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, this new compact sedan is a looker from every angle. It looks sportier, creases on the side of the car accentuate the subtle aerodynamics of this compact executive sedan.

The interior is fairly the same, which is minimalism at its best. It has a comfortable and tech-rich cabin but lacks the plushness of a Mercedes-Benz C-class' interior. It even has a powerful engine, at least on paper, but on-road it lacks the punch that a BMW 3 series delivers. The upgraded looks do work in favor 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 2020 Audi 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 an MMI touch display with a 10.1" center screen. The Prestige trim gets a Heads-up display, and Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D surround feature.

We Recommend

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 it all the more desirable.

The Audi A4 Prestige 45 TFSI's smooth and powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces excellent acceleration - Edmunds

The 2020 Audi 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 figure is achieved with the Quattro AWD in place. This is not a performance-oriented vehicle. The efficiency and effectiveness of the engine are refined thanks to its automatic 7-speed dual-clutch automatic 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 2.0L engine for the base trims backed by the FWD setup, producing 188 horsepower for better fuel economy. The Audi A4 may not be a performance sedan that can launch off from drag strips, but it delivers excellent acceleration figures. Sprinting from 0-60 MPH 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.

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 maneuver through tight spots and parking lots.

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.

The base 2020 Audi A4, backed by the 2.0L engine and the FWD setup is rated at delivering 27 miles to the gallon in the city and about 35 miles to the gallon out on the highway. Even in this arena, the Audi A4 triumphs over its competition. The turbocharged 2.0L is a thrifty engine that gives you up to 32 miles to the gallon on the highways while managing 24 miles to the gallon in the city. The combined average comes to 27 which makes the Audi a pretty affordable daily driver. This is with the Quattro AWD setup in place.

Back the above-mentioned figures with a 15.3-gallon fuel tank, and you can go take on 490 miles on the stretch without stopping. In comparison, the Lexus IS 350 with the V6 manages 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 35 MPG and 34 MPG on highways respectively.

The stylish, functional and well-built cabin puts an emphasis on technology - Edmunds

If there’s one thing the 2020 Audi A4 is best at, it’s the comfortable passenger seats on offer. 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 into the cabin layout. The seats at the back can easily accommodate three adults with great ease and have plenty of headroom for the taller passengers too. 

The 2020 A4 sedan has a great 13.0 cu. ft cargo space at the back, with a huge trunk at the back and a huge opening to improve accessibility. The rear seats also fold down in a 60/40 manner to make way for enhanced cargo space. The interior is also conducive to storage options and is exceptionally ergonomic. Even the IS 350 offer generous legroom for its passengers, while the Mercedes C-Class compromises on the headroom with its sloping roofline. The 2020 BMW 330i has an upgraded interior for 2020 and is now more spacious than ever before.

For the year 2020, the Audi A4 gets an all-new infotainment interface backed by an even larger infotainment screen. The giant high-definition 10.1-inch 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.

Some of the standard infotainmnet features on offer are: 

• 8.3-inch touch screen infotainment 
• 11.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• Advanced Audi MMI software
• 10- speaker premium audio 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 - Car Connection

Unlike the sharp styling creases you’d find on the Audi A5, the 2020 A4 is rather a tamed and civilized premium sedan, giving it a sleeper status. As for the exterior updates brought about this year, the A4 has received a larger front grille and more creases on the hood, thus giving it an athletic hood. The generic layout of the sedan resembles the Volkswagen Passat and the other Audi sedan offerings combined. With the 4-ringed badge upfront, the A4 gets the premium flair accented by the chrome grille and new LED daytime running lights.

Compared to the Lexus IS 350, the Audi A4 feels much smaller in size and dimensions. Merc and BMW offerings are practically the same sizes as that of the A4 but the Mercedes C-Class gives you a bigger passenger room inside, courtesy of the longer wheelbase on offer. The BMW 330i’s short stature benefits its maneuverability in tight spaces a lot.

Some of the exterior features on offer are-

• LED headlights and DRLs
• 19-inch Titanium finished alloys
• Chrome-laden exhaust outlets
• LED taillamps
• Redesigned front grille
• Hands-free Smart Trunk Release

Audi A4 is one of the best-selling sedans in the premium compact segment. Audi has incorporated the construction of chassis with high tensile steel and aluminum bits which adds to the strength of the chassis 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, both on the active and passive front. Coming onto the crash-test scores, the IIHS awarded the 2020 A4 a "Good" rating all over, whereas the NHTSA gave it an overall 5 on a 5-star rating, for its crashworthiness.

Some of the safety features on offer are-

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Back-Up Camera
• Forward collision warning
• Lane keep assist with corrective steering
• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control

2020 Audi A4 vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan is a comparatively more luxurious and powerful sedan than the Audi A4, despite having the same capacity turbocharged engine on offer. Now despite that, the sleeper Audi A4 triumphs in the acceleration sector, as it is 0.8 seconds faster than the C-Class. 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, not only with a better cabin but also with a larger cargo bay.

2020 Audi A4 vs 2020 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 premium Audi A4. It is powerful enough to compete with V6 powered rivals in the segment and advanced enough on the feature front to take on the Mercedes C-Class. 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 A4 is a perfect combination of practicality and performance.

2020 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.