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Car Review: Audi blurs the line between sports and luxury sedan with the 2020 Audi S4

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It used to be if you wanted a sporty muscle sedan you needed to give up some of the luxury to gain performance. Enter the 2020 Audi S4 sedan which offers a spunky, 350hp turbo V6 that goes from quiet cruiser to snarling beast with a touch of the gas pedal.

The handling also transforms from easy rider to serious sport car thanks to the optional adaptive suspension. Plus, the Quattro AWD system gives you confidence in all-weather conditions.

For 2020, the S4 gets a new look on the outside with a more distinctive front-end, and style that makes this Audi stand out.

The red brake calipers, and four exhaust pipes sticking out from the back bumper, proclaim this is more than a normal luxury sedan.

The S4 comes with a premium interior as well. From diamond-stitched leather to Alcantara sports seats with massage, the seats hold you in place and provide lots of comfort.

New for this year is the updated dash with a sleek and fresh look.

The large MMI touch screen has improved graphics and is quicker to respond but it does take a bit of time to learn.

Add the pricey Prestige package and you gain a great sounding Bang & Olufsen sound system and a lot of safety and convenience features.

Cost: $49,900; as tested $66,490
MPG: 20MPG City; 27 MPG Highway. I managed 23.2 in 243 miles of mixed driving.
Options: $8,450 Prestige package; $595 Glacier white paint; $2,500 S sport package; $1,400 black optic package; $1,500 dynamic steering; $1,000 fine Nappa leather seats; $500 carbon atlas inlays
Safety: parking system plus with park assist; head-up display with sign recognition; adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist; Audi active lane assist; Audi side assist with pre sense rear; Audi pre sense city low speed collision assist
Things to know: Audi S4 is the performance sedan that doubles effortlessly as a luxury sedan. With an updated look and improved technology inside, it’s a solid choice in the sports sedan market.

Pros:

  • Performance and luxury combined in a luxury sedan
  • Updated interior with news dash and better infotainment system
  • Year-round performance thanks to Quattro AWD

Cons:

  • Adding options quickly raises the price
  • Storage space is lacking for larger items (Check out the Audi S5 Sportback if you need more room.)
  • the new MMI touchscreen system has a bit of learning curve

Car Review: You can plug-in for better mpg with BMW’s new version of the X3

Compact luxury crossovers are big business as buyer's trade in luxury sedans for the popular high riders. BMW redesigned its X3 a couple years ago to better compete in a more crowded marketplace. I drove the sporty X3 M40i in 2019 and was impressed with its potent performance. New for 2020 is a plug-in hybrid version that allows for 18-20 miles of electric-only driving. But when you combine the gas engine and that electric motor, the xDrive30e is transformed into a fun performance ride.
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