Audi A4 First generation (B5/8D)
Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D)) was built from 1994 to 2001, as a 4 door saloon/sedan,; 5-door Avant (estate/wagon). Powertrain: {{collapsible list; framestyle=border:none; padding:0; title = Inline-four petrol engine. Size: 4,520 x 1,733 x 1,415 mm (L x W x H).
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
The first generation Audi A4 (known internally as the Typ 8D) debuted in October 1994, with production starting November 1994 and European sales commencing in January 1995 for the 1995 model year. North American sales later began in September 1995 for the 1996 model year. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 (PL45) platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat (B5, Typ 3B). It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive. Many variations of the A4 were also available with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system.
Safety
In the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, the Audi B5 A4 received 3 stars for front- and side-impact protection, but the last star is flagged to indicate that the driver may be subjected to a high risk of chest injury in the side impact.; Adult occupant =; Pedestrian = (pre 2002 rating)
Derived hybrid version
In 1997, Audi was the first European car manufacturer to put a hybrid vehicle into mass production, the third generation Audi duo, then based on the A4 Avant.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other wagon models in this database (42 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- 263 mm below the median of 4,783 mm, and shorter than 87% of the 30 other wagon models in this database.
- 63 mm below the median of 1,796 mm, and narrower than 56% of the 32 other wagon models in this database.
- about the same as the median of 1,440 mm, and lower than 70% of the 27 other wagon models in this database.
- 165 mm below the median of 2,780 mm, and shorter than 85% of the 33 other wagon models in this database.
- Fuel use (combined)20 mpg = 11.8 L/100 kmEPA fueleconomy.gov, model year 2001, median of 6 listed variants (18 to 21 mpg)
- Fuel cost per 100 km17.7011.8 L x your fuel price
- Fuel cost per 10,000 km1770consumption x distance x your fuel price
Costs are in your own currency: they use the prices you enter above.
Who it suits
- Families, groups and shuttle work: the people-carrier body is built around seating and access.
- Executive and chauffeur use: the saloon body prioritises rear-seat comfort and a quiet cabin.
Check before you buy
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the A4
- Second generation (B6/8E/8H) · 2000-2006 (FAW-VW)
- Third generation (B7/8E/8H) · 2004-2009
- Fourth generation (B8/8K) · 2008-2016
- Fifth generation (B9/8W) · 2015-2025
More from Audi · all Audi models
- Q7 (Third generation) · 2026 (to commence)
- A6 (Sixth generation (C9)) · 2025 - present
- A5 (Third generation) · 2024 - present
- Q5 (Third generation) · 2024-present; 2025-present (Sportback)
- e-tron GT · 2020-present
- RS 6 (Fourth generation (C8/5G)) · 2019-2025
Can I import a Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D)) from Japan?
By production year alone, Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D)) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D))?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: {{collapsible list; framestyle=border:none; padding:0; title = Inline-four petrol engine.
How big is the Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D))?
4,520 mm long and 1,733 mm wide and 1,415 mm tall, on a 2,615 mm wheelbase (4 door saloon/sedan,; 5-door Avant (estate/wagon)). For container loading, use the container packer.
How much fuel does the Audi A4 (First generation (B5/8D)) use?
The US EPA lists a combined 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) for model year 2001, the median of 6 listed variants. Your own figure depends on driving and condition.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
- fueleconomy.gov (EPA) (2001)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
- Complete guide · 12 minHow to Import a Used Luxury Car from Japan: Auction Grades, Paperwork and Country Rules (2026)How to import a used luxury car from Japan: what an auction grade means, how to check mileage and history, which export papers Japan asks for, and the age rules in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.
- General import guide · 9 minHow Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.
- General import guide · 9 minThe 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.
- General import guide · 8 min7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.
- General import guide · 8 minHow to Check a Used Car's History Before ImportingA clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.
- General import guide · 7 minContainer vs RoRo Shipping: Which to ChooseRoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.