The 2019 Audi A4 remains a strong contender in the luxury sedan market, and for good reason. Beyond its sophisticated design and driving dynamics, safety is a paramount concern for discerning buyers. This comprehensive guide delves into the 2019 Audi A4 safety ratings, providing a detailed analysis of crash test performance and safety features, drawing upon data from rigorous evaluations.
The Audi A4, redesigned in 2017, has consistently demonstrated impressive safety credentials. These ratings are applicable to the 2019 Audi A4 sedan, as well as the structurally similar Audi A4 allroad wagon and Audi A5 Sportback hatchback models. Let’s break down the performance in various critical safety assessments.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test is particularly challenging, simulating a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. The 2019 Audi A4 performed exceptionally well in the driver-side small overlap test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The “Good” (G) rating across all categories signifies a high level of protection for the driver in this severe crash scenario. The structural integrity of the 2019 Audi A4’s safety cage was maintained, and injury measures for the driver were minimal.
Action shot depicting the 2019 Audi A4 during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, showcasing vehicle deformation.
Image illustrating the dummy’s position post-impact in the 2019 Audi A4 driver-side small overlap test, highlighting excellent survival space maintenance.
Close-up view of the frontal and side curtain airbags deploying effectively in the 2019 Audi A4 driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, protecting the occupant’s head.
Image showing the well-maintained driver’s space and footwell area after the 2019 Audi A4 small overlap crash test, indicating low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Technical measurements further validate the excellent performance:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1614 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Footrest (cm) | 7 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 4 |
| Parking brake (cm) | |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 3 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1614 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 171 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 6 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.28 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 30 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.3 |
| Right | 0.4 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.42 |
| Right | 0.52 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.5 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 93 |
| Right | 70 |
These measurements confirm minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury risk for the driver, reinforcing the “Good” rating.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2019 Audi A4 again secured a “Good” rating overall.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The “Good” rating extends to passenger injury measures and driver injury measures in this passenger-side test, demonstrating consistent safety performance across the front seating area.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test are as follows:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1810 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 7 |
| Footrest (cm) | 13 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 3 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1810 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 106 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 16 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.6 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.30 |
| Right | 0.28 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.4 |
| Right | 2.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 63 |
| Right | 88 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1810 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 83 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 6 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 30 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.2 |
| Right | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.22 |
| Right | 0.19 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.2 |
| Right | 1.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 43 |
| Right | 40 |
These metrics further support the “Good” rating, showing low intrusion and minimal injury measures for both passenger and driver in a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacts a barrier. The 2019 Audi A4 again achieved a top “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating across all categories in the moderate overlap test underscores the robust frontal crash protection of the 2019 Audi A4.
Technical measurements from this test are provided below:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1610 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 1 |
| Left (cm) | 1 |
| Center (cm) | 1 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 1 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | -1 |
| Rearward (cm) | -3 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1610 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 161 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 8 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 1.3 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.4 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 2 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.40 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.30 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 3.1 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.3 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 63 |
| Right | 50 |
The minimal intrusion and low injury measures reflected in these technical details align with the “Good” overall rating, highlighting excellent occupant protection in a moderate frontal impact.
Side Impact Crash Test
Side impacts are another critical area of safety evaluation. The 2019 Audi A4 once again earned a “Good” rating in the side crash test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The “Good” rating across all driver and rear passenger injury measures and head protection categories confirms robust side-impact protection for occupants in the 2019 Audi A4.
Technical measurements from the side impact test:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1609 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1609 |
| Head HIC-15 | 453 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.0 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.85 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.49 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 93 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 35 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1609 |
| Head HIC-15 | 129 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 35 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 24 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 6.22 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.83 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.4 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 47 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -17 |
These detailed measurements are within acceptable limits, contributing to the “Good” overall side impact safety rating.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial for rollover protection. The 2019 Audi A4 also excelled in this test, earning a “Good” rating.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,471 lbs |
| Peak force | 18,540 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.34 |
A strength-to-weight ratio of 5.34 indicates that the roof of the 2019 Audi A4 can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight, providing excellent protection in a rollover scenario.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is a significant factor in rear-end collisions. The 2019 Audi A4’s head restraints and seats were rated “Good” for dynamic performance and geometry.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating signifies effective protection against whiplash injuries in rear-impact crashes.
Technical measurements for head restraints and seats:
| Seat type | Power leather seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 25 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 14 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 11.1 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 64 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 0 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 429 |
These measurements confirm the effective design of the seats and head restraints in minimizing neck strain during rear impacts.
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is a critical component of nighttime safety. The 2019 Audi A4 offers different headlight options, with varying ratings.
Prestige Trim Headlights
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | A |
The Prestige trim’s LED projector headlights with high-beam assist earned an “Acceptable” (A) rating, indicating good overall performance.
Premium Plus Trim Headlights
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | M |
The Premium Plus trim’s LED projector headlights without high-beam assist received a “Marginal” (M) rating, suggesting room for improvement in headlight performance.
Premium Trim Headlights
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | M |
Similarly, the Premium trim’s HID projector headlights also achieved a “Marginal” (M) rating, indicating that headlight performance is an area to consider when choosing a 2019 Audi A4 trim.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Forward collision prevention systems are increasingly important for avoiding accidents. The 2019 Audi A4 offers two front crash prevention systems.
Optional Audi Pre Sense Front (Driver Assistance Package)
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Applies to 2017-20 models | Superior |
With the optional “Audi Pre Sense Front” system, the 2019 Audi A4 achieves a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It successfully avoided collisions in 12 mph tests and significantly reduced impact speed in 25 mph tests.
Standard Audi Pre Sense City
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Applies to 2017-23 models | Superior |
The standard “Audi Pre Sense City” system also earns a “Superior” rating, providing excellent front crash prevention capabilities as standard equipment on the 2019 Audi A4. Like the optional system, it avoided collisions at 12 mph and significantly mitigated impact speed at 25 mph.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian detection is a crucial safety feature in urban environments. The 2019 Audi A4’s standard “Pre sense city” system also excels in pedestrian front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| This rating applies to all 2019-25 models | Superior |
The 2019 Audi A4 achieves a “Superior” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention, demonstrating its ability to avoid collisions with pedestrians in various scenarios, including crossing adults and children, and parallel adults, at various speeds.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for families. The 2019 Audi A4 receives a “Good” rating for its LATCH system.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
The 2019 Audi A4 has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, and an additional position with a tether anchor, making it convenient for installing child seats.
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors | |
| 2 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| none available | |
| 3 | |
| Tether anchor | |
| easy-to-find location | |
| no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
| Lower anchors | |
| not too deep in seat | |
| not too much force needed to attach | |
| easy to maneuver around anchors |
Conclusion
The 2019 Audi A4 demonstrates exceptional safety performance across a wide range of crash tests and preventative safety technologies. Earning top “Good” ratings in critical crashworthiness evaluations and “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention systems, the 2019 Audi A4 prioritizes occupant safety. While headlight performance varies by trim level, the overall safety profile of the 2019 Audi A4 positions it as a leading choice for safety-conscious buyers in the luxury sedan segment. For those prioritizing safety alongside luxury and performance, the 2019 Audi A4 is a compelling option.
