Currently, I’m driving a diesel. And my previous car was diesel also. Petrol technology has come along way in the past 10 years, the difference in economy is now only worth it for those doing very high annual mileage. In my opinion, obviously!

Those aren’t fog lamps, they are radar for Adaptive Cruise

The engine is Not run in yet. its only done around 4K, the mpg will improve after 10K, then improve further as the miles build up

Good review. No unnecessary technical jargon that most people won’t understand. Keep up the good work PP.

I have had the S4 TDI Avant for about a year now and I absolutely love it ! It is the first S car that i have owned so I can not compare to the previous petrol versions. I don't mind that the missing petrol scream - in fact i like the more quiet diesel tork that seems to drag asphalt up like "il tempo gigante". The fuel economy is quite ok on long rides - I can cover 1250 km in 12 hours with full loaded car and obtain about 14 km/ liter. During daily commute on country road and highway around 16.5 km / liter. I dont think that is bad for a 350 HP car.

Brilliant review...Really enjoyed it....Keep up the great work....

having owned B8 and now B9 gives a great perspective to the review

just bought the S5 TDI, totally agree with your comments-blisteringly quick, super economical when driven normally. Idd describe it more like a GT car than a performance due to the lack of theatre.

Great review. Seen this car doing the rounds online and I think others haven’t quite got it but you nailed it on the head.

"Like" for the short 'road vid w/ music', I think you can try to put more of those in future videos. And "Like" for the road trips overall. I used to live & work in the UK and I miss it very much. Love the way you present your thoughts and car reviews. Love to kind of feel myself as a passenger and a friend of yours during your trips and/or walks. Keep going, awesome content, very nice channel out there! Subscribed after the very first video I have watched. Thanks for everything you do!

Great video. Answered a lot of Q's on MPG for me. Thanks

personally I find the torque of diesels satisfying in the shove department making up for the lack of aural drama, the low mpg of your S4 D is surprising, It's Another great review Peter, loads of information with classy presentation, as always 👍

Quality and honest review. Brilliant. Thank you

Great work as always Pete. Really surprised that Audi have gone down the diesel route with the S4. Didn’t see that coming.

Thanks for the candid review 👍👍

in a lot of European countries diesel fuel is just (or a lot) cheaper than petrol. But the lack of difference between your S4 and the new one surprises me too. Great real world review. Personally I prefer a diesel of the relaxing way it revs (in combination with a auto gearbox). This S4 is one of my favo new cars.....

Hi great episode I like these sort of videos, my 2019 Bmw m140i can get 45 mpg on a long run and its not a diesel, thank god, 6 cylinders 🙂 . Love your channel great to watch 👍

Another brilliant video... We can tell that you prefer your own S4. With regards to the touch screen, I think a lot are like this. I have an Apple Watch and you can use the screen to reply to text messages etc and when I write 2 it thinks I’m trying to write a “z” and also when I try and write “I” it thinks I want to write “1” lol. Really enjoyed the video. Some great camera angles for your boot section. Brilliant. Take care and drive safe.

Great video mate! Enjoyed it a lot

Enjoyed this review. Think i will be sticking with my petrol S4 also.

Nice music on the return leg of the trip....I have found the steering feels best in Auto mode in Audis.

Hello pal. Great review. It’s nice when you can compare side by side.

Just to say that's not spot lams/ fog lamps on the front, that's the radars. Love that you got to test drive this car to its fullest, Having an 2018 S5 Sportback I have been looking at the new one and now after knowing about the MPG I'll stick with what I have. The V6 Petrol engine is a heart in my mind for a car that is full of soul. I have all the toys you show with some others so don't think changing to a new one will give me more in that instance, its all about the driving. S car's are for drivers and if people don't get it. just get an A Amazing review.

Another excellent review Pete, the mpg as you said is not totally convincing! I'm amazed your S4 didn't come with adaptive cruise control, even my Golf SE came with that, Audi sure know how to charge, I guess their fancy showrooms have to be paid for! We recently had a two week holiday in Cornwall, first time I've been back since growing up there as a kid, I'd forgotten how stunning it is, especially when the kids are at school, lol. Cheers.

Don’t worry about being late to the party on the Audi. I just watched 5th gear and they had the Hyundai that you reviewed months ago! The joys and immediacy of a KZfaq channel!

The rev-counter is in the middle in yours because you have it set on a "Sport layout", while the facelifted one is set to "Classic layout" you can change that from your steering wheel.

You can actually change the appearance of the virtual cockpit in the settings to a central rev counter with the new hockey stick layout

I just bough an A6 3.0TDI. On the drive from Kings Lynne to Swindon, I averaged 47.5 mpg. Hmm. not bad. Oh they are the radar pods, not fogs :)

Audi definitely need to keep the jog wheel as well as touch screen

I have thoroughly enjoyed this presentation ,my first

Once again, I think you've nailed it and echoed my thoughts exactly. I'm a B9 S4 petrol owner and I love my car. I was gutted when I heard about the change to diesel and feared the worse. I'm not overly enamoured about the removal of the MMi wheel, but I *could* put up with it if the car met every other requirement of mine. Unfortunately, this doesn't, and I highly doubt I'd be buying this and it wouldn't surprise me if the numbers for the S4 tanked. Why? Well, first you have to ask yourself the question 'why would I buy a diesel', and the answer is never about 'fun, excitement, and feeling', but always about fuel efficiency and cost. As you've excellently pointed out, it's barely any more efficient than the petrol, yet costs more to run and buy. By comparison, the standard 3.0 TDi is £10k cheaper as a base price and is more fuel efficient. You can also spec it with everything in the S4 except the sports seats and the 'sport' dial mode (which, again, I agree - I prefer our mode). So really, you're paying a lot more money for a less efficient, more expensive version of the diesel car that's only slightly faster. I don't get it. My only hope for me is that they reverse this, rather stupid, decision in time for my new one in 12/24 months time. Although I doubt it. Failing that I'll have to move back to Merc or hope that Jaguar produce an XF-S estate. Thanks for the vid.

Good video and comparison. Both the new and old S4 can swap between the single big rev counter and the 2 seperate rev and speed counters, its in the settings but can only be changed when the car is stationary. Also if you want a little extra noise from your B9 S4 unplug both the exhaust valves whilst the car is turned off, it will make the valves stay open all the time, even below 3k revs. Ive just recently changed my tyres, i stepped the size up to a 255, gives that extra little protection to your alloys and helps fill them arches a tad, they where also slightly cheaper aswell !

Just discovered your channel. Great video.

Interesting review. I do the same sort of trip quite often from Outside Petersfield to Helston to visit family and on a good run in my 2005 2.7TD Range Rover Sport, get around 28MPG. Good you pointed out the extra cost for diesel, it’s often forgotten about now. I think I’d stick with your Petrol S4, it’s more of an event to drive 👍

Thanks for the honest review. I'm on my 9th Audi now and love the cars but I do wonder what direction they are going in with diesel. I often find myself having debates with people about downsizing form my RS7 / why do I need it but I can get over 400 miles from a tank at 31-32mpg at an average of 70mph and that S4 is only doing 37-39 mpg, the cost of changing and price of fuel just don't make it economically viable. Great for my man maths! Looks like I'll be holding on to the RS7 for a while until the RSQ8 losses the bulk of its depreciation with its first owner!

Really sorry to be the first to give you the bad news mate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I do believe at 18.23 of your video, your virtual cockpit display was telling you that one of your tyres was under-inflated. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Again an interesting video. Yesterday I drove back from Cornwall to West Sussex on the same roads. I have been doing that journey regularly for over 50 years. I currently do it in either in a 3 litre BMW 5 series diesel touring or in a Porsche 911 turbo. From your review three figures interested me. Your downward journey average speed 43M.P.H. Return average speed 51M.P.H. and overall average speed for your test 40M.P.H. 40 years ago my average speed to Cornwall in the summer in a Triumph Spitfire was 50M.P.H. This year at the same time of year for the same journey in the Porsche, 36 M.P.H. If one takes a rational rather than an emotional approach is there a role for expensive high performance cars on current roads?

Just ordered one funnily enough, although I am going from a Discovery Sport to this so I get the feeling I won’t be disappointed with its performance:)

Nice review again thanks Pete,, but the main thing I took away after watching is how crap English weather is haha. It seems to me that the majority of test drives that you have cars for a week or more,, it Pi#§es down quite a lot of the time. Cheers. Wouldn’t say no to that car parked in my driveway though,, cheers.

The dash said you had low tyre pressures? Also, can’t you change the dash layout from classic to sport on ‘S’ cars? Great honest review as ever Peter 👍🏼

Hi Pete fair play for your assessment I can completely see where you are coming from wanting the S car to have a more characterful edge,prior to my V90 CC I had a 272 sport A4 Allroad and previously a BiTDi A6 Allroad...now that,with air suspension and 320ps was the best of all worlds!!

There actually is a explanation to the fake exhaust pipes. The head of design, Marc Lichte, met up with a Swedish motor journalist (925 Motor) and said that he was given the task to design the new S6 and S7. It was supposed to be a V6/V8 petrol so Lichte designed it to be a petrol car which explains the four exhaust pipes. However, the engineers of Audi decided that it was going to be a diesel for the European market instead of a petrol version. Lichte was already done with the design when this happened and the design of the car was in "design stop" which means that you can't change the design after that. The car was in the hands of the engineers by then who tried having 2 real exhausts and 2 fake. However, when testing the car in winter conditions, half of it got covered in snow and the other half didn't because of the heat from the exhaust. The engineers then had the thought of having 4 real exhaust but that wasn't psychically possible since the Adblue tank was in the way for the other 2 exhaust pipes. It was simply a communication error between the departments. Of course this carried over to the S4.

Hi Ped Very interesting review. Sorry you are not converted to the oil burner!😂😂 My last 8 daily drives have been Audi and last 3 have been diesel. My current SQ5 has 313 bhp fuel consumption 37/38 mpg, when Mrs P drives she achieves 43mpg, and when towing pulling 2000kg 27mpg. What I love is the relaxed driving with that torque in long distance runs, makes up for the lack of some features you mentioned. This car can eat the miles in a very relaxed mode.

Hi Peter. Lovely car. I'm a petrol head but just about to buy a used diesel as a daily driver. Economy for one reason but the main reason is big diesel engine cars (3 litre +) have huge torque giving them massive mid range acceleration, so thought I would take the plunge. Cheers, Jon.

You can change the view in the virtual cockpit so that it looks like your old centred speedometer. Change can be done in the Menu of the mmi

Can't wait to get the petro S4 here in the US

It seems you get the same mpg as I get out of my Golf R hatch, I’m currently looking at buying an estate in the next few months and the S4 Avant petrol is now on the list thanks to you.

You can switch the the look of the virtual cockpit just like u can in your old s4 .. you just have to push the far left button on your steering wheel, when ur at your consumption view .. after that u will get a menu.. at the bottom of the options u can change how it changes if you click “view” on your steering wheel.

You could always switch from the small dials to the larger ones with the nav in the middle, the central display with the nav on the left.

Great, honest review with good explanation of why you reached your conclusion (as always). On fuel consumption, the engine will improve with mileage (looked to be 3.5k ish) and I noticed you had a tyre pressure warning which might not help. I have the v6 3.0l diesel in the A6 avant (272hp version) and have averaged 43mpg over 45k to date in mixed driving. I know its a lower tuned version but tis a heavier car. However it will never achieve the claimed 53mpg which some joker from Audi dreamed up 😂

Good accurate review. I had the same car on 24 hour test and basically felt the same. A lot to like about the car, but the Diesel engine has very little character (not to mention huge turbo lag below 2k revs). The MPG is surprising as well. Not for me either.

Pete , Rowes pasties made in Falmouth , I know its further down the road but worth it! So in economy mode cuts air con use blunts acceleration changes up earlier and coasts but if like my Tiguan use adaptive cruise and it doesn't coast. So on my similar trip from Essex to Penryn I would use ACC but disengage on the down hill . Brick like twin turbo 4motion Tig giving 50 to 55 mpg , however chipping has helped as well as 296 bhp. Nevertheless I rarely see less than 50 mpg. Similar dot matrix led headlights dancing around on the road using full beam while cutting out glare great tech. However efficiency and torque, it would be nice for a bit of rorty sound . All said great review , fast estates make so much sense. Thanks for the review.

Loved the review and can safely say i won't be getting rid of my petrol B9 anytime soon. Did you look into the remap for your petrol S4?

I watched this before at the turn of the year when considering purchasing a new S4Avant. I've now owned mine for 9 months, and figured I'd revisit this video. A lot of it holds true, and our man Ped delivers a thorough and informative run down. However, I'm baffled by the mpg and range figures. Upon a full tank refuel, my range will either be 555 or 560, and on a 100+ mile drive, using standard drive modes, the trip mpg will sit between 47-51mpg. It's incredibly powerful in the mid range which makes long range, varied drives, an absolute dream and the cockpit is a beautiful place to be... the drop the hammer transmission lag can be irritating, but overcome to an extent with a quick click to down on the gear stick to select sport mode, or even dropping down manually on the paddles to engage manual, which takes the thinking away from the gearbox. Haven't had a full service yet (gulp) but I've really enjoyed the car, and continue to be impressed by the speed, comfort and sheer versatility.

@ 2:40 them aint spot lamps/fog lamp them are radars used for rader guded cruise control and so forth and other safty features such as braking etc

I had a a6 50 tdi in Germany this summer. I think I’d rather that than the diesel s4. It covered ground at incredible pace, but without the expectation of being a S car

Thank you Pete for your excellent review. Would you care to comment on the S4 D's steering feel and driving dynamics compared to your current Petrol S4? Also, in your opinion were there any advantages with the S4's old Super Charged V6 over the later more powerful Turbocharged version? 👍

The omission of side wings badging would be a plus, why would you need them?

interestingly on my maiden voyage from Perth to Yorkshire (280 miles)I got 51.5 MPG. Drove home from work (12 miles) and achieved 52.2!

Really disappointing MPG figure however fuelled by the fact that modern turbocharged petrol engines these days are just so good. Great insight into the car, and whilst it looks wonderful it’s simply not for me. Nice to see you enjoying the highlights of the M27 smart motorway upgrade work, it’s painful at times 😂

I worked at goonhilly earth station for 2 months a few years ago beautiful part of out country

Enjoyed the video, how do you think this S4 (and by extension S6) stacks up against the BMW 335d/535d engines? I sincerely love my F11 but its time to let go so input appreciated

I think I'd definitely take the B9 S4 if I was choosing between the two. If you're buying new I honestly can't see why you'd take this S4 over a C43 or M340i - what where Audi thinking? Anyway, a great video regardless of the disappointing car!

Thanks for this, great review! I currently have a S4 petrol, same as yours. I have been thinking about upgrading but have been put off by the change to diesel, and lack of so called emotion from the car. Also my car is driven in individual setting, auto for the engine and comfort for the gearbox and steering but dynamic for the exhaust note. But still manage an average of 37mpg on my commute, long term average of 33mpg. Maybe this time BMW have the answer with the 340 m sport...👍🏻

Good review... I’m with you, the point of going diesel over the same model in petrol has to be economy and 3-5 mph saving just isn’t enough especially when you factor in the typically higher servicing costs of a diesel.

I have 2018 S4 Saloon. Regularly drive in efficiency mode using cruise at national speed limits. On a longer journey as yours I would never get less than 40 mpg...say 50 miles plus. Interestingly it shows 525 range when full. Never get that. I would want any diesel to be significantly better. Excellent review, I Drive for local dealership.

I had a 3.0 l V6 diesel A5 for a couple of weeks while my TT was being fixed. It was thirstier than my petrol TT. Wasn't impressed. Like the grey leather seats. But no "S" logo on them ?

I was toying with an S4 after your older videos but in the end went for a BMW 335d Touring Shadow Edition... I came from a Leon Cupra 300 and like you was expecting much better economy... I have had remapped 220bhp diesel Octavia VRS’s before and they got 45-50mpg from a tank of mixed driving... The Leon used to get 350-360miles to a tank at £65 for super unleaded and around 34mpg mixed driving to work but down squirty country lanes... The S4 I assumed would be low 20’s over that driving so I went for the BMW... Now it is a BEAutiful car... I’ve always preferred BMW anyway tbh... But at 309bhp its no different to the Leon really, but as a diesel I was expecting high 40’s mpg average... it’s only got 4000miles on the clock atm but it’s getting 39-41mpg Max... and that’s driving conservatively as I’ve been trying to gauge it in the first few tanks... I’ve not opened the taps on it at all (not like I can on the 330d’s at work where even they feel quick so I assume mine will be much better if I really didn’t care about fuel or tyres)... The eco mode seemed to add maybe 5-6miles range over a tank but now seems to be sitting at 0.5... Not sure how that works or if that’s working correctly tbh... I’d expect more... Maybe it’s the 6 cylinder engine and it’s a bigger car than the Leon and Xdrive so maybe I’m expecting too much... The S4 you’re in has an extra 40odd bhp and you’re getting the same mileage... Seems strange to me!... Good video... I wish the M340i Touring was out at the price point my 335d was... Maybe in a few years 👍🏼

Oh - and putting the RS grille on the S smacks of a bit of desperation too.

Very nice place to be.. like all Audi's.. but a bit boring ... easy to drive and they shift along.. great vid guys xx

It's kinda shocking really because originally this car started as a V8 petrol with a 4.2 i believe, Now they have put a diesel in it with even more shocking economy figures, It doesn't make sense Peter .. Someone would have to be out their mind to consider buying this as a diesel in my opinion . A great honest review Peter as always , That's what i love about Petrol Ped !!

Good review chap, I have an Audi a4 B9 3.0 diesel and it brilliant but an S4 should be petrol all day long, love the fast diesel but the new touch screen should have both features wheel and touch screen, the new voice control is better and works 90% of them. cheers have a good day.

The best B9 you could get is the updated MY19 S4 with the updated front imo

Another super review! The change to diesel and the four fake exhaust tips are a big disappointment for me. If I could afford the RS4 then that would be the car for me.

The 'lag' in acceleration you talked about appears to be a problem on some other late model diesel Audis.

I love the s4. I think they will make the next one a plug in hybrid. The a6 has a 3 litre phev v6 with same power as the s4 but at least 25 mile ev running. It’s Audi’s intentions to have 30 plug in cars by 2030 10 of which will be hybrids

I have owned an A6 v6 tdi for 6 years bought at 4800 miles now at 53k. At 17k miles it loosened up and went from 39mpg to 45+ on the exact same route. This press car you have is still tight at 3660 miles, find a higher mileage one and see what the difference is. Coincidentally I'm swapping next week for the S4 tdi, can't wait 👍

I bloody love that petrol S4!

Another excellent review - you are a realist and I like your reviews. I looked seriously at this car - because my A6 biturbo is a bit too big for my use. A phenomenal car (chipped) so I'll miss it. But when this was announced still with a screen in your face and false exhausts tips I just cant deal with that. (The RS4 is just too much money.) Also the turbo lag has not been resolved and I'm guessing that my A6 goes better. So the bottom line for my replacement is....a BMW M340i touring. Goes better, just as economical and sounds and drives superbly. Arrives January. So goodby Audi and hello BMW.

Hi Ped, that lack of economy is very perplexing - maybe down to the massive tyres and the drag of the four wheel drive, etc. My Superb estate TDi 150 regularly gets 75mpg on trips, high sixties at its worst in strong head winds. Like you, I'm usually on adaptive cruise set to 70mph.

I bought my 2018 S4 on the back of reading the new one would be a diesel!

We all love the A35 Petrol Ped

Referring to when you filled up and quoted the range you was getting compared to the s4 are you sure they have the same size tanks the reason I say this is because I have a diesel a4 avant and as standard they only have a 40 litre tank and that seems like that S4 has the 40 litre tank and I bet your petrol has the 50 litre tank ? Just a thought

Thanks for some great thoughts, Peter. I think I am right in that the exhausts on the car are fake - they are on the S7. The two real exhausts are hidden on the nearside. O well, I hope the next S3 is not a diesel. Best wishes as always....👍🏼

I would have the diesel but I’m worried that the government will end up banning it from towns and cities rather soon, I’m keeping my eye out for an older petrol version

I'll be keeping my B9 petrol S4, matrix LEDs, panoramic roof and all!

as an ex m3 owner and now a very happy 335d owner i think you either like deisel or u dont and i do...u can cover huge distances at very high speeds and be totally under the radar...but wud i buy the s4, probably not as i think the twin turbo bm engine to be a masterpeice

Fuel consumption - Today on my commute home from work (90 Km mixed motorway and country road) i averaged over 50mpg keeping to the speed limit of 120 on motorway and 80 on the country road. SO it is possible to get much better figures than the once presented in this video.

So it’s a bit quicker and a bit more efficient and I guess more relaxed on the motorway. That will do nicely then !

The "fog lamps" on the new one are radar sensors and your older S4 could have them, too.

Great review of this car,Pete. Love the exterior, but I cant warrant 60k for a diesel with an unimpressive mpg.Particularly knowing the future for diesel vehicles does not look rosy. I`m left handed too ,so no problems using the mmi screen, but shouldnt have got rid of the jog wheel. One more thing.....it`s too quiet!!!

Nice video.... A remapped 3.0 TDI quattro b9 would be almost at b9 S4 diesel performance..... Certainly underwhelming

Isn’t the exhaust on one side basically blanked off on the new diesel? Plus the pipes exit earlier, no?

I've the Audi A4 3.0tdi 272 ps and fuel economy is far better in warm weather than in the winter. 45-48mpg on a run in the cold and 55_58mpg in warm weather.

Some money boy - fairplay son

Why oh why did Audi bother fitting fake exhaust pipes?!

I have the 2018 S5 Sportback; seriously considering jumping ship to Merc / BMW on the back of the new one being diesel. I almost feel like Audi themselves haven’t really made peace with it either, why else would feel the need to mask it with fake sound in the cabin… Failing that getting a good deal on the 2018/19 RS4 seen as the new one is being launched 2020 is another option. The diesel however… it’s a no from me. Great review/comparison by the way, nice to see one from someone who actually owns and uses the petrol version.

Magic !

No steam from left pipes on your car is the first thing I noticed. The other thing to consider with range after first refill, as with my car compared to its predecessor. The tank is smaller. As mentioned by other viewer, is that the tyre pressure warning on the dashboard? (19:03).

Unrealistic to expect mpg in the 50s for such a high performance car. High 30s to low 40s is probably what one might have expected. Experience tells me that an engine with huge torque like this one is a pleasure to drive in the real world. Good compromise between performance and economy.