Core summary
A current-generation compact executive sedan and avant designed for commuting and long-distance touring.
The Audi A4 is a compact executive-car line that succeeded the Audi 80 in 1994 and remained in production through the 2025 model year. Across five generations, it used a front-engine layout and was offered with front-wheel drive or Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, depending on model and market. Sedan and Avant wagon body styles formed the main range, while earlier generations also included a Cabriolet. From the B8 onward, Audi separated convertible, coupé and liftback derivatives into the A5 family.
The latest generation is the B9, introduced in 2015 and later updated as the B9.5. The facelift brought revised exterior panels and a touchscreen-based infotainment interface. The A4 nameplate was then discontinued and replaced by the redesigned Audi A5 under Audi’s revised naming plan.
The Audi A4 is a compact executive sedan and avant developed around front-engine, longitudinal architecture. Its current-generation profile combines turbocharged four-cylinder range with front-wheel drive or quattro. The Audi A4 is best understood as a vehicle for commuting and long-distance touring, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
History & generations
The A4 began in 1994 as the B5, Audi’s successor to the 80. It launched as a four-door sedan, followed by the Avant wagon, and established the recurring choice of front-wheel drive or quattro. The B6 arrived in 2000 with new styling, revised engines and a Cabriolet, while the B7 followed in late 2004 as a heavily facelifted and technically revised B6 rather than a clean-sheet departure.
The B8 appeared in 2007 and marked a more substantial change. Its Modular Longitudinal Platform allowed a longer wheelbase, more rear legroom and increased luggage capacity. The convertible and new coupé and liftback derivatives were assigned to the A5 line. The B9 debuted in 2015, with a claimed weight reduction and new digital features. Its 2020 B9.5 facelift revised most exterior body panels and replaced the prior infotainment controls with a larger touchscreen. Production ended after 2025, when Audi replaced the A4 name with A5 for combustion-engine models.
B5 (Typ 8D)
The first A4 succeeded the Audi 80 and introduced the A4 name. It was offered as a sedan and Avant wagon, with front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive.
B6 (Typ 8E/8H)
The second generation brought new styling, revised petrol and diesel engines, updated electronics and the return of a Cabriolet body style.
B7 (Typ 8E/8H)
The B7 was a heavily revised B6 with a taller grille, new engines, revised chassis electronics and renewed S4 and RS4 variants.
B8 (Typ 8K)
The B8 moved to Audi’s Modular Longitudinal Platform, grew in wheelbase and length, and offered sedan, Avant, allroad and market-specific long-wheelbase forms.
B9/B9.5 (Typ 8W)
The fifth A4 generation launched in 2015, introduced additional digital features, received a major 2020 facelift and ended production after the 2025 model year.
Body, platform & design
The B9 introduced a more contemporary interpretation of Audi’s compact executive design while retaining the A4’s sedan and Avant proportions. Its wider dimensions compared with the B8 were accompanied by a claimed weight reduction through lightweight aluminum-hybrid construction. The design was also used as the basis for the related A4 Avant and allroad quattro wagon variants.
The B9.5 facelift, available from 2020, brought the exterior closer to other Audi models of the period. Audi redesigned the headlights and taillights and altered almost every body panel except the hood, trunk and roof. The earlier character line running along the side was replaced by creases in the front and rear fenders. The facelifted A4 and S4 shared their body panels, with grille and badging distinctions.
Engine & drivetrain
The B9 launched with three petrol and four diesel engines, although availability varied by market. The reference describes turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 petrol choices, diesel engines in European markets, and an Ultra efficiency variant using a higher-compression EA888 engine. The Ultra was front-wheel drive and paired its engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Other B9 versions could use front-wheel drive or quattro, depending on engine and grade.
A facelift arrived in 2019 and the B9.5 became available for 2020. The supplied 2025 information is more specific: the final A4 range eliminated the 40 TFSI and retained the 45 TFSI, using a 261-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. All 2025 A4 models used quattro and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 2025 A4 allroad also used a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
Trim differences
B9 trim naming varied by market. The reference lists Premium, Premium Plus, Ultra Premium, Ultra Premium Plus and Prestige for the United States, with Ultra versions focused on efficiency and restricted to front-wheel drive. S Line and Black Optic packages were also available. A 2019 update introduced the Titanium grade in place of the Ultra Premium grades. After the B9.5 arrived, Titanium was removed, leaving Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige in the US description.
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Interior & seating
The B9 brought several technology changes to the A4 cabin, including Audi virtual cockpit, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a full-color head-up display and Audi pre-sense. The reference describes the B9.5 interior as largely unchanged in its basic layout, but with the mechanical infotainment controls replaced by a touchscreen and larger display. This marked a clear interface change from the earlier generation rather than a complete cabin redesign.
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Efficiency & range
Efficiency equipment and powertrain choices changed during the B9’s life. The Ultra variant used a revised EA888 petrol engine with a higher compression ratio, shorter compression phase and longer expansion phase. In the cited US specification, it achieved an EPA-rated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, and used front-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The reference says this grade was offered only until 2020, after which it was rebranded as the 40 TFSI.
The B8 facelift also introduced TDIe and TDI Ultra diesel variants in Europe, with the latter using AdBlue, but those are earlier-generation details and should not be treated as B9 specifications. For the B9.5, Audi introduced quattro-Ultra technology in the reference, which can disconnect all-wheel drive under certain conditions to reduce fuel-use penalties.
Safety & equipment
For the 2017 US-market A4, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recorded Good ratings across crashworthiness and seat-belt and child-restraint categories. Headlight performance ranged from Marginal to Acceptable depending on trim, while front crash-prevention vehicle-to-vehicle ratings were Good. The reference also identifies Audi pre-sense as a B9 first and lists driver-assistance options such as lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera in the broader A4 equipment history.
Strengths
The B9’s main strengths are its broad body-style range, modernized technology and continuity of the A4’s drivetrain choice. The sedan and Avant wagon cover different practical requirements, while the allroad quattro extends the wagon concept with increased ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. The B9 also introduced virtual cockpit, smartphone integration, a head-up display and Audi pre-sense to the nameplate.
The platform’s claimed weight reduction and slightly larger dimensions were intended to improve efficiency and cabin accommodation relative to the B8. The reference also records strong safety results for the generation, including a five-star Euro NCAP result and generally Good IIHS crashworthiness ratings for the 2017 US model. These advantages should be considered alongside market differences, because engines, body styles, grades and equipment were not uniform worldwide.
The Audi A4 is best understood as a vehicle for commuting and long-distance touring, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
Considerations
The A4’s long production history means the badge covers substantially different vehicles. B5 through B8 specifications should not be applied to the B9 or B9.5, and equipment varied by market even within the latest generation. The B9’s diesel engines and several trim names described in the reference were not universal, while US and non-US drivetrain availability differed.
The A4 nameplate ended after the 2025 model year, so it is no longer a continuing production line under that name. The 2025 range was also narrowed compared with earlier B9 descriptions. Historical transmission information requires care: the reference records complaints and a class-action settlement concerning multitronic CVTs on older 2002–2006 A4 and A6 vehicles, which does not describe the final B9.5 seven-speed dual-clutch setup. Safety ratings likewise have stated test dates and validity periods.
Recommended use
The sedan suits buyers seeking a compact executive car for commuting, business travel and general road use. The Avant wagon adds a more practical cargo area while retaining the A4’s executive-car format.
The B9’s available front-wheel drive and quattro configurations allowed different priorities where both were offered. In the final US-market description, however, all 2025 A4 models used quattro. The Ultra grade was the efficiency-focused exception earlier in the B9’s life, using front-wheel drive. Because body styles and engines varied by region, the most suitable A4 configuration depends on market, model year and whether sedan, Avant or allroad practicality is required.
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FAQ
Q: What is the latest Audi A4 generation? A: The B9, updated as the B9.5, is the latest A4 generation.
Q: When did Audi stop producing the A4? A: The 2025 model year was identified as the final production year.
Q: What replaced the A4? A: Audi replaced the combustion-engine A4 nameplate with the redesigned A5.
Q: Was the A4 available as a wagon? A: Yes. Audi offered the A4 Avant, and the allroad quattro was based on it.
Q: Did every A4 use quattro all-wheel drive? A: No. Depending on generation, market and grade, the A4 used front-wheel drive or quattro. All 2025 models in the supplied US description used quattro.
What makes the Audi A4 different?
The Audi A4 is best understood as a vehicle for commuting and long-distance touring, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
Who should consider it?
Commuting and long-distance touring
Sources & updates
Research for this Audi A4 profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.
Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.
Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.