What's in a letter? A decade ago Audi took an A4, added a couple of turbos to the V6, stiffened up the suspension, and named the result the S4. A special experience that became even more special (if less moddable) when the 250-horsepower turbo V6 was replaced by a 340-horsepower V8 a few years later. And so S was for Audis what M was for BMWs. The A4 was redesigned for 2009, and this year there's a new S4. The V8 is out, replaced by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 good for 333 horsepower. Is the resulting car worthy of the S?

2010 Audi S4 Styling

A year ago I first reviewed the then-new B8 A4 2.0T. That review can be found here. With the B8 A4, Audi rearranged the drivetrain components to permit the front axle to be shifted forward four inches. In addition to improving the car's weight distribution, this improved the car's proportions. Other changes from the B7 A4 included what BMW would call "flame surfacing" on the lower bodysides.

Even with these changes, the current Audi A4 looks much like the previous one. Certainly not a bad thing, as either A4 is a handsome car. And yet it's not as stunning as the related A5 coupe.

The new Audi S4 looks nearly identical to the A4 on which it is based. The wheel design is unique, but such a subtle difference will be lost on all but the most ardent Audi fans. I had to check the trunk lid to verify that I was getting into an S4 rather than an A4.

You'll find few other clues that you're in an Audi S4 once inside the car. Audi has led the industry in interior design and construction for at least the last decade, and this one is largely up to snuff. And yet some bits seem cheaper than in the previous car, most notably the silver plastic trim plate across the top half of the instrument panel face and the hard plastic door pulls.

Audi S4 Accommodations

The new Audi S4, like the A4 on which it is based, is 4.6 inches longer and 2.1 inches wider than the old one. This larger exterior translates to a larger interior. In the front seat, you sit a bit lower behind a more imposing instrument panel than before and the cabin feels noticeably wider. Both changes lend the car an almost midsize feel, which can be good or bad depending on whether you're buying a compact sedan because it costs less than a larger one or because you like the more agile, more intimate feel of a smaller car.

The 2010 Audi S4 does have standard sport buckets. Compared to the standard seats in the A4, these have much more prominent side bolsters. These provide excellent lateral support, but they were just short of uncomfortable for me and I have a fairly slim build. Larger people might find these seats unbearable. I recall the old S4's Recaro buckets more fondly.

In the back seat, knees have about an inch more space, which is significant since many adults couldn't quite fit into the back seat of the old S4. The rear seat remains too low to the floor to provide adults with thigh support, though.

As before, the rear seat folds in two parts to enlarge the average-sized trunk. Try that in a Japanese competitor.

Audi S4 Performance

The new Audi S4 is available with two transmissions, a six-speed conventional manual and a seven-speed automated dual clutch manual (DSG in VW-speak). I drove the former. Start up the new S4 and get going, and the first thing you'll notice is that the shift lever is a little too tall for comfort. Easily fixed with a mod. Otherwise, the new car's shifter feels smoother than Audi's typical lever.

The next thing you notice is that, when driving the new Audi S4 casually, there isn't much to notice. In the old V8-powered S4, a sporty burble reminded you at all times that you were driving something special. In the new one, noise from all sources, including the engine, is low. In some supercharged engines, the blower assaults the eardrums. With this one, my ears failed to notice it.

Is the new 2010 Audi S4 quick? Absolutely. The supercharged engine doesn't pack the obvious wallop I recall in the old biturbo V6--power builds more linearly and without a lag--but it does pull very strongly. Fuel economy also benefits from the engine swap: EPA ratings go from 13/19 to 18/27--so goodbye gas guzzler tax. And yet, something is also lost: the supercharged V6 verges on characterless. It has none of the soul of the V8.

Like the new Audi A4, the new S4 has more communicative steering and more balanced handling than the old one. The nose of the car no longer feels ponderous or plows in hard turns, as it did with the previous S4. Thanks to grippy tires, you'll hear no tire squeal in anything approaching legal driving. And yet the edge that marks the best performance sedans is absent. On the flip side, the ride is far more absorbent than I expected it to be.

A couple of performance-oriented options were not on the 2010 Audi S4 I drove. An $1,100 active rear differential should made the S4 feel more like a rear-wheel drive car, with throttle-induced oversteer on demand. Spend an extra $3,950 for the Audi Drive Select Package, and this active differential is joined by active steering, electrically-adjustable shocks, and a switch to alter the calibrations of both. The adjustable steering and shocks get stellar reviews in every Audi in which they're offered. With them, the latest S4 might be the most thrilling yet.

Problem is, without them the new Audi S4 feels much like a regular A4, just with 50 percent more power. If Audi had called the car I drove an A4 3.0T, as it does when the A6 is fitted with this engine, then I'd have no complaints. But an S4 should be more special. As it is, it's just a very quick and very competent but otherwise normal-feeling car.

Audi S4 Price Comparisons and Pricing
Audi has cut the S4's price from $49,385 for the 2008 (there was no 2009) to $46,725 for the 2010, to reflect the lower manufacturing cost of the supercharged V6 engine.

This new price is within a couple hundreds dollars of that of the BMW 335i xDrive when both are similarly equipped. I doubt this is a coincidence. So the choice between the Audi and the BMW won't be due to any difference in sticker prices.

On the other hand, an Infiniti G37x is about $14,000 less than either of the Germans.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, TrueDelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the S4:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/A4.php

Last Words

The 2010 Audi S4 is certainly an excellent car. I just wish it felt more special, and offered a more engaging driving experience.

My suggestion: rename the car I drove the A4 3.0T, perhaps giving it the regular A4's seats in the process. If this car was so labeled, I'd give it a full five stars. Audi should reserve the S4 nameplate for a car with the sport seats, the Audi Drive Select Package, and perhaps some even sharper tuning.

Yes, no doubt there will be a hyper-priced RS4 in the future to provide what I am looking for. But it should be possible to provide a car the driver can truly connect with for well under the $80,000 that car will likely cost.

A Note on Audi S4 Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review.
However, many people are interested in such information, so I've been collecting my own data. Results are posted to TrueDelta.com, with updates every three months. Unlike other sources, TrueDelta clearly identifies what difference it will make if you buy an Audi S4 rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" stats.

To report results, TrueDelta needs reliability data on all cars--not just the Audi S4--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants pay an access fee.

Details here:

http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php

Alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.
Amount Paid (US$): 47,200
Model and Options: S4 6-speed manual