2010 Audi S4, an AW Drivers Log
Published on Friday, March 19, 2010
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: The S4's transformation from small sedan packing a V8 to a supercharged V6 can be looked at as a mostly positive thing. For starters, the S4 is now substantially less expensive, with a base price that is more than $4,000 less than the previous car. The 2008 S4 with the 4.2-liter V8 started at $51,085, which included a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax. The new V6 doesn't suffer the guzzler penalty.A quick comparison of the spec sheets shows that the new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 falls a little short on horsepower from the V8 (333 hp versus 340 hp), but features 23 lb-ft of additional torque and comes lower in the rev band (2,900 rpm versus 3,500 rpm).Overall, I liked how the new engine behaved, and it felt V8 strong when you put your foot into it. There's good pull all the way up to redline, but throttle response when you want match revs for downshifts is a touch slow.Another big reason for a downsized engine is the general idea that it will return better fuel economy. On all of my fill-ups, I only averaged in the 16- to 18-mpg range, and a good amount of the miles on both tanks were highway miles. No doubt this is still better than what the old V8 would have returned, but exactly how much is what I'm unsure about. Seventeen mpg is a far cry from the 27 mpg highway EPA rating.From my winter-weather driving, there's no doubt that the quattro system is biased toward the rear, which Audi says is 40/60 torque split. I didn't get a chance to push it on dry pavement, but I don't doubt this chassis's handling prowess from my experience in the S5.I did play with the Audi Drive Select system, which noticeably added heft and response to the car's steering when put into Dynamic mode and it stiffened up the ride. I'm sure with some decent weather the optional sports rear differential that varies torque between the rear tires would be pretty sweet.The interior is typical Audi quality, and the new MMI interface for the satellite radio is cool. When you are scrolling through the stations, a box will pop up on the center screen to tell you what is currently playing on that station before going to it. It's very slick. The S-specific seats with suede inserts are among the best out there in terms of comfort and support to keep you locked down.It's also worth noting that the cabin is also very well isolated. With the 50-mph wind gusts we had during my night, the interior was still quiet and really buttoned-up.Overall, a comfortable cruiser for normal driving and no doubt a capable performer when pushed. My initial impressions do not have me missing the V8 one bit.EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: When I heard the V8 was going away for the S4, I thought Audi was making a big mistake. I was wrong. This supercharged V6 is perfectly matched for a car this size. Throttle response is quick and acceleration is outstanding. Even with the wet pavement in the morning, I could hammer it pretty good as all four wheels are digging. Not once did I see the traction-control light flash on. Get high enough into the rev range, and the supercharger emits a noise that outdrums the exhaust note. Very nice.We don't need to belabor the point of how nice the interior is--typical Audi sweetness. And Jon is correct in how the new satellite radio interface works. It's another nice feature to have.I like the six-speed manual a lot, but I would like to sample this car with the dual-clutch. That, combined with the new engine, would be the ultimate combination.SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Light traffic allowed me to fully exercise this car's power, braking and handling, as each lane blocker merely became another chicane in my commute route. The car is spectacular in many ways, but from my point of view, it'd be how directly connected to the road it feels. I'd put this up against the competition from BMW any day.Aside from the driving experience, I really like the new satellite-radio feature that pops up a preview information box with channel, song and artist as you hover over each channel (but before you select it). This is just another example of Audi one-upping everyone else when it comes to man-machine interface.2010 Audi S4 Base Price: $46,725As-Tested Price: $54,075Drivetrain: 3.0-liter supercharged V6; AWD, six-speed manualOutput: 333 hp @ 5,500-7,000 rpm, 325 lb-ft @ 2,900-5,300 rpmCurb Weight: 3,847 lbFuel Economy (EPA/AW): 21/17.5 mpgOptions: Audi drive select including adaptive suspension, sports rear differential, drive-select controls ($3,950); navigation package including Audi navigation system with 3G MMI, voice control for radio/phone/navigation, color driver-info system, rearview camera, park sensors ($2,500); Audi side assist, backup camera, rear sensors ($900)Source: autoweek.com
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