New Audi A4 vs used Lexus IS vs used Volvo S90: here's our winner.

Executive sedans face off

Be in no doubt that the Audi A4 is a very capable contender in its market segment. It has plenty of space, amazing build quality, decent dynamics and performance, and some nice available options. It’s even pretty good value for money in relation to its competitors. The real issue is that this whole market segment has gotten rather expensive lately, with a base-spec 2.0-litre A4 already past the R 600 000 mark.

So what else could you consider, if you’re going to spend so much? Maybe get something bigger and more spacious, or a sports sedan with quite a lot more oomph? We found some late-model, low-mileage Volvo S90s and Lexus ISs around the Audi A4 40TFSI’s price point listed here on AutoTrader SA, and took a closer look.

 

New Audi A4 40TFSI

There are only three engine choices in the Audi A4 range: two 4-cylinder petrols, and one diesel. All are turbocharged, and they all drive their front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. We selected the A4 40TFSI sport as a comparison baseline – the more powerful of the two petrols.

Related: Which Audi A4 is better – petrol or diesel?

 

Engine, performance and consumption

Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, good for 140 kW and 320 Nm. It’s quite lively to drive with a deep-chested power delivery, because the S-Tronic gearbox is well-programmed and the engine (derived from the one in the Golf GTI) has a wide torque band. It’s not really a rocketship, although a 0 – 100 km/h sprint dispatched in 7.3 seconds is not exactly slouching about, either.

Fuel consumption is a strong suit of this A4, with a claimed average consumption of only 4.9 ℓ/100 km. In reality, it should average low-to-mid-6 ℓ/100 km figures with conservative driving habits, which is still highly commendable for a car of this size and performance level. 

Related: The Audi A4 35TFSI was objectively hard to fault in our video review.

 

Standard equipment

Seeing as the Audi A4 is due for a model range refresh any day now, the new examples for sale are, at the time of writing, still as they were at launch in 2016. While not exactly dated, the older MMI infotainment system is a fair bit less comprehensive than Audi’s latest touch-screen arrangement, but it does feature Bluetooth/USB connectivity and a colour display. 

As expected for a 4-year-old premium-brand base model, the standard features list is a little sparse, but the basics like auto-on (Xenon) headlights and wipers, cruise control, and dual-zone climate control are all included as standard. Optional upgrades include navigation (likely to become standard with the facelift), Audi’s virtual cockpit, a head-up display, keyless entry, sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. The last two listed items should really be standard at this price point, so let’s hope this oversight gets rectified during the A4’s imminent refresh.

 

Safety

With 6 airbags, ABS, stability control and ISOFIX child seat anchors included as standard, the Audi A4 has top-notch safety credentials. This is backed up by a 5-star Euro-NCAP crash safety rating, along with automatic emergency braking and a whole list of other safety acronyms.

 

Practicality

Cabin space is plentiful for four large adults or five average ones, although the A4’s sloping roofline does steal some rear headroom – even more so when the car is also equipped with a sliding sunroof. The seats are very comfy, though, and cabin noise is extremely well-contained.

Load capacity is quite adequate at 480 litres, and can be extended to 965 litres if the option box for folding rear seats is ticked. The luggage compartment is evenly-shaped, and the loading aperture is reasonably large.

 

Price and value proposition

We already mentioned that the Audi A4 is very competitively priced in base trim. It undercuts most of its opponents, despite offering a lot more power in 40TFSI spec. Of course, once it’s loaded with some nice options to match its newer opponents’ features, that price advantage will shrink quite rapidly – even if it likely won’t disappear completely. Included in the standard package is a warranty for 1 year with no distance limit, along with a maintenance plan for 5 years or 100 000 km.

Without options, a new A4 40TFSI (in base “sport” trim) retailed at R 605 500 at the time of writing, which is about 10% less than a bare-bones BMW 318i or Mercedes-Benz C180. Want to pay even less? The 1.4-litre A4 35TFSI (110 kW and 250 Nm) starts at R 563 000, or a good R 100 000 less than these (similarly-powerful) BMW and Mercedes-Benz variants.

Related: What is covered by the Audi A4’s manufacturer warranty?

 

The competition

2019 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport

Our first alternative is a bit of a performance bargain: with outputs of 232 kW and 380 Nm, a used Lexus IS 350 has a definite power advantage over the Audi A4 40TFSI, but can actually be had for the price of an entry-level A4 35TFSI. And, not only is it more powerful, the driving experience is bound to be more exciting, thanks to the IS’s finely-honed rear-wheel drive dynamics.

Related: We compared the value proposition of the Lexus IS 300 to two opponents.

With the 0 – 100 km/h sprint dispatched in a claimed 5.9 seconds, the Lexus IS 350 is notably quicker out of the blocks than a 2.0-litre A4. It’s nowhere close to the Audi’s fuel efficiency, though, where a frightful average consumption of 9.7 ℓ/100 km is claimed for this 3.5-litre V6 beast. If anything may prove to be the Lexus’s downfall, it’s this prodigious thirst, but such is the price for a melodious and lively 6-cylinder...

It certainly won’t come up short in the equipment stakes, however, because Lexus tends to offer all the options as standard. Included in the F Sport trim (and optional for the Audi) are leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with electric adjustment, LED headlights, high beam assist, parking sensors front and rear, and a rear-view camera. The only drawback inside is Lexus’s infuriating infotainment system, but with practice, even this becomes tolerable.

Related: There’s a new Lexus IS on the way to South Africa. Get the details here.

Safety is about equal to the Audi’s as well, with another 5-star Euro-NCAP crash test rating, and almost every safety feature you’d find in the German with a few more besides – lane departure warning and blind spot assist are both standard in the Lexus, and the airbag count goes up from 6 to 10. 

 

The Lexus IS is not as commodious inside as the Audi A4, where its RWD layout and shorter overall length eats into the available cabin space. Rear legroom is at a premium, and rear headroom again falls victim to a sleekly-rounded roofline. At least the luggage compartment is competitive with that of the Audi at 480 litres.

Related: Eight reasons why we love the Lexus IS 200t (now renamed IS 300)

But then we notice the value proposition: you can have a year-old IS 350 F-Sport with less than 20 000 km on the odo for a smidge under R 550 000, or get an even newer one for less than R 600 000. Considering that a new Lexus IS 350 F-Sport is priced at R 880 500, substantial initial depreciation means that it makes for great used-car shopping, to become a viable pre-owned alternative to a new Audi A4 (and even more so to the other Germans!). 

 

And, if the 350’s fuel consumption scares you off, a 4-cylinder turbo IS 300 will cost even less in the pre-owned market - and still offer more power than the A4 packs. Either way, there will still be 6 years or 80-ish thousand kilometres left on both the warranty and maintenance plan, which is a nice bonus.

 

2019 Volvo S90 D5 AWD

This stylish Swede represents the sweet spot in its model range, with a frugal but punchy diesel engine and the security of all-wheel drive. Once again, steep depreciation comes to the rescue, because one-year-old S90 D5s retail for at least R 300 000 less than a new one costs at the moment. Great news for financially-savvy Volvo buyers, and even better news for executive car buyers working on a tight budget.

Related: Which Volvo S90 is better – petrol or diesel?

It certainly doesn’t lack anything in the engine compartment, where a 2.0-litre turbodiesel sends 173 kW and a handy 480 Nm into an 8-speed automatic gearbox (the same ratio count as the Lexus’s transmission). Due to its added size and weight, the S90 isn’t much more rapid than the A4 40TFSI, but its 0 – 100 km/h sprint (in 7.0 seconds) is nonetheless slightly quicker than the A4’s time. 

 

Fuel consumption is likewise slightly better than the Audi, with a claimed average fuel consumption of only 4.8 ℓ/100 km. When we reviewed the S90 D5 AWD, it returned an average of 7.2 ℓ/100 km, but conservative drivers should be able to achieve low-6 ℓ/100 km figures.

Related: Redefining Swedish sensibility – our Volvo S90 D5 AWD review.

The Volvo also boasts a more-comprehensive standard equipment package than the Audi can offer. Volvo’s tablet-like colour touchscreen infotainment system with navigation takes centre stage, leather upholstery is standard, and the driver’s seat has electric adjustment. 

 

It’s nowhere near as fully-equipped as the Lexus in standard trim, though, with some things like lane-keeping assistance being optional. For the rest, the Volvo S90 has similar safety credentials to the Audi and Lexus, although it drops back to 6 airbags. Cabin- and luggage space are both abundant, with a cavernous interior front and rear, and a 500-litre boot.

It’s unfortunate for new-car buyers that the Volvo S90 suffers such vicious depreciation, but it makes for excellent used-car value. Imagine this: a nearly-new large luxury sedan (really an Audi A6 competitor) for the price of an entry-level Audi A4. Pay a little extra, and you could even net an S90 with a bunch of nice options added by its first owner (air suspension, sunroof, carbon fibre trim, and so on). 

 

The only real downside is the fact that the warranty and maintenance plans won’t be fresh anymore. In the Volvo’s case, there should be 4 years or about 80 000 km left over on both, however, so short-to-medium term maintenance costs are sorted.

Related: New vs Used Volvo S90 – what’s the difference?

 

Let’s recap the important numbers:

	Audi A4 40TFSI sport	Lexus IS 350 F-Sport (2019)	Volvo S90 D5 AWD (2019)
Engine (cyl/size)	4-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbopetrol	V6, 3.5-litre petrol	4-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Power/Torque	140 kW/320 Nm	232 kW/380 Nm	173 kW/480 Nm
Transmission/Drive	7-speed automatic (DCT), FWD	8-speed automatic, RWD	8-speed automatic, AWD
Kerb Weight	1 405 kg	1 685 kg	1 763 kg
Length (mm)	4 726	4 680	4 963
Airbag count	6	10	7
Load Volume	480 litres	480 litres	500 litres
0-100 km/h*	7.3 seconds	5.9-seconds	7.0-seconds
Top Speed*	210 km/h (est)	225 km/h	240 km/h
Ave Consumption*	4.9 ℓ/100 km	9.7 ℓ/100 km	4.8 ℓ/100 km
Base Price	R 605 500	~ R 600 000	~ R 600 00

* Manufacturer's official claimed figures.

 

Verdict

There are some advantages to buying a new car: you can specify the colour and options package, you’ll get a fresh maintenance plan and warranty, and, most importantly, the full effect of that new-car smell. Seen in this context and amongst its main marketplace competitors, a new Audi A4 is as good a choice as you could make: it’s a (relatively) high-value contender, looks very classy, and is very comfortable to drive.

 

But this comparison highlights the reality that a new car seldom offers as much value for money as a nearly-new one. You could save a bundle by buying a used A4 of the same specification instead, or you could buy something better for the same price as a new A4. Is it really that important to drive your executive sedan from new? If your answer is “Yes!”, then the Audi A4 40TFSI will serve you very well indeed. If you’re fine with a slightly used car, however, a whole different world opens up.

 

While these two alternatives are similarly-priced, they’re rather different cars to drive. The Lexus is the natural athlete here, and would be the choice for someone looking for something with loads of charisma and an involving driving experience. It’s not as good at carrying passengers as either of the others, though, and it’s frightfully thirsty as well. 

For this reason, we’d rather choose the Volvo S90 from this trio: it’s (slightly) quicker, (significantly) more spacious, and has more standard equipment than the Audi; and (theoretically) drinks less than either of them. No wait, scratch that: the Volvo definitely drinks less than the Lexus, and that makes the big difference here. We’d be prepared to give up some of the Lexus’s speed and equipment, just to spend less time at the filling station.

*Pricing was accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.

 

Recommended next:

Shop for new and used Audi A4 cars for sale here.

Shop for new and used Lexus IS cars for sale here.

Shop for new and used Volvo S90 cars for sale here.