2010 Audi S4 Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 14, 2009

3:16 min

More cylinders is better, right? At Inside Line, we usually think so. And the news that the redesigned 2010 Audi S4 would be ditching its meaty V8 in favor of supercharged V6 struck us as,well, unfortunate. But then we drove it. Turns out sometimes fewer cylinders can be better. Despite the V6T badge on its front fenders, the 2010 S4 features a supercharged 3-liter V6 that packs 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. That's more than the old V8 and enough to scorch the outgoing car on the drag strip. 0-60 flies by in 4.9 seconds, while the quarter- mile comes up in 13.2 seconds at 106.1 mph. Even better, this supercharged power comes on with a crispness and immediacy that makes BMW's turbocharged 335 seem apathetic by comparison. And while fuel economy is hardly a primary concern for sport sedan buyers, the new S4's 21 mpg combined is 6 mpg better than the old V8. Audi's S tronic 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmisison is available, but our test car came with the standard 6-speed manual. It has long shift throws and even longer clutch travel but it's nonetheless easy to operate. Though the new S4 is heavier than the car it replaces, a better weight distribution is achieved thanks to the lighter V6 and a more rearward engine placement. This results in better road manners and improved numbers at the Edmunds Inside Line track. The S4 snakes through our slalom cones at 68.8 mph and circles the skidpad with 0.92g of grip. And that latter number was actually achieved with the stability control turned on. Out on the road, the S4's optional adjustable suspension and rear-biased all-wheel drive provide a level of confidence and control that we at Inside Line frankly weren't expecting. The speed-sensitive steering feels less natural than we'd like, but in general, the S4 is fast enough to warrant its bright yellow paint job. In case you forget you're driving an S4, the interior reminds you with logos on the steering wheel and seats. Otherwise, the cabin is typical Audi, with lavish materials that are solidly assembled. Everything the driver needs to touch feels solid and durable. Your rear seat passengers will appreciate the new abundance of legroom -- an improvement over the old car's penalty box of a back seat. Our loaded 2010 Audi S4 carries a price tag of $59,150. That's a lot of coin for a car in this class, but the new S4 is at least a whole lot of car. The world may have lost yet another ear-pleasing V8, but what it's gained instead is one of the most capable sport sedans available today.