New Audi A4 Avant review

Like the all-new Audi A4 saloons launched earlier this year the A4 Avant estates are longer, lighter, stronger and with more torsional rigidity than the models they replace.

There is a longer wheelbase, the front axle has been moved forward by 154mm with the steering rack repositioned below it to improve handling. The entirely new bodyshell is 10 per cent lighter with five per cent greater torsional stability and 30 per cent of the bodyshell is made of ultra high strength steel.

The 2,808mm wheelbase allows for much improved rear passenger legroom and load area space. With the rear seats in position luggage space is now 490-litres and almost 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded, the largest in its class say Audi.

Principally the Audi A4 in both saloon and Avant estate forms sells against the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class equivalent models. Audi A4 Avant prices range from £23,400 to £33,640.

Specifications and interior

SE equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, Audi 10 speaker sound system with stereo radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, colour information display screen, multi-function steering wheel, three-zone climate control with front and rear controls, driver’s information system, aluminium interior trim package, electronic handbrake and automatic wipers and headlights.

Having seen the sombre cloth upholstery against the leather trim option, my suggestion is pay the extra £1,300 and go for leather, it greatly improves the interior’s appearance and quality. Audis generally have a stylish finish to their interiors.

Strangely the A4 Avant looks more functional than plush, certainly it will be durable. The interior design follows the usual Audi wrap around facia with all the controls neatly to hand but they are laid out in a fussy manner.

Space and practicality

Extra space throughout the Avant is the most noticeable improvement. Rear seat passengers will enjoy the extra legroom and A6 Avant customers might just choose to downsize. The boot is huge, 500-1,430-litres, with lots of novel ideas for storage and load security.

A minus point is the split rear seating arrangement which doesn’t allow them to be folded down completely flat if the extra load bed length and space are required.

Handling and ride

As for driving, refinement is as you would expect from Audi A4s of the past, good but perhaps not the best in its class. The A4 Avant estate feels less agile than the saloon version but then neither is as accomplished in the road holding department at the rear wheel drive BMW 3-Series.

The Avant quattro models certainly offer huge amounts of grip and security on wet and muddy roads. The ride comfort without the Sports option is good but with some body roll evident but for most customers the handling and ride comfort will be fine.

Start specifying the Sport package with its stiffer suspension and larger wheels and be sure the ride comfort will be compromised and the driving quality will be reduced, plus the price goes up considerably.

Engine options

Five engine options will be available from the new model’s launch on 21 June, two direct injection petrol and three turbodiesel. These are the 1.8T FSI 160PS turbocharged unit and the 3.2 V6 FSI quattro 265PS petrol models, the 2.0 TDI 143PS, 2.7 TDI 190PS and the 3.0 TDI quattro 240PS turbodiesel engines.

A 2.0T turbocharged FSI 211PS all-new petrol engine will also soon be added and available with front wheel or quattro all wheel drive forms. The 2.0 TDI engine will also become available with other power outputs including a 120PS units. All diesel engines meet the forthcoming Euro V emission requirements.

Audi UK expects 77 per cent of Avant customers to order the 2.0 TDI power unit with 14 per cent ordering the 1.8T FSI petrol unit.

All of the engines can be ordered with SE trim and equipment levels and these will account for 65 per cent of sales. A higher S-Line specification costing £2,500 can be specified for all models and this is expected to be taken up by 25 per cent of customers. A ‘standard’ specification will be available with the forthcoming Avant 2.0 TDI 120PS engine.

As for the choice of engines? The new 2.0-litre TDI direct injection turbo unit is a real peach as we know from the recent A4 Saloon models.

The old 2.0 TDI ‘Pumpe Duse’ unit was noisy, delivered its power in a surge and was pretty flat at low engine speeds. The new direct injection 143PS, 320Nm unit with more power, torque, better fuel economy and lower emissions is more progressive with its power supply and vastly more refined.

CO2 emissions are now 149g/km putting it in road tax band C costing £120. However go for the Multitronic auto transmission option and the vehicle moves up to VED Band D which costs £145 a year.

Whilst the 2.0-litre TDI is the best choice for most people we have now got to the point in the UK new car market, because of disproportionate higher diesel fuel prices, where petrol power might now be the better option.

The all-new turbocharged direct injection petrol 1.8T FSI Avant with SE specification costs £23,400, the 2.0 TDI 143PS diesel SE £24,750, so there is a cost saving in buying the petrol estate. It also costs roughly 10 pence per litre less to buy petrol over diesel but with emissions at 172g/km the road tax goes up to £170 a year and the fuel economy is less.

How much less? Well in official figures the 2.0 TDI diesel returns on average 49.6mpg, the 1.8T FSI 39.2mpg. In like-for-like and back-to-back driving this week using the same route at the same speeds, the diesel returned 34.4mpg and the petrol 30.7mpg, not so much of a difference so only high mileage users get the real benefit of opting for diesel power.

I liked the 1.8T FSI engine, it is a bit coarse, it loves to be revved, it’s eager and it costs less to buy.

Overall the A4 Avant really doesn’t disappoint and there is a wide choice of engine and specification options to suit current and new A4 customer’s financial situations.

MILESTONES

Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI SE (best selling model)

Price: £24,750 without options (£34,580 fully kitted)

Engine/transmission: New 2.0-litre, four-cylinder direct injection turbodiesel, 143PS and 320Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual gearbox, front wheel drive

Performance: 129mph, 0-62mnph 9.7 seconds, 49.6mpg (34.4mpg actual),

CO2: 149g/km, VED Band C £120, BIK tax 20%

Insurance group: 12 tbc

Dimensions: 4,703mm long, 1,826mm wide, 1,436mm high, 490-1430-litres load area capacity

For: Much improved passenger space, more load space, pride of ownership, a wide choice of great engines

Against: Smart but not plush interior, fussy controls, rear seat backs do not fold flat, must-have options really push the realistic price up

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