Audi A4 allroad quattro – the perfect companion in any situation

The all-new Audi A4 sedan is arriving in SA just about now.  The previous generation Audi A4 Avant turned into the Audi A4 allroad quattro, based on the A4 Avant, and was sold as the only non-RS Audi estate.

With its pumped-up ride height and off-road-ready black trim on bumpers and wheel arches, the A4 allroad quattro is the more rugged estate car – it sits somewhere between the normal station wagon which South Africans inexplicably no longer want to buy, and the bigger SUV type vehicle. 

This kind of vehicle makes sense for someone who needs the Avant advantages of style and space, with some added ground clearance and dirt-road protection.  Perhaps this is why Audi is calling the new A4 allroad quattro the perfect companion in any situation.  The allroad name would suggest it is suitable for normal tarred roads as well as a variety of wet, sand, gravel, dirt or snow roads.

The new Audi A4 allroad quattro has a new version of the Audi drive select modes, with functions expanded to include the offroad mode, which the driver can select when s/he leaves the paved road behind.

The Audi A4 allroad quattro headlights have a distinctive lower jagged edge (see images included) and new front fender allroad badges.

TFSI or TDI and quattro, standard

The combination of the Audi turbo engine TFSI petrol or TDI with quattro all-wheel traction works well in tandem in the Audi A4 allroad quattro.  The engine options are 2.0 petrol or diesel in varying outputs, and a 6-cylinder 3.0TDI in two variants, with the top output engine producing 200kW and 600Nm.

While quattro provides the grip needed on all roads, the additional 1.3 inch / 34 mm ground clearance over the A4 Avant allows extra space to explore during those adventures.

Luggage space is 505 litres with seats up, or flatten the rear seats and, loaded to the roof, you have 1510 litres available – much more than in a sedan.  The electric drive for the tailgate is standard, and sensor control (which senses a swiping foot under the bumper when you have the key on your person / nearby) is optional.  At the push of a button the pivoting towbar extends or pulls back into its recess.

Engine stops before the car does

An interesting new development extension of the auto engine stop-start feature is that the engine can now switch off when decelerating to a standstill, at speeds below 7 km/h, or below 3 km/h with the 3.0TDI engine.  This means the updated feature can eke out those extra few drops of fuel from the tank fuel range, and cut emission gases by switching off the engine.  Over years of use this can add up to worthy savings.  If all vehicles can adopt this technology, the savings will be substantial. 

The engine stops before the car does… just as we got used to the engine which switches itself off and then on, drivers will now have to get used to an engine that stops even before the car stops.