2008 Audi A4

*Est. $28,900 to $66,910

High-quality construction and materials
Good fuel economy (with turbo four-cylinder engine)
Strong safety features and crash-test results
Available all-wheel drive (AWD)

Cramped rear seat
Awkward ergonomics
Minimally responsive steering
Base engine's low-speed response

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Our Analysis

Reviewers agree that the 2008 Audi A4 edges close to the line dividing affordable family cars and sports sedans, though its compact interior may be a bit too confining for family car shoppers. The A4 is praised for its impeccable build quality, expensive-looking interior design and competent handling, but its base four-cylinder engine is said to be sluggish when automatic and equipped with an all-wheel drive. The 2008 Audi A4 sedan scored top crash-test results, earning it a Top Safety Pick designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (. The A4 sedan (*est. $28,900 to $38,400) offers two engine choices: a 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder and a 255-horsepower V-6, each with optional quattro AWD. The quattro-equipped Audi S4 (*est. $48,610 to $49,710) and top-performance Audi RS4 (*est. $66,910) are powered by a 4.2-liter V-8 with 340 and 420 horsepower, respectively. The Audi A4 sedan is reported to be a contender among entry-level luxury sedans and is widely considered a good value with a projected resale value superior to several competitors, including the BMW 3 Series. Overall, however, the Audi A4 can't match the BMW's top-rated performance, reviewers say.

Because a new Audi A4 has been recently launched for 2009, there are few comparison tests that include the 2008 models. There are, however, many comprehensive single-car reviews. Edmunds.com has one of the best, with a good summary and description of the various Audi A4 and S4 models. ConsumerGuide.com chooses the A4 as one of its "Best Buys" and includes a categorized evaluation. Comprehensive, well-organized road-test reviews are also available at TheCarConnection.com, Cars.com and Automobile.com, while CNet.com gives a different perspective by emphasizing the car's in-cabin technological features.

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2008 Audi A4

Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

Editors at Edmunds.com provide a well-rounded summary of the Audi A4, noting strengths and weaknesses. The A4 is commended for its price, interior and personality, but the 2.0T engine is reported to lack torque while the 255-horsepower V-6 is bested by more powerful segment competitors. A separate review covers the Audi S4.

Review: 2008 Audi A4 Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Editors of Consumer Reports base their review of the Audi A4 on a 2006 2.0T quattro that is not significantly different from this year's model; a separate report covers the Audi S4. Also included is data on historical reliability, as compiled from large owner surveys.

Review: 2008 Audi A4 Review, Editors of Consumer Reports

3. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com rates the Audi A4 a "Best Buy" and calls the model lineup "solid, sophisticated premium compacts." Editors put both an A4 2.0T and an S4 through testing and give a numerical rating and short description of each aspect of the tested cars. The Audi scores higher than other premium compact cars, but gets criticized for its tight rear seat and rear entry/exit.

Review: 2008 Audi A4 Full Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 23, 2008

4. TheCarConnection.Com

This review is a good descriptive write-up based on the author's own driving, as well as other published (but unidentified) reviews. Writer Rex Roy lauds the A4's design and interior. He also mentions several competitors and notes that the BMW 3 Series provides a better driving experience, and the Infiniti G35 and Cadillac CTS are worth consideration. Still, the A4 is said to be "a great performer wrapped in a practical package."

Review: 2008 Audi A4 Review, Rex Roy

5. The Car Family

The Car Family's reviews are relevant for shoppers looking for a family sedan, as cars are evaluated by each of four family members (none of whom are children). While the Audi A4 isn't deemed the best in any particular aspect, it is noted for its fuel economy and interior and is said to be "more family oriented" than the BMW 3 Series and the Lexus IS.

Review: Buyer's Guide to Family Sedans: Best Cars by Price, Value, The Haskvitz Family, Mar. 21, 2008

6. Kelley Blue Book

Respected automotive resource Kelley Blue Book provides consumer-friendly reviews of most cars and trucks. Editors proclaim the 2008 Audi A4 is "the nearly-ideal car" for driving enthusiasts, though its cramped rear seat is noted as a limitation for other buyers.

Review: 2008 Audi A4 4-door 2.0T Sedan Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book

7. Automobile.com

Although short on criticism, this review provides a good narrative description of driving the turbocharged four-cylinder A4 with optional quattro AWD and six-speed manual transmission. Writer Justin Couture says the 2.0-liter engine "feels stronger and more willing" than other 200-horsepower rivals and reports averaging a respectable 28 mpg in mainly city driving. The review concludes that the A4 "may be in its last year, but it's certainly a good vintage."

Review: 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Road Test, Justin Couture, Apr. 19, 2008

8. Edmunds.com

This test pits the ultra-performance 420-horsepower Audi RS4 against the new Lexus IS-F, with its 416-horsepower V-8. Both cars are similar in size and weight, but the Lexus has rear-wheel drive and the Audi (which is virtually unchanged for 2008) features quattro AWD. Senior editor Pund ultimately says the firm-riding Lexus is "too hard core for the street," and gives the win to the "devastatingly effective" Audi RS4.

Review: Comparison Test: 2007 Audi RS4 vs. 2008 Lexus IS-F, Daniel Pund, Oct. 28, 2007

9. Cars.com

Cars.com includes the Audi A4 on its "Best Bet" list. Following a summary of pros and cons, editors provide an overview of the A4, including brief driving impressions. The A4's continually variable automatic transmission (CVT) is said to work "masterfully and subtly" but on "low-speed passing maneuvers it is reported to "sometimes yield a shortfall of response."

Review: 2008 Audi A4, Editors of Cars.com, Aug. 6, 2007

10. CNET

This CNet.com road-test review covers all aspects of the Audi A4, but focuses most heavily on its technological features. Writer Kevin Massey claims to be disappointed with the A4's "dismal iPod integration" and audio and navigation systems, and says the A4 has "some of the weakest cabin technology available on a premium sedan." Massey is pleased, however, with the Audi's performance and handling.

Review: 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Turbo 6M, Kevin Massey, Feb. 13, 2008