2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
Audi is sending the A4 Allroad into the race in May. In addition to its off-road look, the latest model from the Ingolstadt-based company attracts attention above all with its fuel-saving technology.
It is a trend that manufacturers can no longer ignore. Especially in times like these, when you are vying for every customer. Accordingly, the industry is increasingly relying on crossover models. In other words, cars that are supposed to offer customers the best of both worlds.
Lifestyle variant of the Avant
The Ingolstadt-based car maker Audi, which is used to success, is no exception. That is why the Bavarians are now providing their mid-range A4 Avant station wagon with a lifestyle variant under the model name A4 Allroad. Behind it hides a visually upgraded Avant. With add-on parts made of plastic and an underride guard, the station wagon mutates from the outside into a climber. When out and about, it should suggest to the buyer that there can be a touch of off-road adventure for him in everyday life in the urban jungle. There are supposed to be customers who buy such a car for this reason … Audi at any rate expects the Allroad to have a mix of around ten percent of Avant sales, after all.
But while many manufacturers leave it with the installation of crash barriers and thus only pretend off-road suitability, the A4 Allroad is not satisfied with that. He goes one step further. It is more being than appearance. This is initially ensured by the permanent all-wheel drive. During normal driving, it distributes 40 percent of the power to the front and 60 percent to the rear axle. If one axis slips, the forces are transferred to the other axis in milliseconds. In addition, the anti-skid ESP has an off-road mode that adjusts the control intervals to the ground. During test drives in easy terrain, the interaction of the systems worked perfectly in any case.
Higher ground clearance
The Allroad also differs from the conventional A4 Avant with all-wheel drive in that it has higher ground clearance: it is 3.7 centimeters above that of its sister model. That is enough for small trips away from paved roads. However, if you need more off-road thrill, you should orientate yourself to the Audi Q5, the compact SUV from Ingolstadt.
For everyone else who only occasionally gets lost in the forest, the A4 Allroad is more than enough. Above all, it offers its driver all the virtues that the A4 Avant stands for. Despite its higher structure, it can be moved in a sporty way thanks to a successful suspension setup. Noticeable load change reactions are a foreign word for him.
The 2.0 TDI with 170 hp that we drove made a convincing impression on the first test drives and its characteristics go extremely well with the Allroad. The four-cylinder common rail engine is extremely powerful and smooth-running. The unit provides a maximum torque of 350 Newton meters, which is available between 1750 and 2500 tours. This means that enough propulsion is already provided from low speed ranges. Above all, the Allroad can be moved very lazily. It's a shame, because the manual six-speed gearbox works so well and precisely that you are tempted to shift quickly.
Sporting values
The diesel is also sporty: it reaches 100 km / h in 8.9 seconds and the top speed is 213 km / h. Not bad values for an off-road station wagon. This also applies to the consumption, which according to the manufacturer should be 6.4 liters.
Incidentally, an automatic start-stop system in the A4 Allroad helps to reduce fuel consumption, which automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle is stopped. It will be available from summer. By the way, Audi promises that, unlike its competitor from Munich, the system will also work on minus straight lines. This fuel-saving technology is rounded off by an efficiency program in the on-board computer, which shows the driver the consumption, for example when the air conditioning or seat heating is switched on.
There is not much to say about the quality of the interior - Audi is one of the best in its class here. The Allroad also offers enough space for the driver and front passenger as well as for the passengers in the rear. This also applies to the trunk: at least 490 liters are available. By moving the back seat, it can be expanded up to 1430 liters.
The A4 Allroad will be at dealerships from May. As an engine offer, customers can then choose between a 2.0 TFS with 211 hp (42,550 euros), a two-liter common rail diesel with 143 hp (37,100 euros) or 170 hp (38,950 euros) and a V6 diesel with three liters Choose a displacement of 240 PS (47,700 euros), all with all-wheel drive, of course. This means that the entry-level version of the Allroad costs 2000 euros more than its comparable sister model, the Avant. At least not the world in this league, for a touch of off-road feeling.
