Audi A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI 2008 Review

Audi A4 Avant (B8) 1.8 TFSI and 2.0 TDI

What we liked
>> Sedan like levels of refinement
>> Low loading height will suit many
>> See A4 sedan launch review

About our ratings

OVERVIEW
While Aussies have been reared on an attitude that wagons are for sparkies and travelling salesmen, in Europe Audi's Avants, BMW's Tourings and Benz's Estates are the vehicles in which to be seen. Sure SUVs and the dreaded 'crossovers' have started to cut the wagons' déjeuner over there, but the die is yet to be set. The whole five-door thing is much more lifestyle focussed on the Continent.

Here it's wall-to-wall SUVs. Though the Europeans now have an unlikely bedfellow in the battle to restate the case for the sporting wagon. It's no coincidence the new Holden Sportwagon has a swag of Avant/Touring/Estate style cues.

Soon Cadillac will likely join the growing throng -- we expect the CTS wagon to quickly follow its sedan stablemate into the Aussie market. Wagons, it seems, are back on a number of brands' agendas.

So if the young, sporting and glamorous of Europe drive wagons, which is the youngest and most glamorous European wagon? No contest -- it's the latest Audi A4 Avant. And now it's Down Under...

Audi is no newcomer to this segment. Born of the latest B8 A4 sedan range, the new Avant is the fifth generation of A4 wagon. Of the 8.5m total of A4 derivatives built to date, more than 1.5m of them have been Avants. Though only around 13 per cent of A4 sales in Oz are Avants, in Europe the ratio approaches 50:50.

That's one of the key reasons the Avant has followed so closely on the launch of the new B8 sedan. Unveiled here in April, the new four-door brought with it an all-new platform with improved dynamics and engines. It also stretched the dimensions of the A4 to deliver closer-than-ever-to-A6 accommodation.

Our launch review of the latest A4 (more here) detailed the changes twixt generations. Suffice to say, the Avants mirror the sedan evolution. We'll therefore endeavour to keep as much of this launch review Avant-specific as possible. Look to our extensive sedan launch coverage and seven-day tests (more here) for more details where appropriate.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Audi has eschewed its trademark quattro all-wheel drive with its Avant range Down Under.

Unlike the sedan which offers a V6 quattro option from launch, the wagon will have to wait until the second quarter of 2009 before an all-paw Avant arrives locally. That car will be powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged direct-injected petrol engine rated at 155kW and matched to Audi's own version of Volkswagen Audi Group's (VAG) latest seven-speed dual-clutch sequential manual gearbox.

For the moment the model choice is limited to 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol (TFSI) or common rail 2.0-litre turbodiesel (TDI) -- both front-wheel drive. The two A4 Avants share specification and both feature Audi's Multitronic 'eight-speed' CVT-transmission drivetrain.

The A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multitronic hits Audi dealers at $56,400. The A4 Avant 2.0 TDI multitronic starts at $57,837. Both prices include LCT at a rate of 33 per cent.

The Avants also share their sedan equivalents' equipment levels --save for a few wagon specifics. In addition to a full complement of safety equipment and driver aids (including antilock brakes, stability control and eight airbags), the base model A4s offer reasonable equipment levels. That said, it takes very few forays into the options list to blow the above sticker prices to the $70K region.

Not one of the test units at the launch was priced lower than the high $60,000s.

Alloy wheels are standard (16-inch, six-spoke) along with foglamps, aluminium exterior trim, aircon and a 10-speaker (but single disc) Concert sound system. Inside Milano leather trim is included. The front seats are manual and while the rear's a split-fold design, a skiport will cost you close to $500.

There's a $2754 Comfort package that includes upgrading the driver's seat to electric and adds lumbar adjustment to both front seats. Tri-zone climate control and Bluetooth phone connectivity are also included

Remote central locking, Audi's Intelligent Key, auto lamps and wipers, cruise control and an immobiliser are also standard. You'll pay extra for any form of parking assistance (rear only $900; front and rear $1762) and in conjunction with the navigation system ($5190 -- ouch!) a reverse camera is offered at $2913.

Steering wheel paddle shifters for the Multitronic (and sports wheel) are an extra $636.

As is the case with the sedan, the MMI (multimedia media interface) controller is on the centre stack rather than the console (and works better for it) and 'powers' a large colour screen. The trip computer (DIS -- Driver Information System) is standard but Bluetooth phone prep is extra (about a grand notwithstanding the Comfort Package detailed above). Interior trim inlays are micrometallic grey with timber and alloys upgrades available at extra cost.

Metallic paint, meantime, is a hefty $1695.

Standard 'wagon' features include alloy roof rails, a 'one-touch' luggage cover and a reversible load area mat for soiled and muddy items. Estate-focussed options include load carrying kits and roof racks. An electric tailgate ($1165) is also available.

The usual S-Line kits, wheel and interior options are also offered along with an Avant-specific Panoramic sunroof ($3019).

As is the case with the sedan, Audi offers a range of 'big car' features including its MMI system, Lane Assist, Audi Drive Select and adaptive cruise control.

Audi Drive Select will set you back $3390 on the Avant. This allows the driver to select the 'tune' of the engine management (throttle map), transmission (shift points and kickdown, etc) and damper characteristics across three settings -- Comfort, Automatic or Sport. The top version of Drive Select also features Audi's new Dynamic Steering but is not available on the Avants.

The latest B8 variant features Audi's new platform/powertrain which sees wholesale changes to the front-end structure of the car. Simply, the front differential and driveshafts, etc, have been relocate to enabled the front axle to be moved 154mm further forward improving weight distribution, shortening the front overhang and elongating the wheelbase.

The steering gear was also relocated from above and behind the engine to where it should be -- at wheel level. The end result is a car that offers significantly improved handling and a much less nose-heavy demeanour.

The wagon's body in white benefits from the sedan's adoption of higher-tech steels and build techniques and the use of aluminum and other alloys. Audi says it is nine per cent lighter than the B7 Avant, yet five per cent more rigid.

The 1.8 TFSI petrol four hails from Volkswagen Audi Group's (VAG) latest TSI range of engines. Unlike the 1.4 TSI it is not 'twincharged' (super and turbocarged) but rather a conventional direct-injected turbocharged powerplant. It develops 118kW of power and produces 250Nm of torque between 1500-4500rpm on 95 RON unleaded.

The new-generation 105kW common-rail piezo direct fuel-injection TDI turbodiesel engine pumps out 320Nm from 1750-2500rpm.

Audi says both engines are "extremely economical" with their official figures 7.4L/100km for the 1.8 TFSI and 6.0L/100km for the 2.0 TDI version.

Like the Avant's sedan counterpart, the key differentiator between the A4's drivetrain and other VAG products such as the Golf, Octavia, et al is that the Audis' engines are mounted longitudinally (along) not transverse (across the car) as is conventional in most front-wheel-drive vehicles.

Unlike the sedan, the Avants are available with Multitronic CVT transmissions only. In its latest eight-speed guise the transmission's overall spread of gearing has been widened for both better standing start acceleration and lower engine revs when cruising at high speed.

Audi says the 1.8 TFSI is good for 210km/h and accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.9sec. Acceleration from rest to 100km/h takes 9.7sec for the TDI with top speed an academic 215km/h.

Brakes are all-wheel discs and upgraded for the B8 evolution of the Avant.

PACKAGING
The A4 grew in this B8 generation and in Avant form looks an even more substantial vehicle. At 4703mm long it matches its sedan counterpart. There are no significant changes to any dimensions -- it rides on the same 2808mm wheelbase and fr/rr tracks.

There's more legroom in the rear in this iteration. The wagon makes the most of this thanks to a more sculptured (but flatter) rear seat. There are lap-sash belts for three and appropriate Aussie market child restrain anchorages in the folding seat back.

It's the profile and rear cargo area that set the Avant apart from the sedan, however (for more on overall B8 packaging see the sedan launch review). Well executed, this is a handsome car, though fussier than the previous smooth-sided Audi wagons of the past.

Audi insists on calling the roofline coupe-like -- it's a wagon FFS! It's attractive, for sure, but the styling does compromise luggage space thanks to the steeply sloping tailgate. Indeed, it's almost more hatch that tailgate.

With the rear seat in place there's more than a metre of length for use (1.03m) and the load-through width is exactly one metre, says Ingolstadt. The usable volume is 490 litres. Drop the rear seat and the length is 1.77m and volume is boosted to 1430 litres.

By way of comparison BMW claims 460/1385 for the latest 3 Series Touring and Benz 485/1465 for the C-Class Estate. This latter set of numbers appears to fly in the face of Audi's claims that is the largest wagon in its class

The Avant features "four strong lashing eyes in the floor" and there is an optional load securing kit. A lower load height than any SUV will be an advantage to some, and the reversible rear mat is sensible but nothing new.

A proper vertical cargo net is standard equipment in most Euro wagons, the A4 is no exception.

COMPETITORS
Other compact prestige wagons, SUVs and even some hatches are likely to vie with the A4 Avant for buyers' attention

In terms of wagons, at the very top-end of the Subaru range, the turbocharged four and six-cylinder Libertys offer better performance but less badge. Then there's the near premiums to consider such as Saab's Sportwagon range, the Volvo V50 T5 and even the latest Citroen C5 Tourer.

Alfa's great looking but flawed 159 Sportwagon is also in the marketplace and VW's muscular R36 Passat wagon delivers all-wheel drive, over 200kW and a full equipment list for less than even a modestly optioned Avant.

And the field seems to grow every time you look at a price list! As noted, expect Caddy to jump into this spec soon enough and there's even talk down the track of Lexus producing an IS wagon.

With Australian buyers penchant for SUVs, BMW's X3, VW's Tiguan and Land Rover's Freelander are all in with a more than a shot at stealing Avant buyers. Audi's own Q5 is just around the corner to confuse things even more.

Like their sedan counterparts, however, it's BMW's 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class Estate that will be the key comparators. We're suckers for both these cars -- especially in their Motorsport and AMG-kitted variants. The Benz especially represents good buying in its current form.

ON THE ROAD
This is going to be short and sweet... Remember the nice things we said about the A4 sedan -- they all apply to the Avant too.

The Avant inherits its sedan stablemate's improved balance and using the Multitronic in manual mode it's an engaging drive. The launch drive took in a couple of our favourite Northeast Victorian mountain passes and though you can always wish for more oomph, you'd be hard pressed wishing for a kinder, more forgiving chassis package.

Both the 1.8 TFSI and 2.0TDI are great little mills -- smooth, torquey and surprisingly effective. The petrol 1.8 punches above its weight and the TDI's more refined than previous generations and gives the Avant great in-gear flexibility. Indeed, we'd be happy with either with one qualifier -- if you do intend to load up your Avant with four (or five) plus luggage with any regularity, choose the diesel. You will appreciate the reserve of torque in all conditions and the extra punch when overtaking on the open road.

Noise levels are truly sedan-like. Indeed, we don't believe we could pick the difference between sedan and wagon from the driver's seat.

Good news too is the fact the A4 Avant's slim pillars limit any blindspots. This is an advantage over other wagons and thick C-pillared SUVs and hatches alike.

No doubt, there's plenty to like about the A4 Avant. And, if you're willing to pay the relatively hefty pricetag once 'must-have' options are factored in, much to recommend it.

As a fan of wagons, let's hope more buyers look beyond their SUV fixation and give it a go...

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