Audi’s next Q5 SUV is on the way but until it hits showrooms, families who simply cannot wait to have the latest in Audi all-wheel drive technology will be best served by this; the new, second-generation A4 Allroad quattro.
The new A4 Allroad isn’t just a stopgap, more customers than ever are demanding SUV looks and practicality in a less imposing package and the off-road estate is an ideal solution. It’s the perfect compromise between the performance, efficiency and handling of a traditional estate, and the tough looks and off-road capability of an SUV.
Given the conservative styling evolution of the current A4 range, it’s unlikely that anyone will be taken aback by the new Allroad’s exterior design. To call it predictable would be harsh but fair – from most angles it looks remarkably similar to the old car. Yet some sharper creases, tidier detailing and sharp LED-xenon lighting ensure it keeps the understated elegance Audi is known for.
It’s now less obvious that this is an Audi Allroad model from the front as the body add-ons are subtler than on the old car. The increase in ride height (23mm of extra ground clearance and 34mm gained in overall height) and the familiar wheelarch extensions and sill cladding give the game away. Around at the back there’s also a metallic skidplate on the rear bumper.
The interior is almost identical to the regular A4 Avant, which is no bad thing. It’s a more significant step on from the outgoing car than the exterior, and arguably the most impressive cabin design in its class. It’s not just the look – classy, feature-packed yet logical and tidy – but the feel of the switchgear and materials that shows how on top of the quality game Audi is at the moment.
Indeed, our only complaints are minor; it’s a shame the central screen (sometimes made redundant by the excellent Virtual Cockpit) no longer tidily folds away into the dash, while no effort has been made to make the Allroad’s interior look different to that of a standard A4 Avant. A Skoda Octavia Scout at least gets unique brown upholstery to remind you that you paid the extra for a rugged model. Practicality has been unaffected in the switch to Allroad spec, so you get one of the most spacious cabins in the compact executive class and a well-shaped 505 litre boot.
The styling might be a bit ‘same again’, but Audi has used the A4 Allroad launch to showcase some innovative tech. Five years in the making, the brand’s newly developed quattro ‘ultra’ four-wheel drive system makes its production debut on this car before it’s rolled out across most of the Audi range, including the next Q5.
The system uses a decoupling clutch for the rear propshaft that ensures it runs in front-wheel drive mode most of the time. Complex systems can predict your driving style, which, engineers say, allows the car to effectively “see into the future” and recouple the rear wheels when required for proper four-wheel drive. Audi says it reduces drivetrain losses by 70 per cent to improve efficiency, but there is no discernible difference between it and a permanent four-wheel drive system while driving.
The only model available to try the new quattro system on at launch was the 2.0-litre turbo petrol, but it will roll out across the three A4 Allroad diesel variants towards the end of the year. On German Autobahns and around town, the switch from front to four-wheel drive was completely unnoticeable. We didn’t get the chance to try it off-road, so we’ll bring you our view of the Allroad’s new dedicated ‘off-road’ mode in Audi’s Drive Select system later. A new Trailer Assist function to aid manoeuvrability is also available for owners who want to tow.
Here, we’ve driven the predicted best-seller in the range, the 2.0 TDI 190 diesel with the seven-speed S-tronic automatic gearbox. It uses the familiar permanent quattro system until the new one is fitted later in 2016, but efficiency figures are still improved over the previous Allroad.
The TDI 190 is nearly 10mpg more economical on paper than the old – and less powerful – 2.0 TDI 177, yet there is a 5 mpg penalty over the equivalent A4 Avant to consider. A 400Nm torque output ensures that even though it’s one of the more mundane engines offered on the Allroad, it still feels punchy and flexible. In terms of refinement it’s comparable with the 2.0 TFSI (which is rather gruff-sounding for a petrol), although the more expensive 3.0 V6 diesel is notably smoother.
Given the 23mm ride height boost, taller tyre profile and suspension tweaks the on the A4 Allroad model, you would expect a reduction in body control. And indeed, it does feel softer than the A4 Avant. The difference isn’t huge, however, roll is kept in check quite well and only in very quick direction changes will you feel the extra weight in reduced agility. The ride on optional adaptive dampers seemed much more cushioned than on the regular A4 with the same suspension, despite a slightly floaty feel at motorway speeds. We’ll have to try it on potholed British tarmac to get the definitive verdict.
Overall, the Allroad version actually strikes a better compromise between ride and handling than the standard A4, which isn’t the most fun to drive in its class anyway. However, there is still the question of whether the Allroad model makes sense financially. The entry-level A4 Allroad SE is expected to be just £1,150 more than the equivalent Avant SE, but our Sport spec test car is £2,950 more on top of that. Consider that the current Q5 is only a couple of thousand more, and if the next Q5 model is the same price it could be the more tempting prospect.
- Model: Audi A4 Allroad TDI 190
- Price: £36,180 (est)
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel
- Power: 187bhp
- Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, four-wheel drive
- 0-62mph/Top speed: 7.8s/137mph
- Economy/CO2: 57.6mpg/129g/km
- On sale: June 2016
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