2008 Audi S4 Review

Reviewers generally praise the 2008 Audi S4 for the quality of the interior materials and the comfort provided to the driver and front seat passenger; as with many vehicles covered by TheCarConnection.com, however, backseat riders may feel a bit cramped.

According to reviewers over at ForbesAutos, “four fit comfortably” inside the 2008 Audi S4 lineup, “and five can squeeze in a pinch.” Passengers riding in the front of the Audi 2008 S4 will find themselves enjoying “firm and comfortable” seats that ConsumerGuide says come “with heavier side bolsters to snug occupants in fast cornering.” ForbesAutos claims front-seaters “will find ample room” in nearly every direction, while ConsumerGuide adds that “all models have ample headroom and legroom.” The rear seat is a very different story, though, and most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com mention the lack of rear-seat space on the Audi S4. Car and Driver notes that the “tight back seats” are one of the car’s least appealing features, while ForbesAutos echoes the sentiment, reporting that “back-seat space is at a premium.” Edmunds agrees, though they feel that Audi S4 owners with small children should have no problem sticking the tykes in back, but “adults seated back there will likely complain about a shortage of legroom.”

Despite the lack of rear-seat passenger space, the 2008 Audi S4 sedan offers decent cargo capacity, while the wagon is hugely versatile in terms of its carrying capacity. Car and Driver calls the Audi 2008 S4 sedan suitably “practical for everyday use,” and ConsumerGuide mentions that the sedans “have a usefully roomy trunk and standard fold-down rear seatbacks.” The Audi S4 Avant wagon gets much higher marks from reviewers for its practicality. Edmunds reviewers calculate that “the Avant wagon provides up to 61 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded,” and for those who need to haul both people and cargo, Cars.com says that, with the seats in place, the Audi S4 Avant has “27.8 cubic feet of cargo room,” or “slightly more than double the sedan’s.”

Some Audi S4 detractors will argue about the more conservative styling or poor fuel econ-omy on the 2008 Audi S4, but few can claim the materials and build quality are anything other than superb. Cars.com mentions “silk Nappa leather upholstery is used” on all 2008 Audi S4s, while Edmunds goes so far as to say “Audi consistently produces some of the finest automotive interiors” that “feature superb materials [and] excellent fit and finish.” Con-sumerGuide reviewers, who are normally quite conservative in their assessments of interior quality, are also wowed, claiming the S4 “cabins impress for classy design, materials, and workmanship.”

In addition to top-notch materials and assembly, the 2008 Audi S4 lineup boasts an incredi-bly refined and quiet ride. ConsumerGuide remarks that the “engines purr at cruise and snarl discreetly at full throttle,” and this theme appears in several reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Car and Driver in particular feels that both the Audi S4 sedan and wagon “sound fantastic.”