While all the options are nice if you’re springing for top trim, the base Progressiv is still a nice place to be, and the S4 offers reasonable basic practicality with a 352 L trunk featuring a cargo net, 60/40 split-folding rear seat with ski pass-through and competitive front and rear head and legroom for the class. Audi even thinks of the children, with easily accessible child seat anchors and sunshades on the rear doors.

Transport Canada estimates the S4 manual at 9.0 L/100 km in highway driving, 13.8 in city use, which should average out to 11.7 in typical driving. I was close to but under the city rating, in the mid-13s by the end of my winter week, with heavy traffic during commuting. In my previous long-term test in summer, I finished at 11.5 L/100 km over 4,000+ km, so reasonable efficiency can be achieved, though nothing like BMW’s shockingly efficient turbo straight-six in the 335i xDrive, which is estimated at an even 10.0 L/100 km in combined driving with a manual transmission.

The S4 and A4 upon which it is based are far from the newest entrants in the compact (almost mid-size) luxury category, but they remain highly relevant, demand remaining strong and steady thanks to a good foundation and known qualities. The styling is conservative and ageless, the technology smartly and seamlessly integrated, and the expected practicality suitable to a variety of lifestyles. In the S4, there is a quiet sportiness and unrelenting capability from a trusted all-wheel-drive system that has evolved and stayed at the forefront of the luxury segment.

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 4 years/80,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/unlimited distance 24-hour roadside assistance

Competitors:
Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD
BMW 335i xDrive
Cadillac ATS 3.6L V6
Lexus IS 350 F Sport
Infiniti Q50S AWD
Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD
Mercedes-Benz C 350 4Matic
Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design

Price is an issue though, and despite the A4/S4 staying relevant thanks to a leap ahead when it first debuted, the Lexus IS has seen a leap in sales thanks to an aggressive new design and tantalizing dynamics as well as great value, while newer models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz keep its German compatriots ahead in the sales charts. The time is ripe for an update and we should see the A4 refreshed next year with an S4 soon to follow. In its current form, the S4 is everything a luxury sport sedan should be, powerful, capable, flexible and inviting, but most of all, it has a gem of a manual transmission that should be cherished and embraced by anyone in the market for an engaging and luxurious vehicle. Now about that Avant….

Pricing: 2015 Audi S4
Base Price: $54,100
Base Price (Technik): $58,100
Options: $4,990 (Black Optic package – $700; Glacier White Metallic Paint – $890; Audi quattro Sport Differential – $1,400; Aluminum/Black Beaufort Inlay – $1,100; Suspension with Damping Control – $900)
Destination: $1,995
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $65,285

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