2008 Audi A4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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In its final year before a complete redesign, the 2008 Audi A4 continues to offer more variety than the competition.
Positioned one rung up the entry-luxury car ladder from the Audi A3 hatchback, Audi offers the 2008 A4 as a new car in 2-door convertible, four-door sedan, and five-door station wagon body styles. The wagon, called the A4 Avant, is covered separately. You can also learn about the V8-powered and performance-tuned Audi S4 variants in a separate article. And although the high-performance Audi RS4 is discontinued for 2008 in the US, this model was sold in Canada through the 2008 model year and has become somewhat of a unicorn on the used car market as a result.
Changes for both body styles are limited to standard S-line exterior trim and an available iPod interface Heated seats for the front row are included on all models in Canada at no extra cost. An A4 Special Edition sedan arrived mid-way through the year, equipping the car with an Audi A4 S-Line appearance package with a spoiler and unique bumpers, rain-sensing wipers, bi-Xenon headlamps, a light sensor with a coming-home feature, driver’s side memory seat and power-adjusting passenger seat, and other features.
Because of its front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform, the 2008 Audi A4 carries plenty of visual weight over its front axle, giving the car ungainly proportions compared to rear-drive rivals like the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Otherwise, the A4’s simple and technical design themes have aged gracefully since the car’s last complete redesign for the 2002 model year.
Both the A4 cabriolet and A4 sedan feature premium interior materials and tastefully restrained detailing. Subtle interior differences exist between the two body styles, most notably the round rather than rectangular air vents that give the drop-top a sportier flair. Cloth seats are standard in the sedan, while the convertible includes leather seats.
Choose an A4 with a “2.0T” badge on the back, and it has a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine good for power specs of 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Versions with a “3.2” badge employ a 255-hp 3.2-litre V6 engine.
In Canada, the 2.0-litre engine is offered with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). Choose the V6 powertrain and it comes paired with Quattro only. This applies to sedan and convertible models. When Quattro is equipped, 17-inch alloy wheels and a sunroof are standard.
Turbo A4 models with front-wheel drive sold in Canada use either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Add Quattro, and you can select between the six-speed manual or a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
No matter which drivetrain you get, the 2008 A4 lacks power when lined up against its primary competitors. However, traditional German driving dynamics and the torque-distributing Quattro AWD help to make up for it, especially when the snow flies.
Fuel economy figures range from 9.8 to 13.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.3 to 8.1 L/100 km on the highway, depending on powertrain configuration.
Thanks to a standard eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, it’s easy to find a comfortable position in the Audi A4. Front passengers enjoy a manual seat-height adjuster, and heated front seats are standard.
Both body styles have small back seats. In the A4 sedan, this is more problematic, given the car’s role. In the A4 convertible, the two rear seats make it more practical than most open-air automobiles.
Interior storage is fairly limited. Aside from the cupholders, a small bin under the centre armrest, and narrow door panel bins, the glove compartment is your primary spot in which to stash stuff.
Trunk room is typical of the compact luxury sedan class, at 379 litres. The A4 convertible carries 288 litres of luggage, even with the fabric top lowered.
The Audi A4’s airbag count is dependent on body style and optional equipment. Both the sedan and convertible include dual front and front side airbags. Sedans include side-curtain airbags, and in both body styles, rear side-impact airbags are an option. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control are standard equipment.
Every 2008 Audi A4 also has stability control, which can help the driver to correct a skid and avoid a collision. If the technology is unsuccessful, rest assured the A4 will do its best to protect you. The sedan earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and gets a mix of 4-star and 5-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Audi A4 is now a seven-year-old design, but it’s also less expensive than its main rivals, with a base price of $35,350 for a front-drive sedan and $40,900 for one with Quattro.
Still, with far fresher engineering and technology, the more expensive BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class might just be worth the extra cost.
Note: Images show a US model.
