This used German sport sedan costs less than a new Honda Civic Si

Published Jul 25, 2026, 3:45 PM EDT Adam Gray, a seasoned automotive journalist and content creator from the UK, joined the How-To Geek editorial team in January 2025. As an automotive journalist for How-To Geek, Adam breaks first-to-report news on the latest in automotive tech, as well as penning automotive features and reviews. Adam is also a contributor to one of How-To Geek's sister sites, TopSpeed, where he uses his media accrediation with manufacturers' press offices to gain access to the latest vehicles for subsequent review. Prior to joining How-To Geek, Adam worked on a freelance basis, contributing automotive content to a variety of business and lifestyle publications. His experience also includes time spent serving as senior editorial & auction content manager for SBX Cars, automotive content writer for Supercar Blondie, motoring editor for Portfolio North, and motoring editor - North East for Reach plc. When he's not putting the latest vehicle through its paces or testing out its tech, Adam can be found at his local ice rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC. Adam also enjoys spending quality time with his three children: Ellie, Oscar, and Heidi. Spending around $30,000 on a sporty sedan usually leads buyers straight to the Honda Civic Si. It's quick, efficient, well-equipped, and backed by Honda's hard-earned reputation for reliability. But the same budget can also unlock something very different. Thanks to depreciation, late-model luxury performance sedans that once cost well over $50,000 now sit firmly within Civic Si territory, offering far more power, refinement, and technology for similar money. The Audi S4 is one of the strongest examples. It combines a turbocharged V-6, quattro all-wheel drive, and a genuinely premium interior at a price that makes buying new feel far less convincing—provided you're prepared for the realities of used luxury car ownership. In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Audi and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, and TopSpeed. $30,000 buys far more than it used to Looking beyond a brand-new economy car changes the conversation Credit: Honda The Civic Si occupies a sweet spot in today's market. Priced at around $31,500 including destination, it delivers 200 horsepower, a six-speed manual gearbox, a limited-slip differential, and the kind of balanced chassis that has made it one of the best driver's cars in its class. It also promises excellent fuel economy and the long-term dependability buyers expect from Honda. That value proposition changes the moment you stop insisting on buying new. A budget of roughly $30,000 suddenly opens the door to cars that originally competed in an entirely different segment, thanks largely to depreciation. That's exactly where the S4 enters the conversation. Rather than shopping another compact performance sedan, buyers can step into a car that was designed to compete with the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C43, complete with significantly more power, a luxury interior, and all-wheel drive. Buying used does mean accepting different risks. Instead of a factory warranty, you're relying on the previous owner's maintenance history. Whether that's a worthwhile trade-off depends on what matters most, but it also explains why comparing these two cars is more relevant than it first appears. The S4 offers far more car for similar money Luxury appointments that still feel premium today Credit: NetCarShow.com Current market values place the 2019 S4 firmly within Civic Si budget. According to Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, dealer examples typically sell for between $25,000 and $30,000, depending on trim, mileage, and condition, making even well-equipped models attainable for the price of Honda's compact sports sedan. That price buys a car that originally competed in an entirely different class. The S4's cabin features premium materials, available Nappa leather upholstery, Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, heated and ventilated seats, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, adaptive cruise control, and impressive levels of sound insulation that remain competitive years later. Practicality is another advantage. As a genuine midsize luxury sedan, the S4 offers comfortable seating for four adults, a usable trunk, and the kind of everyday refinement that smaller performance sedans struggle to match. While the Civic Si focuses on delivering driving enjoyment at an attainable price, the S4 adds luxury, comfort, and technology without demanding a significantly larger budget on the used market. The performance gap isn't even close A turbocharged V-6 puts the S4 in another league Credit: NetCarShow.com The biggest difference between these two cars is what sits beneath the bonnet. While the Civic Si relies on a 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, the 2019 S4 uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 producing 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the S4 reaches 60 mph in the mid-four-second range, comfortably outpacing the Civic Si by well over a second. More importantly, its broad torque delivery gives the Audi effortless acceleration in everyday driving, whether merging onto a highway or overtaking slower traffic. Base Trim Engine 3.0L Turbo V6 Gas Base Trim Transmission 8-Speed Automatic Base Trim Drivetrain All-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 354 hp Base Trim Torque 369 lb-ft @ 1370 rpm Fuel Economy 21/30 MPG Make Audi Model S4 Sedan Segment Compact Luxury Sedan Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system widens the gap further. Instead of asking the front tires to manage both steering and power delivery, the S4 can put its performance to the road in wet weather, poor conditions, or hard acceleration with far greater confidence. That doesn't diminish what the Civic Si offers. Honda's compact remains one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars available. But in outright performance, refinement, and everyday usability, the S4 operates in a completely different category. The used luxury equation comes with some risks Maintenance history matters more than the badge This is where the comparison becomes more complicated. The S4 delivers a level of performance and luxury that a new Civic Si cannot match, but it also comes with the ownership considerations that follow any used German performance car. The B9-generation S4's 3.0-liter EA839 V-6 has developed a reputation for strong performance, but early examples should be inspected carefully for potential timing chain tensioner concerns. Any buyer should look for detailed service records and have the vehicle checked before purchase, especially on cars with higher mileage. The eight-speed ZF automatic transmission is generally regarded as a durable unit, but regular maintenance remains important. Although some factory guidance previously suggested long-life fluid, many specialists recommend transmission servicing between 60,000 and 100,000 miles to protect long-term reliability. Buyers should also budget for the normal costs associated with a performance luxury sedan. Larger brakes, wider tires, and more complex electronics will cost more to maintain than the simpler Civic Si. These expenses don't make the S4 a bad choice, but they are part of the trade-off for getting a much more expensive car at a much lower price. Depreciation is what makes the numbers work The first owner has already absorbed the biggest loss Credit: NetCarShow.com One of the biggest financial advantages of buying a used S4 is that someone else has already paid for the steepest period of depreciation. What was once a luxury sports sedan costing well over $50,000 can now be bought for around half that price. A brand-new Civic Si faces the opposite reality. Like almost every new car, it will lose a significant portion of its value during the first few years of ownership, regardless of how well it holds its price compared with the rest of the market. The S4 has already passed through that stage. Because much of its depreciation has already occurred, the amount it loses over the next three or four years is likely to be considerably smaller in absolute dollar terms than a brand-new Civic Si bought today. That doesn't automatically make the Audi the cheaper car to own overall, but it does change the value equation. When purchase price, depreciation, performance, and luxury are all considered together, the used S4 becomes a far more compelling alternative than many buyers might expect. The smarter buy depends on what you value New isn't always the best value Credit: NetCarShow.com The Civic Si remains one of the best new performance bargains on sale. It's reliable, enjoyable to drive, efficient, and comes with the reassurance of a factory warranty, making it an easy recommendation for buyers who want worry-free ownership. The S4 takes a completely different approach. For similar money, it offers a level of performance, refinement, technology, and everyday comfort that simply isn't available in a brand-new compact sports sedan. The trade-off is equally clear. Buying used means accepting higher maintenance costs, greater mechanical complexity, and the importance of finding a well-maintained example. Buyers willing to do their homework, however, are rewarded with a car that still feels genuinely special years after leaving the showroom. If outright peace of mind is the priority, the Civic Si is difficult to fault. But for enthusiasts looking to maximize what $30,000 can buy, the used S4 proves that stepping into a higher segment can sometimes be the smarter investment.