Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) Review

Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) At A Glance

As good to drive as standard A4 Avant but with quattro four-wheel drive and raised ground clearance. Ideal for towing. Refined and well built.

Prices new are close to the Q5.

Reviews for Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals

Volkswagen Passat

More rugged off-road version of the Passat Estate. Higher ride height. 4MOTION four-wheel drive as standard.

Subaru Legacy/Outback

Capable and solidly built. Spacious interior. Works well with Lineartronic gearbox. Revised from late...

Volvo XC70

Smart-looking 4WD estate with more off-road ability than the previous XC70. Comfortable, safe and practical.

Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) handling and engines

• Engines range from 2.0 TDI quattro to 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 22–45 mpg

There are three engines available in the A4 Allroad line-up - two diesels and one petrol. It's actually the cheapest model which offers the best blend of performance and economy in the shape of the 2.0 TDI. This is a newer common-rail diesel engine which means it's smooth and fairly quiet, plus with 170bhp it has plenty of pace on tap. But it's the 350Nm of torque that most impresses name means the A4 Allroad is ideal fof long distance motorway driving, while average economy is 45.2mpg.

The other 2.0-litre engine is the TFSI petrol which unusually doesn't come with a manual gearbox like the 2.0 TDI but instead has a seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox (similar to Volkswagen's DSG system) which provides super-quick and smooth gear shifts. The TFSI offers sporty performance and a nice exhaust note too - it's actually the same engine that's used in the Volkswagen Golf GTI so it's not surprising that it's quite thirsty.

Finally there's the superb 3.0 TDI - one of the best diesel engines around. Thanks to 500Nm of torque it pulls effortlessly from low down and offers great performance, even when fully loaded with passengers and luggage. It's impressively quick from a standstill too, thanks to the slick S tronic gearbox (which is standard).

On the road the A4 allroad is easy to drive with nicely weighted steering and good all round visibility. It corners very well despite the raised ride height and feels just as composed and reassuring as a standard A4. The ride is good too and evens out rough surfaces, although on bumpy roads it can sometimes struggle to settle down and feels a touch bouncy.

If you're looking to tow a trailer, the A4 Allroad has a braked towing weight of up to 1,900kg. The extra 180mm of ground clearance means tacklng rutted tracks or grassy fields is made easier and although this is no hardcore 4x4, it deals well with tougher terrain so makes an ideal choice if you live in a rural area where snow and ice can be a problem in the winter.

Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) interior

• Boot space is 490–1430 litres

The cabin of the A4 Allroad isn't very different from the standard A4 - in fact it's near identical. That's not a criticism as the A4 has a neatly styled and well finished interior, but it's surprising that there is nothing to make this model stand out from the standard A4. There's a variety of trims and materials available in the cabin, from the modern metal finish (in the picture above) to a more traditional darker wood.

Thanks to the easy-to-use MMI (multi media interface) system the main central console is kept mainly free from buttons aside from the climate control buttons which aren't the most intuitive but easy enough once you've got used to them. The MMI system is controlled via a dial just behind the gear lever and the large colour screen built into the dash. It's a very good way of working the various functions from the radio to the sat nav (if fitted).

Instead of a standard handbrake, there's an electric parking brake which frees up space and adds to the high-tech feel. The stereo also has slots for SD cards on which you can store music, plus there are MP3 and iPod connections available as optional extras and well worth the investment.

As you'd expect in an Audi, the quality if the materials is top notch and all the switches and buttons work with millimetre precision. The seats are excellent too with plenty of support for long distance comfort, while the driving position is pretty much spot-on, helped by plenty of adjustment in the steering column. One minor complaint is that with bottles in the central cup holders, changing gear or using the MMI system is tricky.

The estate body means there's a large boot with a maximum of 1430 litres of luggage space with the seats folded down. However, folding them down can be quite a pain as there's a large bar which spans the width of the car and holds the retractactable luggage cover. It's fairly heavy and awkward to get out too. However useful features include a reversible load floor which is rubber on one side for wet or muddy shoes.

Rear passengers get well catered for too and there's more legroom than in equivalent estates from BMW or Mercedes-Benz, although the Volvo XC70 is equally as roomy. The large central transmission tunnel means that it's a squeeze for three in the back though - mainly because of a lack of room for everyone's feet.

Standard equipment from launch (May 2009):

The A4 Allroad comes in just one trim level, which is based on the A4 SE. Features include three-zone climate control, a 10-speaker Audi Concert CD system, automatic headlights, rain sensitive wipers, a full-colour Driver's Information System (DIS), 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with allroad-specific tyres, special Tundra cloth upholstery and a storage pack including additional nets and compartments. Additional standard features can also be found in the boot including a reversible load mat, a flip over bumper protector, plus a load area rail system and fixing kit for securing bulky loads using a telescopic bar along with a securing belt.

Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) models and specs

On sale until October 2015

On sale until April 2015

On sale until June 2013

On sale until November 2012

On sale until October 2011