Verdict
B
Performance Saloon · Germany · 1997-Present
Audi S4
Audi S4 — spec data and generation history.
Years
1997-Present
Generations
5
Segment
Performance Saloon
S-tier A4 — Audi's volume performance saloon/estate. B5 (1997–2002) — 2.7T biturbo V6, 261 bhp. B6 (2003–2005) — 4.2 V8, 339 bhp. B7 (2005–2008) — 4.2 V8, 339 bhp, manual + Tiptronic. B8 (2008–2016) — 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6, 328 bhp. B9 (2016-Present) — 3.0 TFSI turbo V6, 349 bhp on petrol; UK gets 3.0 TDI MHEV V6 (348 bhp) on later cars. Saloon and Avant bodies. RS4 above (covered separately).
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
B7 2005-2008 → B8 2008-2016
BHP −11 bhp
Torque +30 Nm
0–60 mph −0.4 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +10 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1997-2002
B5
→
2.7T biturbo V6 — 261 bhp, 0-62 in 5.6s.
Verdict
B
BHP
261
0–60
5.6 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
20 mpg
Used
$4,400-$13,000
- + First modern S4
- + Avant estate
- − Turbo seal failures
- − Heavy thirst
2003-2005
B6
→
4.2 V8 quattro — 339 bhp, 0-62 in 5.6s.
Verdict
B
BHP
339
0–60
5.6 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
18 mpg
Used
$4,400-$13,000
- + 4.2 V8 NA — high-revving
- + Saloon, Avant, Cabriolet
- − Heavy thirst
- − Carbon build-up
2005-2008
B7
→
4.2 V8 quattro — 339 bhp, 0-62 in 5.6s.
Verdict
B
BHP
339
0–60
5.6 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
18 mpg
Used
$5,700-$14,000
- + 4.2 V8 NA
- + Saloon, Avant, Cabriolet
- − Heavy thirst
- − Carbon build-up
2008-2016
B8
→
3.0 TFSI supercharged Saloon — 328 bhp, 0-62 in 5.0s.
Verdict
B
BHP
328
0–60
5.0 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
27 mpg
Used
$10,000-$28,000
- + 3.0 TFSI supercharged broader powerband
- + S-Tronic 7DCT
- − Snout bearing failures
- − Carbon build-up
2016-Present
B9
→
3.0 TFSI turbo Saloon — 349 bhp, 0-62 in 4.7s.
Verdict
B
BHP
349
0–60
4.7 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
27 mpg
Used
$25,000-$53,000
- + Twin-turbo V6 broad powerband
- + 8-speed Tiptronic smooth
- − No manual
- − UK switched to TDI mid-life
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1997-2002 · B5
- 2.7T biturbo turbo seal failures
- Carbon build-up
- Cabin shows age
2003-2005 · B6
- 4.2 V8 timing chain stretch
- Multitronic CVT
- Carbon build-up
2005-2008 · B7
- 4.2 V8 timing chain stretch
- Multitronic still
- Carbon build-up
2008-2016 · B8
- Supercharger snout bearing
- Carbon build-up
- S-Tronic mechatronic
2016-Present · B9
- EA839 PCV diaphragm
- 8AT mechatronic
- MMI freezes pre-2020