The sedan has become an endangered species on American roads. Once accounting for three-quarters of all American light vehicle sales, the past decade has seen its market share collapse faster than an overfished tuna population, and in 2025 just 16 percent of new cars rolling off the lot were sedans. Headlined by Ford’s 2020 discontinuation of all non-SUV and truck models except for the iconic Mustang, manufacturers have been dropping sedan models left and right to focus on the crossover SUVs that have boomed in popularity over the past 15 years.
However, the sedan’s slim market share translates to over 1.5 million units sold in 2025, so we haven’t yet reached a full-on sedanpocalypse. Amid more and more discontinuations, mainstays like the Toyota’s Camry and Corolla, and Honda’s Civic, remained in the top 20 most popular models in 2025. The sedan has held particularly firm in the luxury segment, with brands like BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz sticking to their guns and maintaining the body style throughout their model ranges. Luxury car brand buyers might be more inclined to prize driving dynamics, elegance, and comfort over the crossover’s perceived maximization of practicality and toughness.
I had the opportunity to better appreciate the sedan’s different balance of priorities by driving a 2023 Audi A4. Since 1994, the A4 has been Audi’s entry into the competitive compact luxury sport sedan market. In 2025, Audi discontinued the internal combustion A4 as part of a broader renaming scheme, but the sedan lives on as the upcoming A4 E-tron EV and the gas-powered A5 sportback. This makes the B9.5 generation 2023 model part of the last generation of A4s, the final evolution of the Ingolstadt manufacturer’s 30-year-old formula of mixing upscale comforts and engaging driving in a small package.
Inside and out, the A4 feels pleasingly understated and refined, in keeping with Audi’s basic formula for how the brand presents alongside its European rivals. In terms of design the A4 feels less flashy than a Mercedes C-class, but more mature and buttoned-up than a BMW 3-series or Alfa Romeo Giulia. Intuitively placed controls, high-quality materials, and stylish design make the A4’s interior a very nice place to spend time, and the sharp exterior styling accentuates the elegant, classic feel of the three-box body style. The rear seat is spacious for this class of vehicle, but like any compact sedan, it will be a squeeze with a tall driver or front passenger. Like any compact sedan, I recommend it for those with short friends.
On the road, the A4 toes the line between comfort and sportiness but doesn’t quite live up to its label as a sports sedan. In everyday scenarios, it ticks all the boxes: quiet, spacious, great seats, and a good ride. In more spirited driving, the plot thickens. Propelling the A4 is a fourth-generation variant of the VW group’s venerable EA888 2.0 liter turbo inline 4, which since 2007 has found its way into everything from the Volkswagen Golf to the Porsche Macan. Audi pairs the four-pot with a 12-volt mild hybrid system to produce 261 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, and the result is a smooth, punchy, and responsive motor, unfortunately somewhat let down by its muted character and exhaust note. Popping the quick-shifting DCT transmission into manual mode and ripping it from a near-standstill gets your heart pumping, but in real driving it comes up short compared to the growling, huffing theatrics of the 4-cylinders its rivals the Guilia and 3-series.
The A4 will dive through twists gamely and put power down with gusto, but the front end is big and heavy, and on occasion, it pushes out cantankerously through sharp corners. The brakes are rock-solid. The car grips tenaciously, rides with poise and confidence over imperfect surfaces, and steers with a satisfying precision, but it lacks some pizzazz and personality compared to its sports sedan rivals. The A4 is certainly no wet blanket, but enthusiasts might find it a popsicle to the 3-series and Giulia’s ice cream sundaes.
Ultimately, the A4 comes across as a deeply capable, highly competent, almost-sports sedan. What it lacks in flair or feel next to its more driver-focused competitors, it compensates for with a better interior and a more comfortable daily experience. The A4 is all about balance, showing that Audi understands its crowd and its niche. If you know what you’re signing up for, you won’t be disappointed.
~ Jacob Madley `26
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