This is the No. 1 Luxury Compact Sedan According to Consumer Reports
Luxury cars may be expensive, but for many Americans, they’re well worth the price. In fact, many Americans will love their luxury sedan so much that they’ll hold onto them for the long haul. Here is a look at the best luxury compact sedan on the market today, according to Consumer Reports.
The Audi A4 is no. 1
Consumer Reports drove and rated 16 luxury compact sedans, and the results were clear. The Audi A4 may not have been the most expensive car that Consumer Reports tested and it may not have been the most fuel-efficient car either, but overall, it was the best. It beat its competitors by a good margin, too. In total, Consumer Reports gave the A4 an overall score of 88 out of 100.
The runner-ups were the Genesis G70 and the VW Arteon, both of which were tied at second place with an overall score of 82 out of 100. In third place was the Tesla Model 3, which, while it was more fuel efficient than the A4 was, only got an overall score of 80 out of 100. On top of that, despite being the best compact luxury sedan, the A4 doesn’t break the bank either.
According to Consumer Reports, the A4 starts at about $37,000 and can cost almost $45,000 with its most expensive trim. In comparison, the Model 3 starts at about $40,000 and can cost up to $57,000. The most expensive luxury compact sedan that Consumer Reports tested, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, could cost anywhere from $41,000 to $85,000.
Why the Audi A4 is such a good luxury sedan
There were many reasons why the A4 was so good, according to Consumer Reports. One of the many reasons why someone would buy a luxury sedan in the first place is for its performance, and the A4 doesn’t disappoint there. The A4, like other Audis, is very sporty.
There are three engine options, a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 188-hp, a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 248-hp, and finally a 3.0-liter V6 that gets 349-hp. These engines give the A4 a great acceleration rating from Consumer Reports.
Not only that, but the A4 handles really well, though Consumer Reports does say that drivers who aren’t used to Audis may have to get used to the A4’s handling.
Additionally, while the A4 is very sporty, it’s actually pretty fuel-efficient, too. Obviously, the Model 3 is far more fuel-efficient, but at a combined 27 MPG, the A4 is near the top in terms of fuel economy, according to Consumer Reports.
The Audi A4 is comfortable and reliable too
The other reason why people buy a luxury car is for the luxury, of course. The A4 also doesn’t disappoint in this area, as Consumer Reports says that its interior is quiet and the ride is very smooth.
It’s a compact sedan though, so it doesn’t have the most head and legroom available. That said, Consumer Reports thought that the A4 had more than enough head and legroom for most adult passengers.
Furthermore, Consumer Reports called the interior design of the A4 “classy,” which is to be expected of an Audi. The rest of the A4’s interior is also very good, and it’s also loaded with high tech features.
For example, the standard A4 will come with a 7-inch touchscreen and there are options for larger and more high-tech infotainment systems. Audi even offers a head-up display as standard on the A4’s top trim.
These high-tech features support a great car that’s also very safe and reliable. Consumer Reports gave the A4 a 5 out of 5 for its expected reliability as well as the highest safety ratings possible in most crash test categories.
