2018 Audi A4

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.

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.

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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.

Strong brakes and sharp handling also help make the A4 enjoyable to drive. But the A4's steering limits driver engagement -- Edmunds

2018 Audi A4 Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Audi A4 comes in over three engine options. There is a 2.0L turbocharged Inline-4 engine that has two stages of tune. The base and the standard one is the 190 hp 2.0L unit, which comes with the A4 Ultra variant. This variant is more or less focused on the fuel efficiency front. Then comes the 252 hp 2.0L turbocharged unit, which is available in both the A4 Quattro and the A4 Allroad variant.

The best is saved for last, as the performance-oriented Audi S4, has a much more refined 3.0L turbocharged V6 at the helm of its powertrain front. This particular engine is capable of putting out over 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Now it goes without saying that, the performance S4 will definitely be a more driver-focused car in terms of handling as compared to the rest.

On the transmission front, the standard FWD Ultra model comes with a slick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic unit, whereas the AWD A4 and the Allroad variant can be had with either the 7-speed DCT or the much more preferred 6-speed manual setup. The S4 gets an 8-speed automatic, that is slick and smooth in its transmission shifts, and moreover is able to put down the power much more easily.

2018 Audi A4 Acceleration

The 2018 Audi A4 does the 0-60 MPH sprint in just about 5.7 seconds. It also takes a respectable 13.8 seconds to do the quarter-mile sprint. One of the fastest in the segment, the 2018 Audi A4 is known for its brisk acceleration, and its 7-speed DCT definitely puts down the power quite nicely in the lower rev bands. The sports S4 sedan on the other hand, with its V6 engine, brings down that time to below 5 seconds.

The engine is quieter too irrespective of the A4's quick acceleration. The Audi A4 competes for neck-to-neck in terms of performance with close rivals like the 2018 BMW 3-Series and the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The C-Class, even with its segment-leading torque figures and also even being the lightest fails to put up impressive acceleration times, solely because of its heft.

2018 Audi A4 Braking and Handling

Audi prides itself in delivering its loyal fan base with the best-in-class ride and handling dynamics. The A4 is one such luxury sedan that delivers on this front with an impressive and potent suspension setup. The famed Quattro setup is the one thing that lets enthusiasts get hooked onto the A4. The multi-link front and rear suspension take care of all the bumps one might come through while riding thus giving way to a supreme handler. The body roll is minimal, and the steering feels quite numb and fails to engage the driver like the competitors. For an even thrilling driving dynamics, we'd ask you to opt for the performance-oriented S4 model.

The 2018 A4 comes with 12.4-inch front brake rotors and 11.8-inch rear brake rotors. This combined with its heft brings the 2018 A4 to a complete stop from 60 MPH in just 99 ft, which is damn near impressive. The firm brake pedal of the A4 makes you feel comfortable even on long journeys, inspiring confidence.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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2018 Audi A4 FAQs

What are the exterior color shades offered with the Audi A4?

The 2018 Audi A4 comes in over 11 exterior shades, namely Gotland Green, Matador Red, Moonlight Blue, Mythos Black, Glacier White, Brilliant Black, Monsson Gray, Scuba Blue, Ibis White, Florett Silver, and Manhattan Gray.

Does the Audi A4 get both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard?

Yes, the 2018 Audi A4 gets both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard from the base trim and above.

What takes care of the audio requirements in the Audi A4?

The audio requirements of the Audi A4 are handled by the premium Bang & Olufsen 19-speaker sound system.