Is the Audi A4 B9 reliable?

Our reliability score for the Audi A4 B9 is 5.5/10 (55/100), which puts it as unreliable by our scoring. Major issues are common before 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 3/5.

How much does it cost to own a Audi A4 B9 per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Audi A4 B9 is approximately $3,430 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $3,160.

What is the Audi A4 B9 gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Audi A4 B9 is 27 MPG, with 24 MPG city and 34 MPG highway.

What years does the Audi A4 B9 cover?

This generation of the Audi A4 was sold from 2017 to 2023.

Is the Audi A4 B9 safe?

Our safety score for the Audi A4 B9 is 9.5/10 (95/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Audi A4 B9 a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Audi A4 B9 misses on at least one of these.

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Audi A4 B9

17-23 · Audi A4

66out of 100

The B9 A4 is the most refined compact luxury sedan at its depreciated price. Timing chain. No belt service needed.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

55/ 100Reliability×2.5 64/ 100True Annual Cost×1.5 95/ 100Safety×2.5 65/ 100Practicality×2.0 40/ 100Repairability×1.5

80/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

65/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

B9 timing chain improvement boosts reliability. Safety and comfort are class-leading. LED headlight cost drags repairability.

Our take

What it really is

Audi's most refined compact sedan. Excellent interior, Virtual Cockpit, and the best highway ride in its class.

Why it's on this list

B9 A4s fall to $22,000-28,000 for 2020-2021 examples with 30-50k Miles. That is strong value for what the car is.

The honest trade-offs

The B9 moved to a timing chain, so no belt service. No manual option in the US. The S tronic DCT can lurch in traffic. LED headlight replacement runs $1,200 per unit.

What to buy and what to avoid

2020-2022 A4 45 TFSI (248hp) quattro with Premium Plus. Virtual Cockpit and driver assist package worth having. Check for MMI software updates.

Annual cost of ownership

Premium fuel. B9 moved to timing chain — no belt service needed.

Fuel (12k mi)

$2,540 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$1,050 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$800 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,560 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,290 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$3,430 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$3,160 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

27^[5]

MPG city / hwy

24 / 34^[5]

Tank

15.9 gal^[5]

Engine

2.0L TFSI Turbo I4

Horsepower

248 hp

Torque

273 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

13.7 cu ft

Cargo max

13.7 cu ft

Tow capacity

2,000 lbs

Ground clearance

5.3"

Stock tires

235/45R18

Body

Sedan (trunk)

Rear seats

40/20/40 split

Also available in wagon. The score reflects the primary body style listed above.

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

16.9%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Yes

Driver assists

Standard forward collision, lane keep assist (2020+); optional adaptive cruise

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Minimal

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Minimal

Aluminum/steel multi-material body. Excellent corrosion resistance for the segment.

Known issues by mileage

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

S tronic DCT shudder and lurch at low speedModerate$400 (USD)

Software update often resolves. Mechatronic replacement if not.

100,000-150,000 Miles (161,000-241,000 KM)

Carbon buildup on intake valves (direct injection)Moderate$600 (USD)

Walnut blasting every 50-60k — not a crisis but plan for it

Best and worst years

Best years

2020EA888 gen 3B; all early S tronic issues resolved
2021Standard driver assists; best infotainment

Years to avoid

2017First year; S tronic calibration issues; some electrical gremlins

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$950 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

3/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.8^[1]

Severe issue probability

13%^[1]

250k-mile survival

28%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Led Assembly

DIY replacement cost

$0 (USD)

At major retailer

Headlight benchmark

4/10

Good parts availability. LED headlights are expensive to replace. No manual available in the US.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Audi A4?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist