Audi

Audi A4 build years & generations

Coverage 2004-20243 named generationsSaloonDIESEL / PETROL

The Audi A4 spans several build years and named generations (2004-2024). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Audi A4 generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2004
Generation
B7
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2007
Generation
B7
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
Built 2008
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2014
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
Built 2015-2016
Generation
B9
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
B9
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021-2024
Generation
B9
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2004	B7	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2007	B7	2005-2008	Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
2008	B8	2005-2008	Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
2009-2012	B8	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2014	B8	2013-2016	Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
2015-2016	B9	2013-2016	Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
2017-2020	B9	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021-2024	B9	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Audi A4 build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

B9 only

All B9 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

11.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

13,169

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

8,05411.0%

4 years

5,11511.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

B9 only

These build years are all B9, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

17.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

66,940

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

3,98610.8%

5 years

11,19612.1%

6 years

14,86815.3%

7 years

21,42817.3%

8 years

15,46217.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of B8 and B9

These build years include both B8 and B9 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

21.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

90,880

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

11,98117.3%

9 years

23,06218.9%

10 years

22,43121.1%

11 years

21,32121.3%

12 years

12,08521.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

B8 only

These build years are all B8, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

26.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

67,113

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

7,29922.3%

13 years

17,35623.3%

14 years

17,01325.0%

15 years

16,53426.8%

16 years

8,91126.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 15 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of B7 and B8

These build years include both B7 and B8 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

28.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

55,805

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

7,91728.4%

17 years

16,59127.7%

18 years

16,00628.0%

19 years

11,20628.3%

20 years

4,08528.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

Built

Before 2005

B7 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the B7.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

29.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

16,186

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

2,95729.0%

21 years

5,45629.3%

22 years

3,00029.6%

23 years

1,40628.7%

24 years

1,00228.0%

25+ years

2,36529.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 22 years old.