Esquire has announced the winner of its annual “Car of the Year” awards, and Audi‘s performance-oriented version of its A4 sedan, the S4, took home the top honors.

In each issue, the magazine profiled a car as it searched for the top car this year. The S4 had some stiff competition, including the Ford Mustang, BMW 535i, Porsche Boxster Spyder and Hyundai Genesis, but in the end, the Audi won out.

“Over several months and many miles, we drove cars – cars that are the most powerful, most attractive and most thrilling that the auto industry has to offer,” said Esquire Editor-in-Chief David Granger. “While a number of the cars we tested were terrific, the Audi S4 truly deserved top honors. Its rare combination of speed, force, design, and price makes the end result a triumph.”

The magazine praised the automobile’s mix of comfort and performance, along with its comparatively low price of about $45,000, as the reasons for the win. While the sedan style made a quiet ride in the city or country pleasurable, the S4 also packed enough wallop to be fun to drive when a driver really puts it through the paces.

Those interested in a luxury vehicle like the S4 may want to search on the used car market, as they can likely find it at a steep discount compared to its sticker price.