1996 Audi A4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Not merely a replacement for the old Audi 80 and 90, the 1996 Audi A4 represents a redesign of its classic family sedan. It is a little shorter and wider, with a sturdier suspension and body. A more angled roof line and lower hood increase visibility and headroom. Inside, as always, Audi offers a lot of standard features for no extra cost. This is basically a family sedan if you're looking to ride in style and comfort.
The Audi A4 is available as a front-wheel drive or AWD quattro sedan, both with a 2.8-liter, 172-hp V6 engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed automatic comes optional. This four-dour family sedan is high on comfort and performance, if not necessarily on speed and acceleration. A stronger suspension and precise sensitive steering, make the Audi A4 easy to drive. Interior standard features such as air conditioning, dual climate control, tilt steering, cruise control, and power windows and locks make you feel like you're in a more expensive car. Leather upholstery and heated seat options add to the luxury feel.
Features that 1996 A4 owners love are the confident quattro handling, excellent brakes, and smooth ride. Owners agree they feel safe when behind the wheel of an Audi A4, an important feature for a family car. Low marks go to the cramped back seat, useless cupholders, wind noise, and awkward manual shifting. Drivers also wish for more horsepower and less costly repairs.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1996 Audi A4
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by Adam B
Oct 02, 2014
I had a 1996 Audi A4 Quattro as my first vehicle. Overall I would say I was very satisfied with it. The Quattro AWD system is truly phenomenal in bad weather. Lots of luxury features, powerful engine and smooth shifting transmission make for a very enjoyable ride. Gas millage wasn't bad for a V6 AWD car either. Good looking, safe, reliable vehicle. The only downsides to the A4 in my opinion would be the electrical system, and expensive maintenance costs. Oct 02, 2014
by Curt B
Jun 04, 2012
nice smooth car, defo could do with a remap to around 205bhp from standard 150. Still nice smooth power delivery as standard. Sport models handle nicer with slighty stiffer shocks, this one was an SE model though with every extra, Easily capable of over 150mphJun 04, 2012
by Antonio B
Dec 30, 2010
Performance: with 125 PS and a top speed of 200 Km/h it´s ok.
Build Quality: well, it´s an Audi, so it´s good.
Appearance: not as good as I´d hope ^^
Cost of Ownership: For a better mileage and more Power try the 1.8 Turbo.
Fun Factor? : it understeers, but that's typical for FWD Audis.
The good thing is that you´ve got a lot of Space, so you can go with your Girlfriend and a lot of things in Summer for a drive and sleep behind quite good^^. Dec 30, 2010
User rating:
by Adam B
Oct 02, 2014
I had a 1996 Audi A4 Quattro as my first vehicle. Overall I would say I was very satisfied with it. The Quattro AWD system is truly phenomenal in bad weather. Lots of luxury features, powerful engine and smooth shifting transmission make for a very enjoyable ride. Gas millage wasn't bad for a V6 AWD car either. Good looking, safe, reliable vehicle. The only downsides to the A4 in my opinion would be the electrical system, and expensive maintenance costs. Oct 02, 2014
by Curt B
Jun 04, 2012
nice smooth car, defo could do with a remap to around 205bhp from standard 150. Still nice smooth power delivery as standard. Sport models handle nicer with slighty stiffer shocks, this one was an SE model though with every extra, Easily capable of over 150mphJun 04, 2012
by Antonio B
Dec 30, 2010
Performance: with 125 PS and a top speed of 200 Km/h it´s ok.
Build Quality: well, it´s an Audi, so it´s good.
Appearance: not as good as I´d hope ^^
Cost of Ownership: For a better mileage and more Power try the 1.8 Turbo.
Fun Factor? : it understeers, but that's typical for FWD Audis.
The good thing is that you´ve got a lot of Space, so you can go with your Girlfriend and a lot of things in Summer for a drive and sleep behind quite good^^. Dec 30, 2010
by Anonymous
Dec 18, 2010
I love this car very much. Love almost everything, acceleration is good, stops very quick, the best part is the way it handles in snow. The gas milage is very well for the size of engen and allwheeldrive. Maintenance is a bit high, and expensive. However, the part are made very reliable. The design is very stylish, in and out. Fun to drive. And very comfortable.Dec 18, 2010
by David H
Oct 09, 2010
Performance: Quite Good. We thought this was a 1.8 when it was a 1.6. Brakes very nice, handled very well too.
Build Quality: Very Good
Appearance: Good, a bit dull to look at
Cost of Ownership: Cheap to run
Fun Factor: Quite Good to driveOct 09, 2010
by Y.L. C
Sep 07, 2010
Great performance and excellent road handling. The car engine has its
specialty about it. Everything in the engine and electronic components has
to be perfectly as it was specified by the manufacturer. Even a spoilt
dipstick cover can cause shudder owing to pressure leaks.
You will never know until you put everything back to original as it should
be.Sep 07, 2010
by Jason M
Feb 24, 2010
This car is very reliable when well maintained. The one I have
has an engine out of an a6 with basically the same milage...so
I want to put in a 2.7tt out of an s4 b5 model just need the
money for it...other wise car is alot of fun...even with out the
extra power an s4 gives.Feb 24, 2010
by Adam M
Oct 10, 2009
Performance- accel, braking, handling, top end
quality- no repairs needed
appearance- sporty, great interior features
cost- premium gas, parts expensive if need repair
fun factor- this car was a blast to drive
So I highly recommend this car to all!Oct 10, 2009
by Riaan A
Aug 21, 2009
i love the drive but the electronics are a mission must be careful about who is fixing up the car if its not the agents,it will be good to have a maintenance plan on these things very comfortable large luxurious Aug 21, 2009
by Phil B
Jul 22, 2009
Grip is fantastic, you can throw this things round bends all day long without sliding off thr road. Speed also, even though it is heavy it does still have a good kick, because of the 2.6 V6. Fantastic drive. The high maintanence costs are worth living with as problems with these cars are few and far between.Jul 22, 2009
by Lasse I
May 13, 2009
The performance was alright, a 2.6 V6 sounds nice, but it only had 150 HP which is brisk, but not racing fast.
I spent quite a bit to restore it. I fixed the radiator, pluggs, filters and some big parts.
The car does look awesome from the outside...well...at least mine did with some beautiful 18 inch rims and sport suspension.
Even though it was a 2.6 V6, the milage wasn't too bad.
Although it only had 150 HP, it was worth it when downshifting in tunnels with your windows down. May 13, 2009
by Aki L
Dec 21, 2008
I just want a six cylinder diesel, which this isn't. Audi is a great car, but rwd would be more fun to drive. This is my firs car, and I am relatively pleased with it. It is not a cheap car to run, but it's worth paying a bit more than boring avensis for example.Dec 21, 2008
by Zac F
Dec 15, 2008
Performance-acceleration in this car is quick for
only having 172 hp. But it will toss your head back
a little. Braking is excellent and the handling is
superb just stock from the factory.
Build Quality- The car has needed general maintenance, such as timing belt, brakes and that
sort of thing. The is some wind noise at speeds in
excess of 75 mile per hour, but nothing else. Car is
german and german=awesome.
Appearance- Styling of this car is classic. It never
looks old or outdated. Interior is classy with leather
seats and wood accents. Exterior design exudes
elegance and power.
Cost of Ownership- I average about 25 MPG total
with 29 or 30 on the highway. Maintenance cost is
a little bit higher than say, a Honda, but you get
what you pay for with this car. You will not be
disappointed with any aspect of it.
Fun Factor- This car is a blast! You have a lot of
fun with just the stock performance and handling of
the car. It is very trackable and fun to bomb
through canyon roads with. If you put a
performance exhaust kit on it, you will not be
disappointed with the growl that comes from the
engine. This is definitely one of the most fun cars
I've ever driven.
I would recommend this car to anyone looking to
have a car that looks good, but can also drive like
the European sports car it really is. If you have the
means to purchase one, I suggest that you do!Dec 15, 2008
by Matteo S
Nov 29, 2008
Strong engine this 174 hp V6. Pulling very well at any speed. Gear rations are spot on, and nothing to argue about the braking system. What is impressive, is the way the "Quattro" system can find traction anywhere. Perfect car for winter, and that's basically its use.
Build quality is at modern Audis level and only the look might have dated a little bit.
It's not a very cheap car to own, but I've seen worse.
Definitely a great all rounder.Nov 29, 2008
by David K
Sep 11, 2008
I own a euro spec with the 1.9 TDI and 5 speed with 230,000km (143,000 miles) that was always serviced at the original dealer. I picked it up because I was looking for a diesel car since I live 30 minutes from work. When I fill up the 60L tank, I can drive 1050km until the low fuel light comes on, then I fill up about 55L of fuel. That's good for 5.2L/100km or 45MPG. And that's driving on the Autobahn doing 160km/h+ (100MPH+), so that's excellent! It has a leaky rear main seal, but not that bad. The clutch needs replacing soon, so I guess I'll have that replaced at the same time. Car is rock solid and feels like a Mercedes when closing the doors. Rides super smooth and controlled. Acceleration is just barely adequate due to the slow revving turbodiesel. Once the turbo is fully spun up, it moves, but before that is barely any power. On the highway at Autobahn speeds, it's stable as you'd expect a German car to be. Super easy to drive. HUGE trunk, even after the 12" sub I put in there.Sep 11, 2008
by Aquiles P
Aug 05, 2008
This has been an amazing vehicle. I purchased it new back in 1996 and it now has over 170,000 miles on it. Granted, I've kept the maintenance on it up to date. Its really paid for itself over this time. The body is all aluminum with thousands of weld spots, so there have never been any squeaks to speak of. The handling in rain is still amazing and outdoes much newer vehicles in poor to bad weather. My vehicle is a stick so it has plenty of power to get from here to there, but it isn't a lightning bolt. I recently had a variety of dings removed and now it looks just like new. The all wheel Quattro makes it a delight to drive almost anywhere! I wold definitely recommend purchasing an older A4 that's been taken care of, or one with low miles. Aug 05, 2008
by Luke L
Jul 23, 2008
Beautiful car, quick, its a sedan sleeper. can keep up with modified cars pretty well. Love the car, rugged, can outrun the cops without worry. Brilliant car. Heated leather seats get the girls...gorgeous interior, luxurious and comfortable.. great over all. handles like a dream, in the snow perfect for doing donuts, good rally offroading, good for road racing a friend. holds up good dispite all the abuse. Jul 23, 2008
by Cameron G
Jul 22, 2008
Another one of my brother's cars. This one seems to be putting up with the rough justice of being owned by my brother quite well.
It is 12 years old, so there have been a few items that have needed some work lately - but that's to be expected.
A comfortable car, the A4 was Audi's first successful attempt at cracking the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C Class market. It was the model that really put Audi on the map and has been the foundation for what is an impressive model line-up.
Audi dispensed with its venerable 5 cylinder and inserted either a new 4 cylinder engine (with turbo option) or the new V6 of either 2.6 or 2.8 litres. The V6 is a torquey and powerful unit, and when attached to a manual gearbox, makes for exciting performance.
The trim quality is typical VW/Audi - just about faultless. The interior is made of high quality materials that wear well and look attractive over 10 years on. Occasional electrical faults are to be expected, as with any German car over 10 years old.
Well equipped in even standard form, the first series A4 is now a relative bargain and servicing costs aren't as crippling as some people will have you believe (especially compared with some Asian manufacturers).
A sensible choice for someone wanting a quality car at a reasonable price - but make sure it's got a full service history.Jul 22, 2008
by Jake C
Jul 17, 2008
amazingly quick, great handeling. custom paint job. lowered. remus cat back exhaust. 5 speed manual transmission. could out run any honda on any day. had a custom sound system with built in amp, custom headset. had red neons under the dash to match the red dash. all leather interior. amazing car, but just costs to much to repair anything the brokeJul 17, 2008
by Devin M
May 29, 2008
This is the nicest car I've owned both in luxury and personality but overall not very exciting. Great in all weather and relatively good on gas.May 29, 2008
by Dominic M
Apr 28, 2008
I LOVE this car. My next "nice" car will be an Audi, hands down.Apr 28, 2008
by Leslie L
Apr 19, 2008
This was a great car with the looks to match. I only had it six months, but it was a fun six months :)Apr 19, 2008
by Russell C
Jan 05, 2008
The audi a4 quattro is a lovely car. I had this one about a year and loved it. Parts are quite expensive but if you can fix it yourself your laughing. I drove this car in the snow and sun and it handled like it was on rails, the only fault with the handling is the usual audi fault with understeer on the limit....you can compensate this by using the scandinavian flick technique but it wont really go away.Jan 05, 2008
by Aquiles P
Jan 01, 2008
I purchased my 4 Door 2.8 quattro AWD sedan back in 1996 and its been my primary daily driver since then. It now has about 170,000 miles and its still going strong. This didn't happen by chance, I've always kept up with all its maintenance needs, and sent it to the mechanic whenever anything sounded or felt off. The result has been a trustworthy ride with all its amenities in functioning order. However, over the years the auto industry has been increasing the horsepower available so that a car having over 200 hp is normal. Although still quite nimble with only 172 hp, I'm not smoking anyone in the 0-60 bucket. That's really the only issue that makes this A4 feel dated on the road. Otherwise, its a fine ride particularly when the Quattro kicks in during rains or snows. If you're going to own an Audi, do yourself a favor, get the Quattro option and find yourself a trustworthy mechanic. That should be all you need for years of enjoyable driving.Jan 01, 2008
by Andrew C
Dec 24, 2007
This is a really nice car, solid German build quality, good performance from only a 1.8 litre engine, extremely comfortable ride as many passengers have attested by falling asleep (could be my dull conversation though!), bit expensive to maintain and fill but its not the most expensive car to own, overall this is the Epitome of mid 90s German Automotive Perfection.Dec 24, 2007
by Christian S
Nov 24, 2007
I really liked this car. It was reliable, good looking and quite performant...Nov 24, 2007
1996 Audi A4 Pricing
Original MSRP
$26,975 to $28,475Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Upholstery: vinyl
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic
Drivetrain
Locking differential: center
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Upholstery: vinyl
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
