can’t keep up with Audi's Quattro system. 

You better not judge a book by its cover and underestimate the capabilities of the Audi A4. It is powerful enough to compete with V6s and advanced enough to take on the Mercedes. If you’re looking to buy a drive, which you'll use for everyday purposes and you want a modern-day sleeper, this sedan should be on top of your list. The 2020 Audi is a perfect combination of practicality and performance.

Audi A4 FAQs:

Which Audi A4 to buy?

Audi A4 Premium Plus is the optimum choice for people looking to buy their first luxury sedan under the budget of $45,000. Audi A4 comes loaded with all the necessary bells and whistles, one requires from a daily driven luxury sedan. 

What is the maintenance cost of Audi A4?

People planning to buy an Audi A4 must know that it costs around $12,000 on average. Per year, the cost depreciates which can be a plus point in case you are looking out to buy a car with less or depreciating maintenance value.

What MPG figures can you expect from the 2021 Audi A4?

 It is good for 25 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway.