“Great car, excellent handling, very smooth automatic transmission, excellent fuel economy.”
2021 Audi A4: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest 2021 Audi A4 change is the addition of a 12-volt mild-hybrid system and 13 more horsepower across its four-cylinder range; the 40 TFSI sedan also gains standard quattro AWD. This is a meaningful mechanical and equipment update, not a redesign.
About the 2021 Audi A4
5th-generation A4 (B9.5 refreshed version), second model year after the 2020 styling and tech update.
The 2021 Audi A4 family is Audi’s compact luxury car range for buyers who want a polished cabin, standard AWD confidence, and a balanced mix of comfort and athletic handling. The sedan leans toward everyday premium commuting with crisp road manners, while the A4 allroad adds wagon cargo room and extra ride height for buyers who want SUV-like usefulness without giving up a lower, more car-like driving feel.
The 2021 range spans understated 40 TFSI sedans, sportier S line 45 TFSI sedans, and the raised A4 allroad wagon with added cargo flexibility. Premium Plus models emphasize everyday driver assistance with adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, a top-view camera, and a digital instrument cluster. Prestige models add features such as navigation, a head-up display, upgraded LED headlights, parking assistance, and heated rear seats.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
Every four-cylinder A4 gains a 12-volt mild-hybrid system and 13 more horsepower. The 40 TFSI sedan also moves from front-wheel drive to standard quattro AWD.
Styling
Audi drops the previous 45 Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims and adds three S line 45 TFSI trims with sport-styled exteriors. Roof rails also become standard equipment.
Safety
Lane-departure warning becomes standard across the range. Premium Plus trims add standard adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, and a top-view camera system.
Tech
Wireless Apple CarPlay and an integrated toll transponder become standard. Premium Plus gains a standard heated steering wheel, while Prestige makes a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats standard and adds heated rear seats.
2021 Audi A4 specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, MHEV, Turbo, 2.0 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch | Automatic, 7-Spd S tronic Dual-Clutch |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 30 mpg | 30 mpg | 30 mpg | 34 mpg | 34 mpg | 34 mpg | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | 31 mpg |
| Horsepower | 261 hp | 261 hp | 261 hp | 201 hp | 201 hp | 201 hp | 261 hp | 261 hp | 261 hp |
| Torque | 273 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft | 236 lb-ft | 236 lb-ft | 236 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | |||
| Rear Legroom | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in | 35.7 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||||||
| Alarm System | |||||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||||||
| Cruise Control | |||||||||
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors | |||||||||
| Hill Descent Control | |||||||||
| Hill Start Assist | |||||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||||||
| Active Lane Keep Assistance | |||||||||
| Park Assist | |||||||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||||||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||||||
| Stability Control | |||||||||
| Top View Camera | |||||||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||
| LED Headlights | |||||||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | |||||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||
| Power Liftgate/Trunk Release | |||||||||
| Privacy Glass | |||||||||
| Rear Spoiler | |||||||||
| Remote Control Liftgate/Trunk Release | |||||||||
| Roof Rails | |||||||||
| Navigation System | |||||||||
| Premium Audio | |||||||||
| Satellite Radio | |||||||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||||||
| Touch Screen Monitor | |||||||||
| Aluminum Interior Trim | |||||||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||||||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||||||
| Leather Seats | |||||||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | |||||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||||||
| Rear Window Shades | |||||||||
| Remote Start | |||||||||
| Remote Keyless Entry | |||||||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | |||||||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2021 Audi A4?
The biggest change is a new 12-volt mild-hybrid system and 13 more horsepower across the four-cylinder range. The 40 TFSI sedan also gains standard quattro AWD.
Is the 2021 Audi A4 a redesign?
No, the 2021 Audi A4 is not a redesign. It is the second model year after the 2020 styling and technology refresh, with updates focused on the powertrain, standard equipment, and trim lineup.
Does every 2021 Audi A4 have all-wheel drive?
Yes, the 2021 A4 sedans and A4 allroad wagons covered here have quattro AWD. The key year-over-year change is that AWD becomes standard on the lower-output 40 TFSI sedan for 2021.
What new standard features does the 2021 Audi A4 get?
The 2021 Audi A4 gains standard wireless Apple CarPlay, lane-departure warning, and an integrated toll transponder. Premium Plus trims also make adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, and a top-view camera standard.
Is the 2021 Audi A4 meaningfully different from the 2020 model?
Yes, the 2021 A4 has meaningful mechanical and equipment upgrades over the 2020 model. Its mild-hybrid system, additional horsepower, broader standard AWD, wireless Apple CarPlay, and expanded driver-assistance equipment make it more than a simple carryover.
2021 Audi A4 Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2021 Audi A4.
4.2
2021 Audi A4
(138 reviews)
“Sit in both the A4 and A6. Everything else ok but consider the location of the cup holder location. It is terrible. I cannot get to the controls if a cup is in the holder and the size of the holder and location limits what size cups you can insert. I should have considered this”
“The A4 provides a sophisticated, yet impressive and powerful ride. It is definitely fun to drive and provides surprisingly roomy trunk storage.”