Audi · Saloon · 2024

Audi A4

It is the most discreet of the three German compact saloons, and for many buyers that is precisely the point: it declares nothing, provokes no envy and ages well. Perceived interior quality remains its strongest claim — the assembly is the most precise in the class and the switchgear has a mechanical feel rivals do not replicate. On the move it favours quietness and stability over sportiness: the 3 Series is more fun to drive, the A4 is more restful to live with. The 40 TDI quattro is the version to buy for motorway mileage: genuinely economical, and with all-wheel drive it is unfazed by snow or heavy rain. The limitation is that same character: anyone chasing excitement will find it anonymous, and the standard suspension is firmer than expected on broken roads.