Audi’s A4 has been in the market here since 1994 and in fact Audi claim a heritage for this model that begins in the mid-1970s with the smart-little VW Passat spin-off from those times, known as the Audi 80.
The A4 is seen amongst many enthusiasts as the “smart alternative” to a BMW 3 Series or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The market for these C-segment premium sedans has been steadily eroded in recent years by Cross Over SUVS, the bulk of these built and marketed by their own parent companies! But nevertheless there are enthusiasts who love the wieldy feel of a hi-tech sedan, and this is where cars like the Audi A4 are likely to enjoy their niche for a long time to come.
The latest generation of the Audi A4 was launched in February 2016. It is known once again as an excellent product, although there has been criticism in some quarters that Audi is no longer producing the cutting-edge designs that made the earlier renditions of the A4 such eye-catchers.
Along this line of thinking, many owners may be tempted to personalise their Audi A4s with a few well-chosen accessories.
Related: Shop new and used Audi A4 cars for sale here.
Accessorising your Audi A4
There are a number of aftermarket firms that produce dress-up bits for the Audi A4. Some offer very good products, especially those that add specialised performance-orientated gear from the German tuning firms. However, as a general rule of thumb we would recommend sticking as far as possible to accessories that are Audi-approved.
Warranties cover factory-approved accessories
These Audi-approved parts may be more expensive, but they carry the benefit that they won’t invalidate your car’s warranty or maintenance/service plan, if your car is still indeed subject to such contractual schemes. Of course, to keep such warranties intact, it would also be necessary to have some accessories fitted by a dealer.
In choosing our favourite accessories for the Audi A4, we were mindful that with a car of this prestige level it is best to leave the exterior largely un-altered, in terms of retaining re-sale value. Thus many of our choices don’t involve much in the way of exterior appearance enhancement.
Our Top 5 Accessory choices for an A4
- The Audi Entertainment Mobile. This is a 10-inch touchscreen designed primarily to provide rear-seat audio and visual entertainment for passengers. It is attached to the front seat backrest for optimum viewing location. However, it is also designed to be removed and used in the home or in the office.
- Bluetooth headset. This high-quality headset is designed primarily to be used with the Audi Entertainment Mobile and comes with Audi branding. It is rechargeable and compatible with other devices, and comes with a smart Audi pouch for handy and safe storage inside your A4.
- New-generation roof box. The latest roof box from Audi is even more exciting looking. Made of highly durable, tear-resistant plastic, these roof boxes are easy to install and remove, lockable and designed to fit perfectly with Audi roof racks. The aerodynamic shape of the roof boxes ensures that no extra wind noise will intrude into the cabin.
- Dog harness. This one for your four-legged friend and keeps him or her nice and secure in the back seat of your A4. The harness is super-strong and made of washable material, and attaches to existing A4 child seat seat-mounting systems.
- Carbon mirror caps. We rate these as a very subtle dress-up enhancement that will add a slightly racy look to the exterior of your A4. They are simply to install and remove, and made of high-quality carbon that is appropriate for a high-quality car like the Audi A4.
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