New Upgrade 2023 Audi A4 Luxury Car Review

2023 Audi A4 there was a time when compact luxury cars like the 2023 Audi A4 served as a natural step up from mass-market brands, and driving enthusiasts loved German brands for the Autobahn and Nurburgring-sculpted dynamics. But today, we live in a different era. The crossover SUV rules and the Tesla Model Y is America’s top-selling premium brand model*.

In the 2023 A4 lineup, Audi is trying to greet crossover customers with an Allroad wagon variant clad in an SUV costume. Separately, Audi ordered the popular Tesla Model Y with its own electric SUV, each sporting an E-tron badge. Naming these two models requires too much explaining, and you’ll still be confused, so head over to Audi’s website to take a look at the company’s electric vehicle (EV) model lineup.

So is there a future for the Audi A4, which is now in its seventh year of production since its last full redesign? Time will tell. In the meantime, let’s refresh our memories of this traditional German luxury sports sedan.

The 2023 Audi A4 lineup includes a 4-door sedan and a 4-door Allroad station wagon that uses raised suspension for increased ground clearance. Think Subaru Outback, but German. Audi is also offering a performance-tuned version of the sedan called the S4, which I’m reviewing in 2020. For 2023, the A4 sees minor changes to its standard and optional equipment.

Within the A4 sedan range, you decide whether you want a standard turbocharged (40 TFSI) or more powerful (45 TFSI) 4-cylinder engine. Then, you choose from three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, or Prestige. The Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is standard on every A4. This review focuses on evaluating the TFSI A4 Prestige 45.

MSRP: From $40,300
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 201 to 261 hp
Dimensions: 188″ L x 73″ W x 56″ H
MPG: Up to 24 city / 33 highway
Curb weight: 3,638 to 3,704 lbs

2023 Audi A4 Review

The 2023 Audi A4, like its A3, A6, and A8 sedan siblings, wears the Brooks Brothers suit: it’s conservative in design, it’s carefully crafted, and it looks expensive — it is. It’s classy and sporty in equal measure, and that’s how it drives—luxury balanced with agility. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine drives it with authority and is fuel efficient.

Standard all-wheel drive and tight suspension setups offer balanced handling and helpful bad-weather grip. The interior is carefully assembled with premium materials and the attention to detail we expect from a premium manufacturer like Audi, but the design could use a little more flair.

Indeed, the same can be said of the rather subdued exterior styling. Rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Genesis G70, and Mercedes-Benz C-class offer more flash or driver involvement—or both. But the A4 excels at presenting its brand of quietly expressed quality, making it an equally compelling luxury sedan.

All A4 models come standard with LED headlamps for 2023 and the mid-range Premium Plus trim now includes Bang and Olufsen stereo systems. The Black Optics Plus package is now available in 45 models and includes a black exhaust tip and black rear lip spoiler. The Comfort Package available now includes adaptive cruise control; Chronos Gray and District Green join the available color palette.

In recent years, Audi has occupied a favorable position among German automakers. It found a middle ground between the more performance-oriented BMW and the classically luxurious Mercedes-Benz. The 2023 Audi A4, the brand’s long-running small sedan, is a prime example of that balance point and maintains the company’s understated yet modern aesthetic. It boasts a classy-looking cabin, lots of technological features, and pleasing performance.

The cabin looks cool and is impeccably built
Advanced technology features and easy to use
The rear seats are wide enough for adults
The turbocharged engine provides fast acceleration on the A4 45 TFSI

What’s New 2023 Audi A4 Luxury Car

The A4 is one of Audi’s smaller sedans, positioned above the A3, next to the A5 Sportback, and below the A6 and A8. The current B9-generation A4 debuted for the 2017 model year and got a refresh for 2020; this year brought several new features and paint options.

Unlike most of its competitors, the A4 was also available as a high-driving SUV-like car, known as the A4 Allroad. The A4 competes with other compact sports sedans including the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Genesis G70.

Looking for a compact Audi with a slimmer profile and larger cargo area? Check out the A5 Sportback.

The Premium Plus trim adds premium Bang & Olufsen audio
LED headlights with signature daytime running lights are now standard
The Black Optics package is now available on the A4 Allroad
The comfort package now includes adaptive cruise control
New Green District paint option; Quantum Gray was replaced by Chronos Grey; Terra Gray and Turbo Blue are no longer available

READ NEXT: 2023 Audi A5: The New Audi A5 Performance Luxurious Cars Review

2023 Audi A4 Specs

Although the current-generation A4 has come a long way over the years, it offers an attractive mix of performance, refinement, technology, and interior quality for the price. Look elsewhere if you need a sports sedan that will get your heart pumping, but for all-around excellence at a reasonable price, the A4 remains firmly at the top.

MSRP: From $40,300
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 201 to 261 hp
Dimensions: 188″ L x 73″ W x 56″ H
MPG: Up to 24 city / 33 highway
Curb weight: 3,638 to 3,704 lbs

2023 Audi A4 Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The A4’s modern-looking cabin does a great job of balancing form and function with high-quality materials and easily accessible technological features. Like most Audis, the dashboard design is clean and simple—a work of modern art. Most of the A4 buttons and switches are right where you want them and feel solid when you use them.

The rear seat is one of the most spacious in its class and is equipped with nicely shaped cushions. Like many sedans in the entry-luxury class, the A4 is accommodating but not roomy; choose the A4 Allroad wagon if you need more cargo space. The A4’s rear seats fold down to a useful 40/20/40, making it easy to accommodate longer items like skis. We managed to cram five carry-on cases in the trunk but were disappointed by the small storage area and A4 cubes.

You will find the A4 has a stylish and functional cabin with an emphasis on technology. The multi-function digital instrument cluster was groundbreaking at its debut and remains an exemplary unit, integrating many features and exhibiting virtually no lag in operation. While the A4 does feel a bit dated compared to its newer competitors, it’s hard to pinpoint a specific example, which shows how well this generation has aged.

In terms of interior space, long ago gone when the A4 was a compact car. The A4 looks and feels almost like a midsize sedan, with ample legroom for four large adult passengers. No issues with headroom for 6 feet in the back. Visibility is also quite good thanks to the thin pillars and lots of glass.

Technology

Each A4 runs an infotainment system featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless functionality. The Premium Plus and Prestige trims add a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display in place of the base model’s 7.0-inch display, as well as a pair of USB charging ports for rear seat passengers. Only Prestige has an integrated navigation feature. In terms of audio, a 10-speaker system is standard, but a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system is also available.

The A4’s central MMI display is now a touchscreen, so you don’t get the knobs on the console that controlled earlier versions of this system. We don’t think you’ll miss it. The touchscreen is within easy reach of most drivers and offers an intuitive menu structure along with high-quality graphics on the 10.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (non-wireless) smartphone integration is standard, and front and rear passengers will find plenty of USB ports.

Our test car has Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel where analog gauges used to be, and impresses both visually and technically, providing crisp graphics and fast response. Bang & Olufsen’s optional audio system is less impressive; we’ve heard of good B&O-branded setups in many vehicles, but the system in the A4 lacks the clarity and punch to rank among the best.

Audi’s suite of advanced driver aids is included on the Premium Plus trim and later, and they work well enough that we recommend upgrading to get them.

READ NEXT: 2024 Audi S5: Next-Gen Audi S5 Luxury Car Ultimate Review

Infotainment and Connectivity

The A4’s infotainment system consists of a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Features are generous and include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, and voice commands. Navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and in-car Wi-Fi are included in various select packages, as is a more powerful Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers. A cool digital gauge display that Audi calls the Virtual Cockpit is optional, and we highly recommend it.

Storage

In numbers, the A4 has less trunk volume (12 cubic feet) than many of its competitors, but this is offset by a large trunk opening and practical cutouts, which allow for extra storage of longer items such as golf clubs. Foldable 40/20/40-split rear seats provide added flexibility.

Inside, the A4 offers adequate storage for personal items, but there’s room for improvement. The oddly square, shallow receptacle in front of the gear lever will hold your phone but doesn’t fit snugly for sure, while the bin under the center armrest is also shallow.

If you have a car seat, there is enough space. The front seatbacks will certainly still rub against rear-facing child seats, but the A4 leaves more room for the front passengers than one would expect with the car seat installed. You can take four adults plus a tiny human.

2023 Audi A4 Driving

The A4’s front seats are on the sturdy side, but still comfortable on long journeys. The A4 is quiet on the road, although we noted more wind and tire noise than expected for the class, perhaps because the A4 hasn’t been redesigned since 2017 while its rivals have progressed. The suspension has a distinctly Germanic toughness, and it controls body movements well on broken pavement without feeling harsh to the ride.

Audi A4 with a turbocharged 45 TFSI four-cylinder engine, which produces 261 hp. It’s more than the base 40 TFSI motor that makes 60 ponies less. Our test car shot to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, an insanely fast time for a four-cylinder engine in this class. The dual-clutch automatic transmission lacks the positive engagement of, say, rival BMW 3 Series intelligent conventional automatics, but you get used to its sometimes delayed response. Overall, the A4 carries out its business smoothly and quietly.

The A4 has the feel of a firm brake pedal, but sudden pedal activation at low speeds conspires with the dual-clutch transmission to make stepping into a parking space an unpleasant affair. On our test track for the 60-0 mph emergency brake test, the A4 came to a stop at 111 feet. Our test car had summer performance tires, so expect longer braking on standard tires but less grippy all season.

Through turns, the A4 feels very competent but not overly engaging. Steering, in particular, is a disappointment as it doesn’t give you a good sense of the road or how much grip the car has.

2023 Audi A4 Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Audi offers the A4 in two strengths: 40 and 45. Both are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a 12-volt hybrid system and all-wheel drive; The 40 makes 201 horsepower while the 45 makes an eye-catching 261. While we like the six-speed manual, the seven-speed automatic is the only transmission. The well-equipped A4 45 we drove shot to 60 mph in a brisk 4.8 seconds, and its automatic shifts were quick and smooth.

Precise steering, well-controlled body movements, and strong road holding combine to make the A4 a sharp handler. Usually, a car with agile response requires some sacrifices in ride quality, but the A4 manages the bumpy roads with aplomb. Steering comfort, so important in a sedan with a sporty feel, is soft at low speeds and on the highway. However, almost like magic, the steering becomes pleasantly communicative as you push the car down the twisty roads.

Performance and Efficiency

Every A4 is powered by a version of Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-liter turbo-four, an engine that can be found everywhere on vehicles from the Volkswagen Arteon to the Audi TT and Porsche Macan. In the A4, it’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and AWD is standard.

The entry-level A4 40 TFSI works with the four-cylinder variant making 201 hp and 236 lb-ft, which Audi estimates is good for 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. We expect the new A4 to return the same 26/34 mpg city/highway as last year’s model. The A4 45 TFSI and A4 Allroad bump output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft, which brings the 0-60 sprint down to a claimed 5.3 seconds, or 5.5 seconds in the car.

2023 Audi A4 MPG

The EPA estimates that the A4 45 TFSI gets a combined 27 mpg (24 city/31 highway), which is a decent look for a luxury sedan of this level of performance. We observed 28 mpg on our 115-mile hard evaluation route despite a few zealous riders on the canyon roads. We’d say this estimate is very achievable.

Don’t think the A4 offers little value given its German heritage. It typically provides more equipment for the money than its German rivals, while non-German competitors tend to feel less of the advantages of the A4 business class. Keep in mind that the desirable 45 TFSI engine is a significant increase over the initial MSRP, which reduces affordability. The Audi warranty is typical for its class, with bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties coming in at four years/50,000 miles.

Real World Fuel and MPG Savings

The A4 sedan is expected to achieve 25 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The model we ran on our 75 mph fuel-efficient route, which was part of our extensive testing regimen, delivered 33 mpg. For more information on the A4’s fuel economy, visit the EPA website.

2023 Audi A4 Models

The 2023 Audi A4 is a small luxury sedan available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Each was equipped with one of two available turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines: standard 40 TFSI (201 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque) or 45 TFSI (261 hp, 273 lb-ft), also known as the S-line. Every A4 comes standard with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Feature highlights include:

READ NEXT: 2023 Audi A4: All-New 2023 Audi A4 Luxury Sedan Review

Premium

Start you off with:

17-inch wheels
LED headlights
Sunroof
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Three-zone climate control
Heated front seats
Leather seats
10.1-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay wireless and Android Auto wired connectivity
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (warns you if a vehicle starts to stray from its lane)

If you choose the larger 45 TFSI machine, you also receive:

18-inch wheels
Sport suspension with a lower ride height
Front sports seats

Here are important optional packages to consider:

Black Optics Package
- Black front and back accents
- Matte black front grille, badges, and mirror caps
- Red brake calipers
Convenience Package
- Keyless ignition and entry
  - Outside mirrors with auto-dimming
- Heated steering wheel
- Driver’s seat memory settings
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains the driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front)
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or when backing up)
- Front and rear parking sensors (warn you of obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
- Satellite Radio
S-line interior package (only 45 TFSI)
- Aluminum interior trim
- Faux leather/suede combination seats

Premium Plus

Upgrading to the Premium Plus model gives you:

Convenience Package
18-inch wheels
Power folding mirror
Digital gauge cluster
The armrest is covered in faux leather
Premium 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
Rear USB port
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down A4 view of your surroundings for tight parking situations)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when the turn signal is not used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)

Premium Plus can be further complemented by:

Ventilated front seats (paired with front sport seats on 40 TFSI Warm Weather package)
Navigation package
- Navigation system
- Audi connected service

Prestige

Finally, the top-level Prestige includes optional Premium Plus features as well as:

Sound dampening front side windows
Configurable ambient lighting
Heated rear seats
Head-up display (shows important information in your line of sight to the windshield)
Automated parking system (directs to a parking space with little or no driver intervention)

Safety Ratings and Features

Last year’s A4 earned IIHS’s 2022 Top Safety Pick, as long as you get better headlights on the Premium Plus and Prestige trims. The 2022 car also earns a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite a four-star frontal crash score.

Audi’s Pre Sense City driver assistance system is standard on every A4, and it includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beam. If you tick the right option box, you can add adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear and side traffic warning.

2023 Audi A4 Price

The mid-range Premium Plus trim represents the best cost-benefit ratio in the A4 lineup as it adds several features that make the car a high-end ride. Among them are a reconfigurable digital gauge display, wireless charging pad, memory settings for the driver’s seat, blind spot monitoring, and keyless entry with push button start. We suggest the 45’s more powerful powertrain—it makes 60 more horsepower than the 40—and it’s a relatively inexpensive upgrade at $1,600.

Premium 40 $41,395
Premium 45 $43,495
Premium Plus 40 $46,495
Premium Plus 45 $48,095
Prestige 40 $51,695
Prestige 45 $52,395

Verdict

The 2023 Audi A4 is one of the best luxury small cars you can buy. It provides a balanced ride that will appeal to performance-oriented, comfort-focused buyers. On top of that, all A4 engines are capable, and the sedan is fuel efficient. You’ll also find adult-friendly seating in both rows, along with many standard and available features. However, the A4 only offers one high-performance model, while many competitors in its class have several.

the mid-range Premium Plus trim as it comes with several features that markedly elevate the luxury and technology factor. We also upgraded to a 45 TFSI engine as the added power didn’t have a serious impact on profits.

The A4 should be a top pick if you’re shopping for a new luxury sedan. This Audi gets high marks both for its interior and performance. Plus, the starting price is on par with the class average. However, this segment contains many good choices. Other models to consider include the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A5.