As a compact luxury sports sedan, the 2021 Audi A4 is easy to like and hard to fault: It's handsomely styled, well-built, and loaded with goodies. As if that's not enough, it handles like a sport sedan and delivers an agreeable ride. Technology takes center stage in the A4, with Audi's cool Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, a new 12-volt hybrid system, and a host of driver-assistance features keeping it fresh and in the hunt with its entry-lux…
As a compact luxury sports sedan, the 2021 Audi A4 is easy to like and hard to fault: It’s handsomely styled, well-built, and loaded with goodies. As if that’s not enough, it handles like a sport sedan and delivers an agreeable ride. Technology takes center stage in the A4, with Audi’s cool Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, a new 12-volt hybrid system, and a host of driver-assistance features keeping it fresh and in the hunt with its entry-lux rivals—namely the BMW 3-series, the Genesis G70, and the Mercedes-Benz C-class. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard across the board, a feature its chief competitors charge extra for.
Audi offers the A4 in two strengths: 40 and 45. Both are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 12-volt hybrid system and all-wheel drive; the 40 makes 201-hp while the 45 makes a juicy 261. Both engines are mated to a 7-speed tranmisson that lets off butter smooth shifts. Precise steering, well-controlled body motions, and strong roadholding combine to make the A4 a sharp handler. Usually, cars with such deft responses require sacrifices in ride quality, but the A4 manages to soak up bumpy roads with aplomb. Steering feel, so important in a sedan with sporting overtones, is subdued at lower speeds and on the highway. However, almost as if by magic, the steering becomes pleasantly communicative when you push the car on twisty roads.
The A4’s infotainment system consists of a 10.1-inch center screen that’s controlled by a rotary knob on the center console. Features are generous and include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and voice command. Navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and in-car Wi-Fi are included in various option packages, as is a more powerful Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers.