The current Audi lineup has a car for almost every need. From premium sedans such as the A3 & A4 to 7-seater SUVs, and the R8 supercar, they have most drivers covered. But what about the most important type of car – one that you can use every day?
A great daily driver has to be many things. You need space for family and friends, a comfortable place to spend those commutes, and plenty more. So it’s not easy finding a car that ticks all those boxes. In this article, we’ll look through the Audi range to try and find their best daily drivers.
Below, I’ve picked out my favorite Audi models for everyday use. I’ll compare and rate a number of factors, everything that the perfect daily driver needs. We’ll also go through some important stats, and hopefully, we can help find you the best daily driver.
Let’s get started!
Q3 45 TFSI Premium Plus
- From $42,500
- 228 BHP
- 25 MPG combined
The first Audi on our list is the Q3. In the USA, this is Audi’s entry-level SUV model and offers you a great amount of practicality and an impressive engine. For anyone needing a larger daily driver and looking for the type of premium features you can’t get with most brands, the Q3 might be a great choice.
Performance
The Q3 45 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine with 228 BHP. The Q3 also comes with a smaller 184 BHP engine on some grades, but we’d go for the extra performance. With 228 horsepower, you get a 0-60mph time of just over 7 seconds, which is enough for an everyday SUV.
With standard Quattro all-wheel-drive, the Q3 can handle most conditions with ease. This model isn’t designed as a true off-roader, but you can handle rain, snow, and ice in the Q3 (with the right tires). For anyone living in colder climates, this is a great vehicle for use every day, all through the year.
Fuel Economy
The 2.0L engine in the Q3 is fairly thirsty, particularly in the city. With 22MPG and 29MPG in urban/highway conditions, this isn’t the most efficient SUV you can buy. With the balance between horsepower and size though, these gas mileage numbers aren’t too bad for a car this size.
Comfort
The Q3 comes with leather seats as standard, with a choice of three colors. On the premium plus models, you can upgrade to sports seats for $1,700, which add additional lumbar support and side supports. For everyday use, the standard seat will be fine for most drivers, but the sport option is far more comfortable.
On the Q3 45 model, you also have a driver’s seat memory function. For anyone sharing the Q3, the memory function can save you plenty of time to avoid constantly readjusting the seat every time you swap drivers.
Practicality
For anyone needing a practical everyday car, you can do a lot worse than the Q3. With just under 40 inches of headroom in the front and 40 inches of legroom, every adult will be comfortable here. Space isn’t as impressive in the rear, with just 37.6 inches of headroom, but on shorter journeys, even tall passengers will manage.
With over 23 cubic ft of storage space in the trunk and over 48 c-ft with the rear seats folded, the Q3 has more than enough space for almost any daily activities. Amazingly, the larger and more expensive Q5 only has 2 cubic ft more, making the Q3 excellent value for money if you need something practical.
Quality
This isn’t the best cabin design from Audi, but the layout and material selection make the Q3 an enjoyable place to be during commutes. The LED lighting package in the Premium Plus model helps to add a ‘premium’ touch too, with plenty of customizable colors.
There’s a strong selection of chromed and metal components across the dashboard and console, with the occasional hard plastic. The Q3 isn’t comparable to luxury SUVs like the Q7, but there’s enough quality here for the price tag.
Technology
Audi has been impressive recently when it comes to in-car tech, and the Q3 shows some of that. The central touchscreen is easy to use while driving, and if you add the Technology Pack, you get a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. This won’t be vital for everyday use, but it’s one of my favorite layouts in any current car.
Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto are standard here, in case you don’t want to use the Audi system. There’s a wireless charger in the center console and USB ports at the front and rear of the car.
Audi’s driver assistance tech isn’t the best in the business, but it’s good enough for everyday use. On the Q3 45, the main feature is adaptive cruise control. This system helps the car to automatically manage your speed based on traffic, and for everyday use, it’s the main reason we picked the Premium Plus model.
Final Verdict
If you need the practicality of an SUV and you want to keep costs down, the Q3 is one of the best premium SUVs for this. It’s not as luxurious as models like the Q5 and Q7, but you have a great balance of interior quality and cost here. Our next Audi though, is something very different.
Audi A4 Sedan 40 Premium Plus
- From $45,400
- 201 BHP
- 28 MPG
Next, we have the Audi A4. This is their mid-tier sedan, sitting between the entry-level A3, and the coupe-style A5. For this car we’ve also gone for the Premium Plus model, as those extra features make the difference for a daily driver.
Performance
For our pick, we’ve gone with the A4 40 version. This has less power than the range-topping 45 grade, but you still get 201 BHP here. With the Quattro system, this amount of power is more than enough for everyday use, and you’ll be able to manage most road conditions with ease.
Fuel Economy
Audi claims the A4 will average 28 MPG, which isn’t bad reading for a 200-horsepower car. You’ll see a drop to low 20s in the city, but this is still acceptable for daily commutes. On the highway you should see 30+ for your gas mileage too, so long journeys are efficient.
Comfort
The standard seats in the A4 are comfortable enough, but you’ll want to upgrade to the sports seats. For $1,300 these will give you 4-way lumbar support and add ventilation for your front seats too. It won’t make a huge difference for shorter journeys, but in warmer climates, you’ll appreciate the extra cooling.
Practicality
With 37.3 inches in the front and 37.4 inches in the rear, headroom is ok in the A4 but not great. I’m 6 ft 5, and in the front of the A4 it’s been manageable for shorter journeys, but I think longer trips will be a struggle. Legroom in the front is fine though, and it’s acceptable in the rear, so most passengers should be ok here.
The A4 isn’t the best sedan when it comes to storage, but you still get 12 cubic ft in the trunk. You can fold the seats down in a 40/20 split to add more space, so it’s going to offer you plenty of practicality for most journeys.
Quality
The A4 will always be judged against its main rivals, the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series. In terms of quality, I think it’s best to look at Audi’s performance here relative to their competition. Overall, the cabin in the A4 has touches of high quality, but a few areas where it falls short.
Even with plenty of high-quality surfaces in the A4, the cabin feels a step down from those in the C-Class and 3 Series. We’ll come onto the technology in a moment, but on material choices, there isn’t the variety in the A4 that lets it down. There are enough soft-touch materials to avoid feeling ‘cheap’, but it won’t impress anyone.
Technology
Audi technology has always been a strong point for the brand, and it shows in the A4. On high-spec models, you get a full digital display for the driver, and the customization options are excellent. Heads-Up-Display is available on Prestige models too, and Apple CarPlay is standard on every A4.
We can’t mention the interior tech without a comparison to the offerings from BMW and Mercedes. Audi had won the technology battle easily for the past few generations, but recently, I think they have fallen behind. The central screen in the A4 looks dated in comparison, and it’s disappointing that Audi hasn’t adopted their interior tech from electric models like the e-tron here.
Parking and Driving assistance options are strong in the A4 though, and those are crucial for a good daily driver. On mid and high-spec models you have adaptive cruise control and lane departure warnings, and Prestige models have parking assist. It’s not the best technology out there, but you won’t find any issues using an A4 every day.
Final Verdict
With Audi expanding their electric lineup, this might be the last time we see a traditional A4. It has its shortcomings, but as a premium sedan, this is an excellent car and a great daily driver. It has all the tech you need for everyday use, and although it falls short in some areas, it’s still a car you can live with and enjoy.
Audi Q4 e-tron Premium
- From $49,800
- 201 BHP
- 265-mile range
For our next Audi, we have the Q4 e-tron. As part of Audi’s ever-growing electric range, the Q4 is their least expensive electric vehicle, and competing with the likes of the Q5 SUV. So what makes this $50,000 Audi a great daily driver?
Performance
For an electric vehicle, the performance in the Premium Plus model isn’t spectacular, but it doesn’t need to be. With just over 200 bhp and a 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds, you won’t be winning many drag races. That being said, 200 horsepower is enough for almost any daily driver, so we don’t see this as a downside at all.
Fuel Economy
As an electric car, the focus here is the range and charging time, particularly for everyday use. With a claimed 265 miles, this should be enough for everyone to use each day, and you can avoid the worry of overnight charging. With a standard 240-v charger at home, your Q4 should take around 9 hours to charge 100%.
With a 150kW fast charger at charging stations, you should be able to get 60% charged in just 30 mins, making quick stops on long journeys possible. With this much range, the Q4 should have no issues as a daily driver.
Comfort
With more legroom than the Q3 and A4, this is the most comfortable Audi on our list. The seats aren’t as comfortable as rival SUV models, but you can manage longer journeys easily enough. The Convenience Pack comes with power adjustable seats, including extra lumbar adjustments. If you suffer from lower back issues while driving, this options pack is probably worth adding, although $2,300 is a steep price tag.
It’s a minor point, but the Q4 comes with a panoramic roof as standard. These are incredible at making the cabin feel more spacious, and on sunny days this will make the Q4 a more enjoyable place to be.
Practicality
Overall, the interior space in Q4 is excellent. With 38.5 inches in the front and 38.3 inches in the rear, headroom is impressive for both sets of passengers, and there’s plenty of legroom too. With the electric-style design, the flatter floor helps with foot space too, especially for rear occupants.
I expected storage to be disappointing in Q4, but I was surprised. With almost 25 cubic ft in the trunk and over 53 cubic ft when the seats are folded, there is more than enough room here.
Quality
At almost $50,000, you would expect the Q4s cabin to be high quality, and overall it lives up to expectations. There’s a ‘minimalist’ feeling in this cabin that you don’t see in the other Audi models, with a more streamlined layout.
I’m not a fan of the new steering wheel design that they have added to certain electric Audi vehicles, but it definitely feels futuristic. There are plenty of expensive materials throughout the cabin too, but the piano’s black paint will need regular cleaning if you’re using this car every day.
Technology
You can’t fault Audi in the tech department here. The Premium Q4 doesn’t come with top-spec features like the AR Heads-Up Display, but you still get a wide range of options. The digital driver’s display is still one of the best in the industry (even if BMW and Mercedes have closed the gap), and the central touchscreen is responsive and clear.
Ambient lighting is available as standard, but the Premium model comes with a more basic setup than other trim levels. You also have wireless Apple and Android connectivity, and you can upgrade to a Sonos Soundsystem.
Driver assistance tech is available here too. Everything we’ve covered on the earlier models is available here, from adaptive cruise control to parking assistance. Some features are locked behind optional extras, but even the Premium model has enough tech for everyday use.
Final Verdict
There will always be a debate on the practicality of electric cars while their range is an issue, but with 265 miles, the Q4 has a few downsides. This is an Audi packed with tech that you can use every day, and it’s spacious enough for the school run and family trips.
The $50,000 price tag is steep for a daily driver, and that may put some owners off, but you have that premium on electric models right now. The performance may put some of you off too, and the 200 bhp motors are disappointing when you compare this to a Tesla.
Overall though, as a complete package, the A4 e-tron is a great car for everyday use. Some of you will have reservations about the electric power, but if you have charging stations at work and home, this car should be no issue at all.
Other Choices
If none of the above appeal to you, there are some runners-up in the Audi range you could consider:
A3 Premium Plus: The smallest Audi sedan, this car offers you less practicality than the A4, but more fun, just as much tech, and a lower price tag. The top-spec Quattro model starts at just under $41,000, so if you don’t need the extra space, the A3 is worth considering for your daily driver.
A4 All-Road Premium Plus: the wagon version of the A4 sedan, if you need storage space above all else, this is the Audi for you. At just over $50,000 this is an expensive car for everyday use, but the All-Road comes with Quattro AWD and more options than the standard A4. You also get as much storage space as the Q4.
If you have found this article useful, check out our articles on other daily drivers and more on Audi features & options:
