The Audi A4, a popular luxury sedan, has consistently demonstrated excellent safety performance in rigorous crash tests. This article delves into the safety ratings of the Audi A4, focusing on evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These ratings apply to Audi A4 models from 2017 to 2025, encompassing the sedan, the A4 allroad wagon, and the A5 Sportback hatchback, all redesigned around the 2017 model year.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Driver-Side
The Audi A4 earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, the highest possible rating. This test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end on the driver’s side impacts a barrier.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Action shot from the Audi A4 driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.
The crash test results revealed that the Audi A4’s structure and safety cage held up exceptionally well, maintaining the driver’s survival space. Measures of occupant compartment intrusion were minimal, indicating robust structural integrity.
Post-crash dummy position in the Audi A4 driver-side small overlap test, showing excellent survival space maintenance.
The frontal and side curtain airbags effectively protected the driver’s head, preventing contact with жесткие structures or external objects. Sensor data indicated a low risk of injuries to the driver’s legs and feet.
Airbag deployment in the Audi A4 driver-side small overlap frontal crash, demonstrating effective head protection.
Driver’s space maintained in the Audi A4 after driver-side small overlap frontal crash, minimizing leg and foot injury risks.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test are detailed below:
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 |
Learn more about the small overlap front test
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Passenger-Side
Mirroring its driver-side performance, the Audi A4 also achieved a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. This evaluation, conducted by Volkswagen/Audi and assessed by the IIHS, ensures comparable safety for front-seat passengers.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Hip/thigh | G (Good) |
| Lower leg/foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test are provided below:
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 |
Explore more about the small overlap front test
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap frontal test, the Audi A4 again received a “Good” overall rating. This test, also conducted by Volkswagen/Audi and assessed by IIHS, evaluates occupant protection in a frontal collision involving a larger portion of the car’s front end.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Chest | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, left | G (Good) |
| Leg/foot, right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap frontal test:
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 |
Learn more about the original moderate overlap front test
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
The Audi A4’s protection extends to side impacts, where it also secured a “Good” rating in the original side crash test. This test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a side collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis/leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G (Good) |
| Torso | G (Good) |
| Pelvis/leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
Technical measurements from the side impact crash test:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1609 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.0 |
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 |
Discover more about the original side crash test
Roof Strength Test
The Audi A4’s roof strength was also rated as “Good”. This test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover accident.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,471 lbs |
| Peak force | 18,540 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.34 |
Read more about the roof strength test
Head Restraints and Seats
For head restraints and seats, the Audi A4 again achieved a “Good” dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry rating, indicating effective protection against whiplash in rear-end collisions.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
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 |
Learn more about the head restraint & seat test
Headlight Ratings
The Audi A4 offers different headlight options, with ratings varying by trim level.
Prestige Trim Headlights
The Prestige trim headlights, featuring LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams with high-beam assist, received an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Premium Plus Trim Headlights
The Premium Plus trim headlights, also with LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams but without high-beam assist, received a “Marginal” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | M (Marginal) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
Premium Trim Headlights
The Premium trim headlights, equipped with HID projector low and high beams, also received a “Marginal” overall rating, noting some glare from the low beams.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | M (Marginal) |
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
Explore headlight evaluations for Audi A4
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The Audi A4 excels in front crash prevention. With the optional “Audi Pre Sense Front” system (available in the Driver Assistance Package), it achieves a “Superior” rating. The standard “Audi Pre Sense City” system also earns a “Superior” rating. Both systems successfully avoided collisions in 12 mph tests and significantly reduced impact speed in 25 mph tests.
| System details | Overall evaluation |
|---|---|
| Optional Audi Pre Sense Front | Superior |
| Standard Audi Pre Sense City | Superior |
Learn about the front crash prevention test for vehicles
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
The Audi A4’s “Pre sense city” system also provides superior pedestrian front crash prevention, earning a “Superior” rating. The system avoided collisions in tests involving crossing children and adults at 12 and 25 mph.
| System details | Overall evaluation |
|---|---|
| Standard Pre sense city | Superior |
Discover more about pedestrian front crash prevention testing
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The Audi A4’s LATCH system for child seat anchors received a “Good” rating, indicating ease of use and secure child seat installation. The vehicle has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
Read about child seat anchor evaluations
Conclusion
The Audi A4 stands out as a safe vehicle, consistently achieving “Good” ratings in critical IIHS crash tests. While headlight ratings vary by trim, the A4’s crashworthiness and front crash prevention systems are commendable, making it a strong choice for safety-conscious drivers and families. For more detailed information, refer to the IIHS reports and related resources.
