1st Place: 2013 Audi S4 Quattro Premium, Jeff Wilson
    2013 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge |
Well surprise, surprise, another Audi wins another Autos.ca comparison test (that’s three in a row for those of you that are counting). And yes, we know it’s the most expensive car in the group, but before you hurl insults at us for picking the obvious choice, hear me out.
First of all, please understand that this was far from a runaway victory for the Audi. Of our test drivers, we were surprisingly divided about which car should take the trophy (all but one of us chose either the S4 or the 335i, with that one odd duck preferring the ATS).
Even before putting our butts in the spectacular sport seats, the Audi stands out from this pack with its gorgeous exterior design. Chosen prettiest of the pageant, the S4 beautifully blends its aggressive front end with well-proportioned flanks and a tidy caboose, not to mention exterior lighting that is distinctive and appealing. Wearing a $750 optional Estoril Blue Crystal Effect paint didn’t hurt either. [Hmm, are they running out of colour names that BMW and Audi both have Estoril Blues? –Ed.]
Inside, the Audi is almost as perfect, taking a second place only to the more contemporary BMW (the voting possibly skewed by one judge’s disdain for Audi’s multiple “blanks” on the dash despite its lofty cost). The aforementioned seats enveloped most of us with fantastic support in shoulders, hips and thighs, keeping the driver planted during aggressive cornering.
And it’s that cornering that makes the Audi really stand out from the pack. Its capabilities are nearly supernatural with grip and the ability to put power to the ground that practically defy physics. True, the pricey $4,000 Audi Drive Select with Quattro Sport Differential utilizes advanced computer trickery to get the job done; but it impressed the heck out of each of us for its performance, especially on the tight and gritty corners.
One of our test team did note however, that the Audi’s power delivery near its limits feels a little unnatural and might prove less effective than BMW’s more traditional power delivery in a racetrack setting. Since we didn’t have a track at our disposal, the rest of us remain skeptical of such an affront to the Quattro’s supremacy. Decades of fine-tuning Audi’s all-wheel-drive system has resulted in a remarkably polished effort – especially when compared to the only other car with front-drive origins: the Volvo.
Bearing in mind that these sedans are supposed to provide equal measures of performance and panache, it should be stated that the Audi is the loudest car here. When compared with the others, you could suggest it gets downright noisy in the S4, but I dare say it is magnificently so. The sounds that emanate from both intake and exhaust are all business and make the other cars sound either industrial or benign by comparison.
Each rip to redline is punctuated by a clicked shifter paddle and the impossibly quick S tronic dual-clutch transmission selecting its next gear. The BMW’s awesome eight-speed is surprisingly rapid fire too, but the Audi emits a ferocious snort with each shift, adding to the visceral enjoyment.
   2013 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge |
For those that question the price, I wish to remind everyone that if you can live without the computerized suspension option and trick diff, 19-inch wheels, fancy paint and navigation, you can shave ten grand from the Audi. Then you’d still have the best engine, brakes, styling and the most fun-to-drive car of the group. Better still, shift your own gears (something only BMW and Audi let you do) and save another $1,600.
Still not convinced? The S4 also possesses the best cargo space (with a wide, square opening), cabin storage and driving position as determined by the votes. And on top of all of that, it can still do its due diligence as a passenger-carrying device with mid-pack ratings for rear seat comfort.
Audi’s victory here is hard-fought, but well earned, even if it did only squeak out a win by a single point over the BMW.
With exciting new competitors from Lexus and Infiniti on the horizon, a rematch won’t be far off, and can’t come soon enough.
Pricing: 2013 Audi S4 Quattro Premium
Base price (S4 Quattro Premium): $59,400
Optional equipment: Audi Drive Select with Quattro Sport Differential – $4,000; Carbon atlas trim – $800; Estoril Blue Crystal Effect paint – $750
Destination: $1,995
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $68,740
