The Audi A4 is a compact car built from 1996 to 2026 over 8 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 1996 and 2023 it grew 24 cm longer and gained 298 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the A4 is
The Audi A4 is a compact car that Audi built from 1996 to 2026 — 31 model years. Our measurements put it at 8 generations, the current one starting in 2020. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Audi range: RS 6, S4, RS 4.
Where the A4 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,185 A4s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WAU, WA1 | 1996-2024 |
Check your own: the first three characters of its VIN decide which line above it belongs to. What every character in a A4 VIN means →
A4 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-1999 | 452 cm | 262 cm | 1350 kg | - | - |
| 2002 | 458 cm | 264 cm | 1734 kg | +6 cm | +384 kg |
| 2005 | 458 cm | 265 cm | 1580 kg | +0 cm | -154 kg |
| 2008 | 459 cm | 265 cm | 1665 kg | +1 cm | +85 kg |
| 2011 | 470 cm | 281 cm | 1480 kg | +11 cm | -185 kg |
| 2014 | 472 cm | 281 cm | 1765 kg | +2 cm | +285 kg |
| 2017 | 473 cm | 282 cm | 1645 kg | +1 cm | -120 kg |
| 2020-2023 | 476 cm | 282 cm | 1648 kg | +3 cm | +3 kg |
Between 1996 and 2023 the A4 gained 24 cm in length (+5.3%) and 298 kg in weight (+22.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced. Full dimensions by year →
Audi A4 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Audi A4 have? Power & range
The Audi A4 is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.1L 6-cyl, 2L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.1L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | FWD | Premium |
| Hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | AWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The A4 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | A4 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 98 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,976 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,442/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 880 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Audi A4?
The A4 is a compact car, built from 1996 to 2026 across 8 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6.
Where is the Audi A4 made?
Across 2,185 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the A4 have?
8 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2020. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the A4 grew 24 cm longer and gained 298 kg.
What is the Audi A4 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the A4 reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific A4?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.