The Audi S4 is a compact car built from 1992 to 2026 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V6, V8, 5-cyl. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 5.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the S4 is
The Audi S4 is a compact car that Audi built from 1992 to 2026 — 35 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2020. It has been offered with V6, V8, 5-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Audi range: A4, RS 4.
Where the S4 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 467 S4s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WAU, WUA | 1992-2021 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Audi VIN decide which of these 6 lines your S4 belongs to. What every character in a S4 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Audi S4 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
S4 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the S4's 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 — for the S4 that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 489 cm | 269 cm | 1715 kg | - | - |
| 2002 | 448 cm | 261 cm | 1630 kg | -41 cm | -85 kg |
| 2005 | 455 cm | 265 cm | 1785 kg | +7 cm | +155 kg |
| 2008 | 459 cm | 265 cm | 1710 kg | +4 cm | -75 kg |
| 2011-2014 | 470 cm | 281 cm | 1530 kg | +11 cm | -180 kg |
| 2020-2023 | 477 cm | 282 cm | 1748 kg | +7 cm | +218 kg |
Between 1993 and 2023 the S4 gained -12 cm in length (-2.5%) and 33 kg in weight (+1.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the S4 that is 33 kg against -12 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Audi S4 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment S4 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 S4 have? Power & range
The Audi S4 is offered with 3 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl, 2.2L 5-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Audi S4, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | AWD | Premium |
| V8 | 4.2L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium |
| 5-cyl | 2.2L · 5-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular |
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 S4 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Audi S4. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | S4 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 42 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 577 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 5.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,094/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 243 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Audi S4?
The S4 is a compact car, built from 1992 to 2026 across 6 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8, 5-cyl.
Where is the Audi S4 made?
Across 467 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 S4 have?
6 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.
What is the Audi S4 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 S4 reliable?
It scores 5.0/5 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 S4?
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.
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