Audi S4 vs S5: four doors or a supercharged coupe?

Audi rates the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 in these cars at 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. Both have quattro all-wheel drive. Despite the familiar 3.0T badge, the engine in this comparison uses a supercharger; do not apply later turbocharged S4 or S5 specifications to it.

The S4 is the easier starting point for frequent rear passengers. Four doors make loading bags, helping someone into the back and using a child seat less awkward. The S5 coupe has four seats rather than the sedan’s five, and getting to the back takes more effort. Sit behind your own driving position before assuming either car has enough room.

Choose the S5 if its shape is a major reason you want the car and the rear seats will be occasional-use space. Try opening the long front doors in a parking space like the one you use at home. A coupe that looks right in photos still has to fit your routine.

Both the S4 sedan and S5 coupe offer a six-speed manual or seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic in this scope. S tronic is not the eight-speed torque-converter automatic found in later generations. If you want a manual, confirm the actual pedals and gearbox rather than trusting an automatic listing description.

For a commuter, try the S tronic from cold, while parking and once fully warm. Ask a specialist to check delayed engagement, shuddering or warning messages, and request dated transmission-service invoices. Manual buyers should check clutch engagement and every gear under normal driving. An attractive purchase price does not make transmission work inexpensive.

The 2013 facelift is the useful dividing line: styling and cabin details changed, and the U.S. S5 coupe switched from its earlier 4.2-liter V8 to the supercharged V6. The U.S. S4 already used the V6 before the facelift. Our added S4 search also includes the 2010–2012 B8 generation, but the comparison buttons deliberately stay with the later cars.

The optional rear sport differential is worth checking for if it matters to you. It actively distributes torque across the rear axle; quattro badging alone does not establish that the option is installed. Verify equipment through build information and inspection. Premium Plus or Prestige badges should not substitute for checking the exact car.

A specialist inspection should include cooling-system leaks, water-pump and thermostat condition, crankcase ventilation, diagnostic fault codes and evidence of poor repairs. Those are useful inspection topics, not a prediction that every car needs the same repairs. FCP Euro’s technical buyer guide and repair documentation provide background for the questions to ask.

Ask whether the engine and transmission software are original and whether the supercharger pulleys have changed. Get a written modification list and supporting invoices. A stock-looking car may still be tuned, and a claimed power figure tells you little about workmanship or maintenance.

Bring the service history to the inspection. Check tires, brakes, suspension wear, oil leaks, air conditioning and every electronic feature. Confirm recalls by VIN. If it has the sport differential, include that system in the inspection rather than treating it as a free bonus.

These older S cars are candidates for RevFinder’s under-$50,000 search, not a reason to spend the whole ceiling. Compare actual asking prices for the same year, gearbox, mileage and history, then get an inspection and insurance quote before deciding what is affordable. Taxes, title, dealer fees, transport, fuel and upkeep are outside the search-price cap.

An inventory-provider match is not confirmation that a car is still for sale. Check the update date, open the exact seller page and confirm price and availability directly. Old provider records can remain searchable after a sale. We are not presenting a verified stock list or a promised market-price range here.

For one car that has to cover commuting, friends and weekend trips, start with a well-maintained S4. Its rear doors solve a recurring practical problem without giving up the engine that draws buyers to this pair. Choose a manual if shifting is part of the experience you want; choose S tronic if it better fits your commute and the service record supports it.

For a buyer who rarely carries more than one passenger and specifically wants a coupe, start with the S5. There is little reason to buy the sedan solely because it is sensible if you will keep wishing for the coupe. On the other hand, do not pay extra for appearance while accepting a weaker history.

If you cannot comfortably fund the maintenance found during inspection, step back from both. Our recommendation is the S4 for regular rear-seat use and the S5 for a mostly two-person routine, with condition and documentation breaking the tie. That is a stronger buying rule than choosing whichever car has the most modifications.