New S4 Australian debut

The arrival of an all-new S4 model – offered in both Sedan and Avant forms – inevitably gets the Audi adherents all excited and chatty.

Now into its sixth generation, the S4 is proving ever-more popular amongst Australians, who – make no mistake – do have a fondness for sporty premium machinery. Especially V6s and V8s (and V10s for that matter…

The new S4 takes the whole mid-sized athletic luxury concept further than ever before, with broad appeal to those looking for something more exclusive and even more special than an A4 but not quite ready for the roaring, flamboyant joie de vivre of the RS 4 Avant.

Obviously based on the well-received new A4 launched across Australia last year, the latest S4 double act strikes many new highs. It’s lighter, faster, and is more refined and more technologically advanced than any previous S4.  

Better still, it is simply a brilliant, quick, fun drive. Safe, settled and relaxing.

Here’s another piece to contemplate. It’s great value; at $99,900 the S4 Sedan is the first S4 priced below $100,000. That constitutes a saving of nearly $7000 on the last-gen S4 Sedan.  The gorgeous new Avant is another $3000, but also gets some exclusive features such as roof rails and cargo nets. It also gets a lot more carrying space, as much as 1510 litres with the rear seats folded away.

Both the sedan and Avant share a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 hooked up to a conventional, fast-shifting eight-speed transmission that easily handles the 500Nm of torque.

With 260kW on tap, the petrol TFSI engine is a jewel, its wide 90-degree vee design allowing the turbocharger to sit neatly between the banks. The efficient packaging allows the turbo to spool up in an instant, eliminating turbo lag and giving splendid immediate response and that glorious, easy urge from low in the revs.

It propels the S4 to the 6500rpm maximum so quickly and fuss-free, with only the rising urgency of the sound from the exhaust, and the flashing scenery, to remind the occupants of rather rapid transit. The pair of dual exhaust pipes make some very expressive yet somehow cultured noises as the revs rise, yet such is the thoroughness of cabin insulation, the sound doesn’t overwhelm.

We tried the S4 Sedan and Avant across New South Wales back roads, replete with pitted, pockmarked surfaces and lumps and bumps, and even the loose blue metal. Billiard tables they were not and yet the S4s loved them and so did we, taking the opportunity to play with much of the technology on offer on the twisting Abercrombie Road, the delightful part of our Orange-Canberra journey.

The suspension compliance was never challenged on the low-profile 19-inch rubber, even after slotting the Drive Select system to ‘dynamic’ – giving a heavier steering loading, sharper throttle reaction, sportier transmission setting, open exhaust flap, adaptive dampers in firm sport choice, and even more reactive cruise control.

Yes, the S4 develops a hint of menace but always retains the calm, refined traits a buyer would expect. Yet it’s disarmingly fast, and always stable and composed, the mechanical centre diff assisting the S4 to the corner apexes with no front-end push.

When in the Comfort mode – my personal default setting unless I really need to extend the sportiness of the S4 – the Audi is a little more mellow, the bumps a little softer, the engine note more distant, the steering lighter and the transmission unobtrusive. Never, though, does it feel anything but able and willing.

It’s nice to be able to dial up two very different variations of sporting luxury.

Interestingly, too, the all-new S4 is stacked with every active driver assistance systems that Audi currently offers. More than the A8 even. Unique to the S4, and standard, are Active lane assist,  Adaptive cruise control with stop and go plus traffic jam assist, Audi pre-sense front with advanced autonomous emergency braking functionality, 360-degree surround view camera, Turn assist, Collision avoidance assist, and High beam assist.

And quick too. The sedan S4 jumps to 100km/h in 4.7secs – the same as the last RS 4.  The Avant is a teeny bit slower. Weight is the enemy of performance, and Audi has taken many kilos from the S4 (and the A4) even though they’re flush with more equipment. 

Inside the classy cockpit with its mix of leather, brushed aluminium trim, sports seats, and smart detailing, occupants will enjoy the ease and spread of Audi’s latest intelligent connectivity and infotainment offerings including Apple Play and Android Auto mirroring and in-car wi-fi capability (all you need is a data sim card). An 8.3-inch centre-mounted screen displays sat-nav and the myriad of music, smart phone and connectivity features.

The S4 also gets as standard the acclaimed Audi virtual cockpit display with all its variations. 

Nice too that a three-zone air-conditioning allows occupants some individual climate control to fight the searing summer heat. 

Though the S4s are loaded with included spoil-and-enjoy features, there are some people who always want greater individuality, or the whole banquet. S Performance and Technik packages will scratch that itch.

On sale now, the all-new 2017 S4 Sedan and Avant justifiably seem destined to be the best-received of the breed yet.