Used Audi RS4 for sale: everything you need to know

The Audi RS4 has been a mainstay of the performance estate car market for more than two decades, combining impressive pace with practicality. Based on the Audi A4, such has been its success, other car manufacturers have tried to emulate it. 

The current arch-rivals for the Audi RS4 are the Mercedes C-Class-based Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Estate, which also has four-wheel drive, as does the first ever BMW M3 Touring and its spin-off, the Alpina B3 Touring. 

Cheaper all-weather wagons include the Volkswagen Golf R and Cupra Leon Estate. If you are considering buying or leasing an Audi RS4 Avant, here is all the information you need. Take a look at an Audi RS4 for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.  

Should you buy an Audi RS4? 

The Audi RS4 Avant can offer a complete package of big performance and all-round practicality. Add in Audi’s usual high-quality interior, plus the brand cachet of the four-ringed logo, and the Audi RS4 has a lot going for it. 

Performance is an area where the Audi RS4 really stands out, thanks to its twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This offers ferocious acceleration, able to transport you (and a wardrobe) very quickly into licence-losing territory. Quattro four-wheel drive means you can make use of this power even when it rains.

Such surefooted traction and grip does come at the expense of handling that doesn’t deliver the ultimate engagement found in the Audi RS4’s rivals. Whereas the BMW and Mercedes alternatives offer more steering feel, the Audi is all about getting the job done with ruthless efficiency. We are into the realm of minimal differences, though. It doesn’t seem to have been a problem for the RS4’s legion of fans. 

Boot space has also led enthusiasts to previous Audi RS4 models, and the latest version does not disappoint here. Fold the rear seats down and it will accommodate a practical 1,510 litres of luggage or flat-pack furniture. Room in the front seats is more than adequate, although the rears are a little tighter for adults.   

Wrapping everything up for the Audi RS4 is a sense of built-to-last quality. All the materials are a match for the Audi RS4’s lofty price tag, differentiating it from a regular Audi A4 estate. From Nappa leather upholstery to the Virtual Cockpit screen, it all looks and feels suitably expensive.

The Audi RS4 Avant has become perhaps the default option for drivers who want an all-weather sports car, with room to bring your family along for the ride. Ticking the box of being ‘all the car you ever need’, the Audi RS4 is genuinely a great choice. 

There are very few weaknesses in the Audi RS4’s arsenal, other than perhaps not being the most engaging performance car to drive. We are splitting hairs though, as it is still more than good enough to compare with the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic or Alpina B3 Touring. If you need an estate car to handle the demands of family life, but one that can bring a huge smile to your face with its speed, buying or leasing an Audi RS4 is your answer. 

An Audi RS4 not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What’s the best used Audi RS4 model to buy?

As the range-topping car in the A4 range, the RS4 only comes with a single engine and transmission choice. That’s a 450PS, 2.9-litre twin turbo V6, which allows it a 4.1 second 0-62mph time and a 174mph potential top speed – if the original owner paid Audi to up the electronic speed limiter from the normal 155mph limit. 

There are different choices within the RS4 line-up though: the RS4 Avant (that’s estate in Audi speak – no RS4 saloon is available) followed by the Carbon Black, which, unsurprisingly, adds some black carbon outside and in, and covers all the brightwork on the standard RS4 and paints it black. 

That’s a £6000 lift in price over the circa £71,000 new price of the ‘entry’ RS4. If you’re the type of buyer who wants absolutely everything, and, let’s face it, a lot of RS4 buyers will fall into this category, there’s the Vorsprung (advancement, roughly translated from German) which is a tech-laden RS4. 

None of the Vorsprung’s extra equipment would be a deal-breaker for us over the standard RS4, and certainly not enough to justify the near £20,000 price difference when new. We'd certainly recommend cars with the optional sports exhaust to the standard car, though, as well as the Comfort and Sound Package.  

Used Audi RS4 fuel economy and performance

• Audi RS4 2.9 TFSI Quattro: Powering the Audi RS4 is a 2.9-litre turbocharged petrol V6, producing a considerable 450PS. When combined with quattro four-wheel drive, this results in a 0-62mph time of just over four seconds. Like many German sports cars, top speed is limited to (a more than sufficient) 155mph. Average fuel economy is 29.1mpg.

What used Audi RS4 trims levels are available?

• Audi RS4 Avant: The standard Audi RS4 comes with all the technology a rapid estate really needs, from sports suspension and brakes, to a bold body kit and 19-inch alloy wheels Nappa leather sports seats, a rear-view camera and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit driver display are all included, too. 
• Audi RS4 Avant Carbon Edition: Sold from the car's launch in 2017, the Carbon Edition model upgraded the wheels to 20-inch alloys over red brake calipers, and included the RS Sport exhaust system. It also featured Matrix LED headlights, carbon engine cover, door mirrors and exterior styling elements, and had carbon inlays inside. 
• Audi RS4 Avant Carbon Black: Should you want your Audi RS4 to look slightly more subtle, the Carbon Black model is the one to pick. It sees all the aluminium trim swapped for gloss black, with carbon fibre detailing inside as well. How stealthy you can really make a 450PS estate car is another question.
• Audi RS4 Avant Vorsprung: For the ultimate Audi RS4 experience, the Vorsprung model throws everything but the kitchen sink into the mix. This includes an upgraded sports exhaust, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and even the top speed being increased to 174mph. The latter is important for bragging rights, of course.
• Audi RS4 Avant Competition: Launched as a special edition, track-focused model in 2022 and limited to just 75 units in the UK, the Competition version of the RS4 ups the top speed to 180mph and features upgraded exhaust and steering systems, coilover suspension and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Retuned transmission software means faster shifting and an improved 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds.

Used Audi RS4 dimensions and boot size

The Audi RS4’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4,782mm
• Width: 1,866mm
• Height: 1,414mm
• Ground clearance: 129mm

The Audi RS4’s boot space is:

• 495 litres
• 1,510 litres with rear seats folded

Used Audi RS4 road tax

As the Audi RS4 cost (considerably) more than £40,000 when new, it attractes an annual £390 surcharge on top of the standard £180 flat rate of Vehicle Excise Duty. That means it'll cost you £470 a year to tax between years two and six after first registration, whereupon it'll revert back to the standard flat rate.

How much is it to insure an Audi RS4? 

The Audi RS4 is a fast and desirable estate, so insurance will be expensive compared to regular family cars. Out of 50 groups in total, the Audi RS4 is rated in insurance group 44. 

Read our full Audi RS4 review