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Audi A4 2016 review

Saloon Diesel

Overview

The fifth-generation Audi A4 (B9) reached UK showrooms in November 2015, and the 2016 car is the sweet spot of the range: new enough to have the sharper MLB Evo platform and a cabin that embarrassed the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class of the era, old enough to be properly affordable used. The heartland engine is the 2.0 TDI 150PS 'ultra' — the fleet and company-car staple — and a 2016 2.0 TDI Ultra 150 SE saloon listed at £29,150 new. UK trims ran SE, Sport and S line.

The 2.0-litre EA288 turbo diesel makes 150PS and 320Nm, drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual (a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch was optional), and was the economy champion of its class: 74.3mpg combined and 99g/km of CO2 on the NEDC cycle for the Ultra SE manual. As a Euro 6 diesel with AdBlue SCR it is ULEZ-compliant — a genuine London-friendly diesel — and pre-April-2017 cars pay just £20–£35 a year in VED. The 480-litre boot is competitive, the 40-litre tank gives big cruising range, and the cabin remains the benchmark for material quality: three-zone climate, MMI with a 7-inch display, front and rear parking sensors and Audi pre sense city autonomous braking all standard on SE.

As a used buy the 2016 A4 2.0 TDI is a lot of car for £6,000–£11,000 — but buy on evidence. Early 2016–18 cars have a documented pattern of AdBlue tank/heater and NOx-sensor faults (warning lights or limp mode), so check for stored faults and that the airbag-igniter recall was completed. The S tronic can develop low-speed shudder if its fluid was never changed — specialists advise a fluid service every ~40,000 miles despite 'sealed for life' claims, with repairs averaging £1,600; the rare manual is the lowest-risk choice. And like all modern diesels, the EA288's EGR and DPF suffer on urban-only mileage: insist on full service history and motorway-use evidence.

On the road it is a supremely refined long-distance cruiser: hushed, comfortable on SE suspension, and genuinely capable of high-50s to mid-60s mpg in real mixed driving. Note that options were eye-wateringly expensive new, so base SE cars can feel sparse (no standard navigation) — verify the equipment on the actual car, not the brochure. A well-kept manual 2.0 TDI SE with history is one of the smartest used premium-saloon buys in Britain.

UK price from: £29,150

Specifications

Engine	2.0L 4-cylinder turbo diesel (EA288)
Power	150 PS (147 bhp) @ 3,250-4,200 rpm
Torque	320 Nm (236 lb-ft)
Gearbox	6-speed manual (7-speed S tronic optional)
Drive	Front-wheel drive
0-62 mph	8.9 seconds (manual)
Top speed	137 mph
Fuel economy (NEDC)	74.3 mpg combined
CO2 emissions	99 g/km
Boot space	480 litres (saloon)
Kerb weight	1,430 kg
Fuel tank	40 litres
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2015 test)
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles

Features

2.0-litre TDI turbo diesel (150PS, 320Nm) with AdBlue SCR
Six-speed manual gearbox (seven-speed S tronic optional)
74.3mpg combined and 99g/km CO2 (NEDC); £20–£35/year VED, Euro 6 ULEZ-compliant
Audi MMI with 7-inch colour display, DAB radio and Bluetooth
Three-zone deluxe climate control and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
Front and rear parking sensors with Audi pre sense city autonomous braking
LED daytime running lights, cruise control and auto headlights
17-inch alloys (SE) / 18-inch S line sports styling with body kit

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£37.99	OEM-spec e.g. Pagid/Brembo
Oil filter	£9.99	Mann HU 7008 z type
Cabin pollen filter	£12.99	Carbon type
Front wiper blades (pair)	£16.99	Bosch Aerotwin flat type
12V AGM battery	£129.99	80Ah start-stop type
Timing belt kit with water pump	£114.99	Gates/INA type; ~130k-mile interval

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Class-leading cabin — build and material quality a cut above rivals
Outstanding economy: 70+mpg NEDC, high-50s to mid-60s in real use
Supremely refined, quiet long-distance cruiser
Five-star Euro NCAP (2015) and ULEZ-compliant Euro 6 diesel

Cons

Early cars suffer AdBlue/NOx-sensor faults — check for warning lights and recall completion
S tronic shudder if fluid changes were skipped — manual is the lowest-risk choice
EGR/DPF vulnerability on short-trip use — insist on motorway-use evidence
Base SE spec is sparse (no standard nav) — verify kit on the actual car

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Audi A4 2.0 TDI ULEZ compliant?

Yes. All B9 2.0 TDIs are Euro 6 with AdBlue SCR, so they are ULEZ-compliant in London — unlike pre-2015 B8 diesels. VED on a 2016-registered car is £20–£35 a year under the old CO2 system (99–111g/km).

Manual or S tronic — which 2016 A4 should I buy?

The six-speed manual is the lowest-risk choice. Early S tronics can develop low-speed shudder or mechatronic issues if the fluid was never changed (repairs average £1,600). If buying an auto, demand documented gearbox fluid services roughly every 40,000 miles.

When does the timing belt need changing on the 2.0 TDI?

The EA288 uses a belt with a roughly 130,000–140,000-mile interval and no fixed time limit. A 2016 car near or over 100,000 miles should have it done or be priced to allow it — always replace the water pump at the same time.

What goes wrong on early B9 A4s?

AdBlue tank and heater faults plus NOx-sensor failures on 2016–18 cars (warning lights or limp mode), MMI software glitches, suspension bushing knocks, and gearbox shudder on neglected autos. Check recall completion — notably the 2016 airbag-igniter campaign — with an Audi dealer using the VIN.

What mpg will a 2016 A4 2.0 TDI actually return?

Officially 70–74mpg combined (NEDC). Expect high-50s to mid-60s in real mixed driving, and low-40s on short urban runs where the DPF also suffers — this is a motorway car at heart.