The 2002 Audi A4 marked a redesign year for the popular sedan, with models manufactured after February 2002 incorporating crucial structural enhancements to bolster occupant protection in frontal collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rigorously evaluated the crashworthiness of this updated 2002 Audi A4 in a demanding 40 mph frontal offset crash test against a deformable barrier. This assessment provides valuable insights for those considering a 2002 Audi A4, or the station wagon variant, the A4 Avant (models built post-February 2002).
The results of the IIHS crash test are summarized below:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The 2002 Audi A4 achieved a “Good” rating across the board in this frontal offset crash test. This “Good” overall evaluation signifies robust performance in protecting the driver in a frontal impact scenario.
The structural integrity of the 2002 Audi A4 proved to be a significant strength. The “Structure and safety cage” category also earned a “Good” rating, indicating that the vehicle’s fundamental structure effectively maintained its integrity during the crash. This is critical in preventing severe occupant compartment intrusion and maintaining survival space.
Analysis of driver injury measures further supports the 2002 Audi A4’s safety performance. All individual injury measures for the driver – Head/Neck, Chest, and Leg/Foot (both left and right) – were rated “Good”. This demonstrates a low risk of significant injuries to these critical body regions in a similar frontal crash. Furthermore, the “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” were also rated “Good,” indicating that the seatbelts and airbags worked effectively together to control the dummy’s movement during the crash, minimizing potential injuries.
Detailed technical measurements from the crash test provide further objective data. Intrusion into the driver’s side occupant compartment was minimal across all measured points, including footwell intrusion, instrument panel rearward movement, steering column movement, and A-pillar rearward movement. These measurements reinforce the “Good” rating for structural integrity and occupant space maintenance.
Driver injury measures, recorded through sensors on the crash test dummy, were also notably low. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension and bending moment, chest compression, and femur forces were all within acceptable limits, further validating the “Good” ratings for driver injury protection.
In conclusion, the IIHS crash test of the 2002 Audi A4 (post-February 2002 models) demonstrates a commendable level of safety performance in frontal offset crashes. The vehicle’s robust structure, effective occupant restraints, and minimal injury measures all contribute to its “Good” overall safety rating, making it a safe choice in its class, particularly when considering models manufactured after the structural improvements implemented in February 2002.
Technical Measurements:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0216 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Left (cm) | 6 |
| Center (cm) | 5 |
| Right (cm) | 3 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 10 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 3 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 4 |
| Rearward (cm) | 1 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0216 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 145 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 38 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 26 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.43 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 29 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 3.3 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 3.6 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 10 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.71 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.75 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.8 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 58 |
| Right | 64 |
