1996 Audi A4 | Retro Review 

The styling is just perfectly timeless.

This car was the turning point for Audi. They haven't looked back since.

This car is responsible for all of Audi's success here. Sometimes you just knock it out of the park

Personally, one of the most beautiful Audi's ever made. Definitely, Audi's most classic design. This and the 1st generation A8 (D2) along with the S8 variant are Audi's pinnacle timeless designs.

This and the MK4 VW Jetta are just timeless designs. They still look great

Beautiful Car. I saw this car previewed in Car and Driver 1995. I did my homework and I had to have it. I don't usually buy the 1st of a New model but I took a chance. So in February 1996 I basically purchased the same vehicle in Black, same leather interior, I opted for the Manual transmission. I didn't get the Quattro because I wanted save weight, as I thought I was Speed guy. 15yrs later, 275K on the odometer, she served me well. Original clutch, transmission and motor but she was showing age. I really loved my little Black A4.

They nailed the design, doesn’t look 25 years old at all. Also love the Audi engine bay layouts of these era, clean and the engine isn’t covered like a Lexus

That design looks about 10 years ahead of it's time!

The 90s were the golden era for automobiles. I remember test driving one of these with Quattro and marveling over how tight and solid it felt. The engine felt a little underpowered compared to other rivals though.

A good car. Still many of them on European roads and somehow they mostly look fresh. 1.8 20V turbo and 1.9 TDI were very popular, known to every mechanic and tuner. This car popularised the use of AWD in normal cars.

It still looks great special the facelift version with the clear headlights. My Mum had a black avant from 99 with the 2.8 and stick, we really loved that car and had it from 02-06 (or so). We traided it in for a Seat Leon because of some expensive repairs.

This is the car that single handily started Audi's come back in the U.S. Look at the design of this car compared nearly anything else from 1996. I almost bought one of these back then, but it was just too slow.

Timeless design. This car still turns heads to this day. Also, the perfect size for a compact luxury sedan.

I got one of the first ones back in 1995, with Quattro, a 5 speed manual transmission, and beautiful sapphire blue paint. People stopped in their tracks when they saw it back then. Loved that car, and it still looks great

I was a valet in college back around 2004-06 and drove everything from BMW M class, Mercedes AMGs, Corvettes etc and the Audi's had some of the best transmissions, acceleration and handling out of any other car

This was an important car for Audi. It helped erase the bad memories of unintended acceleration issues from the ‘80s.

Man they were having a field day with the transitions in this review

This is the car that changed Audi forever!! I became a huge fan of Audi back then. Their cars have continued to improve and evolve and now I am an owner for years now. Will be buying another one soon too. Love my Audi

Personally I don't think much of Audi. This car, however, I liked. Super clean styling, extremely well proportioned. No "angry lines". I will tip my hat to them for really forcing other manufacturers to step up their games concerning interior styling and quality.

Loved this design. I had the Passat version of this. The infamous “Passaudi” 👍🏻

My wife rented a brand new one in France for a wedding. She couldn't stop talking about how the car glided over bumps, the handling, and the power.

Love their styling inside and out to this day their designs are among my favorites but VW is not willing or capable to build vehicles which do not suffer from catastrophic design faults and since i don't lease or trade cars every 2 years and must get places on time i can't buy an Audi even though i would love to.

Honestly the '96 models don't look all that different than the '21 models and I think that's a huge plus for customers with older and newer Audis.

I had to one with a 2.8 engine. Almost 20 years olds and still so reliable. And this sound of V6..

We bought our 96 A4 Quattro as a CPO Audi 23 years ago, I still have it today. I farm out the timing belt, but do my own maintenance for anything that pops up, it has been a great car, and the paint (Pearl White) has held up well.

Beginning of the a4

I still own one of these. A 96 a4 Quattro in LY6M Aquarelle with a 5 speed and the 12v 2.8. It’s at 265,000 miles and still going strong.

Audis are such a beautiful car but why are they so hard/expensive to maintain 😅

Man when i was 16 my parents bought me this exact model; 1996 V6 with quattro and a 5 speed manual. That was 15 years ago and i've yet to find a car i like to drive as much as this! It's TRUE engineering and it looks soooo good screaming around those bends and it feels even better! and yes like others have said, TIMELESS styling this car will always look gorgeous pulling up.

LOVED the S4 of the gen. This was the car that put Audi on the right path. Such a stylish and well-appointed vehicle for the times. It also ushered in a new definition of interior quality and design for the small luxury class.

One of best Audi design. It was a huge step forward replacing Audi 80(?). Love its design when came out. Love the V(R)6 engine silky operation and its sound. Just the right size. Perhaps, the serious mechanical drawback of Audi and VW of that era is that eventually coolant start to leak either from expansion pressured coolant tank or somewhere in its line. I’ve seen lots of this failure.

This was the first modern Audi we know of today. The 1980 Audi Quattro was obviously a technological quantum leap, but it wasn't stylistically a harbinger of the Audi we know of today.

The car that truly globalized Audi. Refined, attractive, inoffensive, efficient.

This was the car that restored my confidence in Audi once again after years of being scared off from them because of the Sudden Unintended Acceleration thing.

i used to absolutely love this car

Still looks beautiful to this day

Timeless... Plain designs just age better. Love the US specs details.

What a timeless, classic car. Still desirable to this day.

Without this model, Audi as we know it may not exist today.

What a beautiful car. Damn near perfect proportions. I love the rear.

Let us remember that the 1st gen Infiniti G20 was faster to 60 and through the 1/4 mile for just 21K.

I had the same car, same color, with a 5 speed. I loved it. Great color too.

I owned a 1997 A4 1.8T for years and really enjoyed it. The automatic transmission gave problems at about 120,000 miles. I would have kept it longer if not for that.

90s Trunk mount CD changer never will see that again

Timeless and wonderful styling that thankfully lives on with the newer A4’s. Personally I like being able to instantly recognize a car on the road, especially when they’re as aesthetically pleasing as this.

I loved owning that car. I had a manual what an experience.

When this car came out everyyyyoneee had one lol Such a 90s staple.

This generation A4 might become my first car.

An Audi For Everybody

This is one of the most beautiful and timeless design Audis EVER Daaang everyone thinks the same

Lovely copper colour A4 had the same one wish I had it now fantastic moter

Owned a few of these throughout the years.

These Audi Cars are beautiful back in those days

Game Changer

It's nice to think that current run of the mill compact cars (mainly from Honda and Mazda) offer this level of luxury with added performance for the same cost as this without even taking inflation into account.

Truly timeless design. I miss mine - '99 2.8 Quattro 5MT. Those 2.8 20valve engines though, they're automatic rustproofing the bottom of the car with the amount of oil leaking out

Could easily be a 2008 year car 1996 huh? Too perfect. Love every aspect of it.

Always loved the look of the A4 it's got that right size look to it

This car is beautiful. Timeless design inside and out.

OH man when this came out i was 16 and I went to my Porsche Jag and Audi dealer to be a lot attendant. To this day that was my favorite job. I actually looked forward to going to work. Of course I had absolutely NOthing holding me down being 16. Life...it just builds up on you.

When I was a kid I thought this was a pretty fast sport sedan. More than 25 years later and my hybrid family SUV will spring to 60mph 2 seconds faster! Times have changed...

Just bought a 2011 A5 S-Line, it’s come a very long way since this

Had a 99 Avant Quattro. Wish I still had it.

2:33 hello. Somehow I don't remember her from all my decades of watching Motorweek.

I like this so much better than the big grill design.

I remember seeing this on TV when it aired.

Once fixed one of these with my dad and it was TOTALED. He went to go buy a replacement driveshaft for 1000$ 💀💀 excuse me?? The dude promptly put it straight back into a pole as well

This is the car Audi had it right and was the turning point of the company to compete with the likes of BMW and Mercedes Benz.

Thank you so much.

Beautiful car from the 90s

The design is simple yet pretty, but you cannot deny that its lines are 25 years old

They had no idea in 20 years they would have an electric sedan that could do 0-60 in 3sec

Damn it's better than my A4

Omg my favorite A4 !! Had one in gran turismo and gran turismo 2 lol

design-wise, audi can still sell this in 2015 and no one will complain.

That style was quite unique back in 90s

This car changed their imagen forever! 🥳🥳🥳

This car was 10 years ahead of its time. It wouldnt look out of place in the mid 2000s

When was launch the first Tiptronic transmission?

Anyone else hear the intake short runners open at 1:53 to 1:54? I didn't think that would be audible outside of the car, which is pretty cool.

LOL 0-60 in 9.1 secs! My '17 does it in 5.3 - thankful for the lineage though!

Nice colour inside& out.

Wonder if cars like these will be the restomods of the future

2:33 great entry

I had a ‘97 2.8Q manual!

Still so handsome and elegant design, at the time it made its competitors look ancient in comparison. Shame that Quattro wasn’t standard in all versions, a FWD german saloon doesn’t feel right.

I haven't seen on of these in YEARS. for shame, as its a good looking sedan. What I won't forgive is the use of vw golf interior trim, and abysmal v6. That car should at least be hitting 15.9 in the quarter. Its slower than the Quad 4.

Really good looking car. Could easily pass for having come out even a decade later.

This is how audis should be priced now a days!

This was when I first noticed Audi in the US.

Timeless classic!👌😎👍

Still a great looking car. For me, this was a turning point for Audi. The styling of their cars went downhill after this. I love the A4 design, but I also like the predecessor 80/90 design, along with every other Audi model from the 80s and early 90s. Very handsome for their time.

Great car!

Ah, yes, the endless valve covers oil leaks. good times.

ナレーションの方の声が掠れてる。無理なさらないでください。日本より。

Still the best A4

Back when vw audi made quality products. 👌

Handsome sedan.. ❤️😘

My first car!

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