Audi A4 allroad quattro estate (2009 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The recipe for Audi’s allroad package is to take a standard estate, add quattro four-wheel drive, up the ride height by 37mm and add a muscular body kit and cladding – job done. While the looks won’t appeal to all, it is an interesting, and more affordable alternative to big, brash and bulky sports utility vehicles (SUV). The special black bodywork looks like it will fend off all kinds of knocks and bumps, but in reality, it offers little more protection than a standard Audi A4 Avant estate. A bolder front grille finishes off the more aggressive nose nicely. A raft of revisions in late 2011 include more pronounced lines, new bumpers and front and rear light units.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

Inside, it’s standard Audi with an exceptionally well-built cabin and close attention to detail. The design is a little on the bland side, though the metallic dash inserts lift the ambience considerably from a sea of black plastic. Well-judged materials with soft-touch finishes and in-built durability mark Audi as a producer of some of the best-quality cabins in the business. Thanks to a lengthy options list, it is possible to tailor the interior of the car to your individual specification, choosing from a variety of textures, colours and materials. Controls for the audio, sat-nav and climate control centre around a revised version of Audi’s MMI control interface, which is intuitive and easy to use.

Our rating: 4

3. Practicality

There’s plenty of space inside the A4 allroad, with room for four adults and their luggage. The boot is deep and well-shaped, offering 490-litres luggage capacity with the seats up and 1,430 litres with them folded. This is more than either the BMW 3 Series Touring or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate can offer, despite the seats not folding flat. Towing weight is also excellent, with a maximum capacity of 1,900kg. The seats are supportive and comfortable, offering plenty of adjustment.

Our rating: 3

4. Ride and handling

The driving experience is reassuringly solid, with plenty of grip, good handling and reasonable feedback from the steering. There’s a little bit more body lean evident thanks to the raised suspension but most drivers would never notice unless they had driven a standard A4 Avant back to back with the allroad. The suspension provides a firmer, sportier ride, and is comfortable on all but the worst pothole ridden roads. Refinement from both the engines and chassis is excellent, with low levels of road noise, though buffeting from the wind is noticeable. Cars built from 2012 have an all-new steering setup which offers improved feel, although the difference is minimal.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

Three engines are available: a petrol and two diesels. The refined 2-litre diesel produces 177bhp and offers enough performance for more drivers, reaching 62mph in 8.2 seconds, before reaching 143mph. It is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 3-litre V6 diesel has a seven-speed auto. It provides plenty of smooth and creamy power and cuts the 0-62mph time by two seconds, to a hot hatch-rivalling 6.5 seconds. The 3-litre has a towing capacity of up to 2,100kgs, while the 2-litre can haul 1,970kgs. The sparkling 2-litre, 211bhp petrol unit is offered with both gearboxes, and will return a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. It still makes a competent towcar with a capacity of 1,900kgs.

Our rating: 4

6. Running costs

All versions of the A4 allroad include a stop and start system together with brake energy recuperation technology, which help to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy. Compared to the A4 Avant quattro, though, there’s a penalty at the fuel pumps for going down the allroad route – around 7mpg in the case of the best selling 2-litre TDI quattro model, and 20g/km of CO2. There is some good news when you come to sell though as resale values are strong.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

Audi performs well in reliability surveys. The dealers are well respected for delivering excellent levels of customer service. The engines in the A4 allroad are used throughout the Volkswagen Group, so servicing will always be easily accessible outside of the dealer network once the warranty has expired.

Our rating: 3

8. Safety

The A4 saloon scored a full five star EuroNCAP crash test rating, thanks to its rigid structure and a generous level of standard safety kit. As well as electronic stability programme, anti-lock brakes, traction control, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, there are Isofix child seat mountings front and rear. There are plenty of airbags too, including front and side airbags as well as curtain airbags front and rear.

Our rating: 4

9. Equipment

Audi A4 allroad specification includes front fog lights,a 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, split-fold rear seats, automatic headlamps and wipers, colour trip computer, three-zone climate control, heated mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, a load and rail system to hold luggage in place and headlamp washers.

Our rating: 3

10. Why buy?

If you want the rough and tough looks of an 4×4, but don’t want the bulk, the Audi A4 allroad fits the bill perfectly. It’s relatively frugal, is good to drive and offers space for four adults and luggage in comfort.

Our rating: 4