Audi A4

Audi A4 at a glance

Audi's mid-size cars carry the internal B-series code. The earlier generations were sold as the Audi 80, and from the B5 of 1994 they became the A4. Why change? Audi wanted to compete head-on with more established German premium rivals. The B5 debuted in October 1994, the B6 in October 2000, the B7 in late 2004 as a major facelift of the B6, the B8 at the Frankfurt motor show in 2007 and the B9 in June 2015. The B9 was updated in 2019, and in 2024 Audi announced that its mid-size saloon and estate would continue under the A5 name. More models are in our Audi catalogue; a comparison with a rival is in Jaguar XF or Audi A6.

Generations

First generation: B5 (1994–2001)

The B5 was updated about three years after launch with small changes to the exterior and cabin and new engines. It used the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, an approach that cut production costs and improved safety. A galvanised body with reinforced pillars and a full set of airbags made occupants feel safe. Compared with the Audi 80, the A4 had smoother lines, a rounded roof and a higher-quality, cosier interior with wood trim on the doors and dashboard. Ground clearance was only 110 mm.

The driver had a three-spoke steering wheel and an instrument panel with two large dials for road and engine speed and two small gauges in between, while three rectangular vents sat in a row on the centre console above the audio and climate controls. Petrol engines included four-cylinders and naturally aspirated and turbocharged V6s from 1.6 to 2.8 litres, producing about 74 to 142 kW (101 to 193 PS) and 140 to 280 Nm. Turbodiesels of 1.9 to 2.5 litres produced about 55 to 110 kW (75 to 150 PS). Gearboxes were five- or six-speed manuals and four- or five-speed automatics, with front-wheel drive or quattro. The PL45 platform had fully independent suspension with a four-link front axle. The sporty S4 returned with the facelift, and in 1999 Audi added the RS4 Avant.

Second generation: B6 (2000–2005)

The B6 met the new safety and comfort standards of the new millennium. It was longer, wider and taller, and despite appearances the saloon's boot was large: 445 litres. The body was galvanised, so even small stone chips did not rust. The design echoed the B5, with similar lights but a sculpted bonnet, a chrome-framed grille, a large bumper with round fog lights, more pronounced wheel arches and chrome window trim. The cabin gained a leather four-spoke steering wheel with buttons — rare in 2001 — adjustable for height and reach, and chrome-ringed dials with a trip computer. The centre console could have a large radio or a small navigation display. Leather front seats with heating were available, and a cabriolet built by Karmann was added in 2002.

Petrol four-cylinders of 1.6 to 1.8 litres produced about 75 to 140 kW (102 to 190 PS), and naturally aspirated V6s were also offered; diesels produced about 96 to 132 kW (130 to 180 PS). The PL46 platform used a four-link front axle and aluminium trapezoidal links at the rear.

Third generation: B7 (2004–2008)

The B7, shown at the Paris motor show in 2004, was a heavy facelift of the B6 and was built for four years, offered as a saloon, Avant and cabriolet. It had projector headlights, Audi's large single-frame grille with chrome surround, round fog lights linked by a decorative strip and intakes to cool the front brakes. Ground clearance rose to 130 mm. Inside, a leather four-spoke steering wheel with audio buttons, a small navigation screen with button control and dual-zone climate control were offered, and the boot held 460 litres, or 833 litres with the rear seats folded.

Engines ranged from naturally aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinders of 1.6 to 2.0 litres, about 75 to 162 kW (102 to 220 PS), to V6s of 3.0 to 3.1 litres with 160 to 188 kW (218 to 255 PS). Diesels included four-cylinders of 85 to 125 kW (115 to 170 PS) and V6s of 120 to 171 kW (163 to 233 PS). They were paired with six-speed manuals, automatics or a CVT, with optional quattro. The B7 was later rebadged as the SEAT Exeo.

Fourth generation: B8 (2007–2016)

The B8 was unveiled at Frankfurt in September 2007 and facelifted in early 2012. It combined elegant styling, a luxurious cabin, modern technology and rich equipment, and was offered as a saloon, Avant, a long-wheelbase saloon for China and the raised A4 allroad quattro. The facelift brought slimmer headlights with LED elements, an octagonal grille, sculpted bumpers, LED tail lights and 16- to 18-inch wheels; ground clearance was 135 mm.

The cabin offered excellent ergonomics and materials: leather, wood and aluminium, a three-spoke steering wheel with media controls, large dials and a 7-inch high-resolution infotainment screen on a console angled towards the driver. The front seats had excellent support and many adjustments, including thigh extensions. The rear suits two adults best because of the high tunnel. The boot holds 480 litres in a neat rectangular shape, or 962 litres with the 40/60 rear seat folded.

Gearboxes were a six-speed manual, the multitronic CVT and the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch. The B8 used five-link front suspension and a trapezoidal-link rear axle.

Fifth generation: B9 (2015–2025)

The B9 was revealed online in June 2015 and launched at the Frankfurt motor show that September. On 15 May 2019 Audi presented the updated A4 saloon, Avant, allroad quattro, S4 and S4 Avant in Ingolstadt.

Exterior

The B9 uses the second generation of the MLB platform and, despite larger dimensions, is about 120 kg lighter than the B8 thanks to lighter seats and improvements to the gearbox, brakes and wiring. The styling follows the family look, with sharper edges, a new headlight signature with lightning-shaped running lights and a hexagonal grille. Xenon, LED or matrix LED headlights were offered. Audi says the B9 has the best aerodynamics of any car it had built at the time, with a drag coefficient of 0.23 for the saloon and 0.26 for the Avant. Ground clearance is 135 mm, and wheels range from 16 to 19 inches. Exhaust layouts vary from a single pipe to separate outlets on each side.

Interior

The dashboard is topped by a freestanding 8.3-inch infotainment screen, with a wide climate panel with its own display, two knobs and buttons below. Analogue dials are standard, and the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit is optional. Soft plastics, real wood, aluminium and quality leather are used, and fit and finish are excellent. New seats are 9 kg lighter, better shaped and offer good side support, many electric adjustments, heating and optional ventilation. Rear knee room grew by 23 mm, though the rear seat suits two adults and a child best. The boot is among the largest in its class and expands to 1,510 litres with the seats folded.

Engines and drivetrain

The 2.0 TFSI uses Audi's efficient combustion process, while diesel versions use only 3.7–4.1 l/100 km. Many engines are paired with the seven-speed S tronic. Front-wheel drive is standard, and more powerful versions use quattro all-wheel drive with a self-locking centre differential that normally splits torque 40:60 front to rear, sending up to 70% to the front or 85% to the rear when needed. Suspension is five-link front and rear, with optional adjustable dampers that lower the car by 10 mm (23 mm with the sports set-up), and progressive steering is optional. Safety features include ABS, EBD and ESP, front and curtain airbags, hill-start assist, pre sense city automatic braking up to 40 km/h, driver-attention monitoring, surround-view cameras and blind-spot monitoring.

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners of the B9 praise its performance, audio system, attractive styling, many assistance systems, large boot and high-quality cabin with plenty of space. Criticisms include the high price, sensitivity to fuel quality, a firm ride on some versions, seats that some find less comfortable, a small glovebox and expensive servicing. The A4's main rivals are the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Infiniti Q50.