Audi A4 Avant 2017 Long-term Test Review #1

(Update #1)
The rise of the SUV has left the once ubiquitous station wagon out in the cold, so when a recent family get-together led to a three-day, 1600 kilometre camping trip, I was curious to see if my family of four could squeeze itself into Audi's A4 Avant.

The camping component saw a tent, swag, sleeping bags and self-inflating mattresses added to the inventory. At 505 litres the A4 Avant's luggage area is big, but it's not huge, so fortunately the Audi had an ace up its sleeve in the form of a factory accessory roof pod.

Adding another 360 litres of space, it meant we were in business and NSW bound – and without burying the kids under luggage in the back seat!

Packing
Packing for this trip was so easy. The automatic boot provides easy access to the main storage bay and I like how the soft cover extends to conceal the luggage when the tailgate drops. At 505 litres it's still a reasonably large area, and of course without second-row passengers the seats fold forward for even more room. I did note, however, that there's only room for a space-saver spare wheel beneath the luggage compartment.

The 360-litre roof pod was perfect for taking most of our bulky but relatively light camping gear. This is a pricey addition at $1099 (plus $643 for the roof rack), but it expands the A4's versatility markedly. It's lockable and waterproof, and doesn't seem to adversely affect wind noise.

Beyond the boot and the pod, cabin storage is relatively limited. The door side pockets (with small bottle holders) aren't exactly massive and there's no centre console bin – more of a centre console tray. The glove box is of a modest size, too.

Drive Experience
Generally speaking, one drawback to SUV's is their SUV-like handling. By their nature these vehicles carry more weight higher, and so most of them are never going to handle like a sedan or wagon – especially one as sporty as the A4 Avant.

This is a performance wagon, that's for sure, and one that will surely surprise many looking for vehicles at this price point. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine fairly belts out the grunt (185kW/370Nm), delivering potent acceleration and a torque curve that's free of dips or hesitation.

The A4 took the full load in its stride and still offered excellent overtaking ability. If anything, buyers will need to keep a close eye on the speedo (or better yet, use the speed limiter); it's way too easy to find yourself going way too fast.

Keyed into that is the A4's excellent noise suppression. While there's a bit of road noise over coarse-chip surfaces, the A4 is otherwise pleasingly quiet, with only a modest amount of wind noise and very little engine noise, unless it's on the throttle.

The suspension is superb, soaking up all but the worst bumps and dips the Olympic Way and Mid Western Highway could throw at it, and the various selectable drive modes (Comfort, Dynamic etc) do make a discernible difference.

This top-of-the-range all-wheel drive A4 quattro clings on tenaciously through the bends and the brakes are first rate – really powerful and with heaps of feel. This car can quickly transform from weekday family transport to weekend sports machine – just get on the gas to amp up the fun factor.

Comfort
Good space and quality leather-appointed and electrically adjustable seating make life very comfortable up front, where there's plenty of headroom too. However, the seating is quite low – certainly I have it set low as I’m on the tall side at 188cm – and this means a bit of effort is required to get into or out of the A4 (more effort than with, say, your average SUV).

The leather-appointed seating continues to the rear, where the legroom isn't quite as extensive as it is in the front. It's fine for kids, and even okay for most adults, but taller types will find it a bit cramped. Still, rear seat passengers do get a fold-down armrest with flip-out drinks holders, an adjustable heating and cooling vent on the back of the centre console, and a 12-volt outlet.

Technology
Adding to the A4's appeal is a wide array of technology, from entertainment to communications to safety.

The 12.3-inch multimedia screen can bring up a wealth of information far too extensive to detail here, but suffice to say there's detailed satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, ordinary or digital radio, multiple device inputs and more. There's a CD player in the glove box too, and the stereo system produces a crisp, clear note.

My eldest son's eyes nearly fell out of his head when he saw the 8.3-inch tablet on the back of the driver's seat, which – when the SIM card is installed – gives you web browsing, Google earth and a whole lot more. It's a $2000 extra, and my youngest son eyed his brother jealously for the entirety of the trip…

There's a head-up display and electric seat adjustment for both driver and passenger. The sat-nav display can be shown between the speedo and tacho (part of Audi's customisable 'Virtual Cockpit', $2100) and in general the menu systems and all the various controls are neatly laid out and easy to use.

Safety
With a five-star ANCAP rating the A4 has just about everything a family would want in terms of safety. In addition to foundation systems like anti-lock brakes and stability control, the A4 Avant also comes with hill start assist, a high-definition reverse camera with cross traffic alert, eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking and more.

Our test vehicle also has Audi's $1900 Assistance Package Tour, which comprises radar (adaptive) cruise control, dynamic lane keeping and collision avoidance, among other worthy features.

It's fair to say that when there are kids in the back, the A4 Avant will give parents plenty of peace of mind.

Fuel Economy
Audi quotes an ADR Combined fuel economy figure of 6.3L/100km. Over the course of this 1600km trip the A4 averaged between 8.0L/100km and 9.0L/100km, which isn't too bad given the performance on tap and the fact the vehicle was fully loaded. We'll see how that figure changes with more kilometres on the clock.

That's a wrap
Audi has certainly kicked a goal with this A4 Avant. The A4 took out Best Prestige Car Under $100K in the 2016 Carsales Car of the Year awards, and now I fully understand why. The addition of the roof pod takes the fight to the SUV hordes, yet it handles and performs in a way that very few SUVs can. Throw in the excellent build quality inside and out, the long list of safety features and relatively modest purchase price, and the A4 Avant signals there's plenty of life left in the wagon yet.

2017 Audi A4 Avant pricing and specifications:
Price: $72,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 185kW/370Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 152g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> BMW 320i wagon (from $72,651 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz C200 wagon (from $71,372 plus ORCs)
>> Volvo V60 wagon (from $64,902 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Audi A4 Avant 2017 long-term Introduction
>> Best Prestige Car Under $100K: Audi A4