Audi A4 allroad 2013 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $69,900
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Powered tailgate $1050
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP & EuroNCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.0
CO2 emissions (g/km): 156
Also consider: Subaru Liberty 2.5 GT Premium ($58,490); Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (from $47,790)

After bombing along gently winding country roads for the best part of an hour the Audi A4 allroad, having already proven itself a capable cornering tool, suddenly found itself on a dirt road smattered with crags and pot holes.

But that was always the plan, and allroad passed the test with flying colours.

As a true multi-purpose wagon (don't call it an SUV!) the Audi A4 allroad is an enjoyable car to drive in a wide variety of scenarios.

Treated as an everyday commuter or perhaps the family taxi, it does a respectable job. There's heaps of boot space, a seven-speed automatic S tronic gearbox -- that snaps through gears fluently -- and a high-output 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine offering smooth waves of torque.

The common-rail, direct-injection turbo-diesel engine outputs 130kW/380Nm and certainly isn't lacking muscle. It has enough grunt to accelerate the A4 allroad from 0-100km/h in just over eight seconds.

Audi's variable geometry turbo provides big torque across the rev range, and huffs along with authority once rolling. But there is a combination of turbo, transmission, and idle stop-start lag from standstill that was annoying on a few occasions.

The all-paw quattro (all-wheel drive) system ensures high levels of grip on most surfaces too, and apportions torque 40:60 front-to-rear under normal conditions. It can switch to between 15:85 and 65:35 front-to-rear as conditions become more trying.

You sit a higher than in a regular Audi A4 Avant (wagon) -- 37mm higher to be precise. But it's not so high that it makes getting in and out -- and getting kids in and out -- more difficult than in a regular sedan or wagon.

The car comes with plenty of standard features, including an idle stop-start system that saves fuel, keyless entry, push-button park brake and engine starter, a 10-speaker stereo, Bluetooth audio streaming and telephony, tri-zone climate control, leather upholstery and fancy high-res satellite navigation and infotainment system.

There's plenty of exterior bling too, including intricate LED daytime running lights encircling Xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, wider wheel arches, vertically arrayed grille accents, roof rails, and even stainless steel underbody bash plates.

The only thing non-standard item that came in really handy during the test was the electric tailgate. It was particularly useful when trying to carry a toddler while unloading the groceries. As a $1050 option it would be the first box I would tick on the options list. Things like a powered sunroof ($2850) and metallic paint ($1650) I can live without.

The steering is both light and direct. It takes very little effort to turn the front wheels, which suits urban driving and tight manoeuvring. The steering wheel doesn't provide much feedback on the open road but the chassis is composed enough to ensure a satisfying driving experience should you decide to turn up the tempo.

Ride quality is compliant enough, but it errs on the firm side of the fence. This means it handles well but when dipping into a pothole will snap you out of your traffic-jam reverie quicker than you can you can say Ingolstadt.

On rougher roads, unsealed for example, the A4 allroad seems to skim along less affected by ruts and bumps, and feels as predictable and planted as any SUV on dirt roads.

Interior space is fine -- the back seat is large enough to accommodate two adults, or one baby seat and an adult, while the boot space is deep, if a little narrow (measuring 1780mm long by 1000mm wide). Load capacity is 490 litres, expanding to 1430 litres with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats tipped over.

Audi's baby allroad is a quiet vehicle. Well insulated from sounds outside the cabin it inherits all the virtues of it's bigger and more expensive relative, the A6 allroad. It has an air of self-assurance which I think is a combination of its ruggedness, its all-wheel drive quattro system, and its premium look and feel.

It's a safe and secure family car that does a lot of things well but the toughest challenge facing the Audi A4 allroad will be convincing SUV buyers to test drive a high-riding wagon instead. Especially when it won't leave much change from $80K after on-road costs are factored into the equation.

And when cars like Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and Subaru Outback fulfil a similar function while saving buyers more than $20K, it becomes an even tougher sell.

If it has to be an Audi wagon, and it has look and feel adventurous while retaining a luxurious air, the A4 allroad will be a faithful companion.

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