Audi A4 Avant Review 2024

Audi might be continuing to develop its range of SUVs, but the German brand still has space for traditional estate cars. The Audi A4 Avant looks a little anonymous, but its classy image has helped it win many admirers. It also has plenty of capable rivals, including the BMW 3 Series Touring and refined Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate. 

The fifth-generation A4 Avant was launched all the way back in 2015, but it’s testimony to this car’s design and engineering that it still feels modern. It is not the largest estate car on the market – a Skoda Superb Estate is far more commodious – yet it can comfortably transport four adults and their luggage. Our Audi A4 Avant review will explain why it’s worth considering.

When it comes to all-important boot capacity, the Audi A4 Avant is competitive with its closest rivals from BMW and Mercedes, as well as the Peugeot 508 SW and stablemate the Volkswagen Passat Estate. Offering 495 litres of luggage space with the back seats up, rising to 1495 litres with them folded down, it should be roomy enough for most families.

A Skoda Superb might offer more capacity, but it can’t match the Audi A4 Avant for interior quality. In fact, its cabin remains one of the Audi A4 Avant’s key selling points.

It has a genuinely premium look and feel, with leather upholstery standard on the entry-level Sport trim. Compared with newer alternatives, the Audi A4 Avant’s interior layout and MMI infotainment system are a beacon of clarity.

A BMW 3 Series Touring will be more engaging to drive, with better steering feel and feedback. For most drivers, though, this is unlikely to be a major concern. Instead, the Audi A4 Avant manages to be comfortable and refined, although the S line and Black Edition models have a tauter suspension setup.

The engine range for the Audi A4 Avant is now relatively simple, with a choice between two petrols and two diesels. These place a focus on efficiency and effortless progress, with the diesel 35 TDI a great choice for those covering larger mileages. Quattro four-wheel drive is only offered with the more potent diesel version.

For those who want maximum performance in their compact estate, the Audi RS4 Avant is available, which we have covered separately. This has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that develops a colossal 450PS. Such huge speed and ability clearly makes it deserving of its own review. 

Unlike many of its rivals, the Audi A4 Avant is not offered with a plug-in hybrid option. In some ways, this reveals how old the car is underneath, now that such powertrains have become a staple of the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate ranges.

It is a rare chink in the armour of the Audi A4 Avant, in what is otherwise one of the best compact estate cars you can buy. With a balance between comfort and sportiness on the road, plus a host of efficient engines to pick from, it is easy to recommend.

Add to this the high-quality interior, generous level of standard equipment and competitive pricing, and the result is an estate car that is tough to ignore, despite its advancing years.

If you are looking for the most dynamically engaging compact estate, the BMW 3 Series Touring is the car to pick. However, if you want a wagon that balances comfort with secure handling, the Audi A4 Avant is the one for you.

With steering that is well-weighted and accurate, if hardly full of feel, the Audi A4 Avant is easy to drive. Moving through the various modes in the Drive Select system can increase the weight of the steering, but it works best left in its Comfort setting. Although not that engaging for its driver, the Audi A4 Avant can still be hustled along with ease.

The Audi A4 Avant in Sport trim comes with ‘Comfort Dynamic’ suspension, which is more compliant over broken tarmac. Models in S line and Black Edition specs get a Sport suspension set-up, lowering the car by 23mm.

Sport suspension also increases the stiffness of the dampers, reducing body roll but making for a firmer ride. This never reaches the point of being uncomfortable, but just be sure you want this stiffer set-up.

The engine range for the Audi A4 Avant is relatively simple compared to some rivals, with a choice between two petrols and two diesels. There are no bad options here, so it comes down to how much performance you want, and which type of fuel works best for your annual mileage.

All the engines come combined with a quick-shifting S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. Other than the 40 TDI engine with its quattro all-wheel drive, all models are front-wheel drive.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 35 TFSI petrol engine is the starting point, but a 150PS output is not to be scoffed at. A healthy torque figure of 270Nm also helps, and sees the 35 TFSI accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds.

Moving up to the 40 TFSI takes the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine to 204PS, with an accompanying 320Nm of torque. This drops the 0-62mph time down to 7.3 seconds, and makes for a much quicker car on the road. With little fuel economy penalty, it is the petrol engine to pick.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder 35 TDI diesel engine will be best for those who need maximum fuel economy. With 163PS and 370Nm of torque, though, it is certainly no slouch. The 0-62mph sprint takes 8.5 seconds, with effortless overtaking on demand.

In fact, the 163PS 35 TDI almost makes the 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel seem almost redundant. With 204 PS and 400Nm, it manages a 0-62mph time of only 7.1 seconds, aided by the standard quattro drivetrain. However, for the price premium over the 35 TDI, it is hard to recommend.

The Audi A4 Avant was assessed by the Euro NCAP safety organisation when it was first launched back in 2015. When evaluated, it was awarded the maximum five-star rating, including an 89% score for adult occupant protection.

These ratings have now expired, through no fault of the Audi but because Euro NCAP has updated its testing regime. Even so, the Audi A4 Avant remains a safe, secure place to travel.

Standard safety equipment on all Audi A4 Avants includes a total of six airbags, cruise control with a speed limiter, traffic-sign recognition, lane-departure warning and autonomous front emergency braking.

The Audi A4 Avant is a popular option for towing, thanks to its strong engine range and practical boot. When it comes to the maximum hauling capacity, the 2.0-litre 40 TDI engine in Sport or S line trim will be the most effective choice.

These versions are able to pull braked trailers of up to 2000kg, while the other Audi A4 Avant versions can haul a braked trailer with a maximum weight of 1900kg.

Estate car buyers are typically driven by a need for practicality. While the Audi A4 Avant is notably more spacious than its four-door saloon counterpart, it is not the largest wagon around.

Room for those in the front of the Audi A4 Avant is suitably generous, aided by doors that open wide. Thanks to seats that offer plenty of adjustment, there should not be any issue for even the tallest drivers when it comes to getting comfortable.

Space in the rear of the Audi A4 Avant feels tighter when it comes to legroom. Headroom is fine, thanks to the long estate roofline, but a Skoda Superb or Volkswagen Passat delivers more space for long legs.

It is certainly better than previous Audi A4 Avant models, though, and comparable to direct rivals such as the BMW 3 Series Touring.

The same is true of the Audi A4 Avant’s boot capacity, which is 495 litres with the rear seats in place. A BMW 3 Series Touring has a touch more space, with 500 litres, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate can swallow 490 litres.

Dropping the rear seats in the Audi A4 Avant, using the levers just inside the tailgate, boosts boot capacity to 1495 litres. A power-operated tailgate is standard across the range.

When designing the interior of the Audi A4 Avant, it is fair to say the engineers absolutely nailed the level of quality and finish. Newer rivals have appeared in the meantime, but they struggle to match the Teutonic solidity found inside the Audi A4 Avant.

There are still ‘proper’ dials and buttons for the climate control, while almost all the materials have a soft-touch feel. It justifies the premium price tag demanded for the Audi A4 Avant, and lives up to the expectations of the badge on the bonnet.

Audi has been refining its MMI infotainment system for almost as long as BMW has been developing its own iDrive setup. This means many of the bugs and issues that can hamper the systems offered by other manufacturers have long been removed from the Audi A4 Avant. Audi clearly has an understanding of what drivers want.

A 10.1-inch central touchscreen is fitted to all models, which responds rapidly and intuitively to inputs. It does look slightly incongruous just plonked atop the dashboard, but it’s easy to read and operate. Satellite navigation is included on all trim levels, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. There are also multiple USB connections and voice activation for certain functions.

Every Audi A4 Avant comes with a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel. Again, Audi has spent many years developing this set-up, including the ability to customise the view to suit your needs. Being able to show a big navigation map in the instrument panel is a real bonus.

At the time of writing, prices for the Audi A4 Avant start at just over £37,000 for the entry-level Sport model with the 35 TFSI petrol engine. For comparison, the cheapest BMW 3 Series Touring will now require a minimum of almost £42,000, with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate costing from a shade more than £47,000.

The cheapest Audi A4 Avant in the popular S line trim costs a minimum of £38,895, with the range-topping Black Edition model adding a £2000 premium over the S line equivalent.

While the level of standard specification is strong, the Audi A4 Avant option packages are quite pricey. The Technology Pack, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system and park assist included, costs more than £2000. A folding tow bar costs more than £1000.

Whether choosing petrol or diesel, the four engines available in the Audi A4 Avant all offer a focus on efficiency.

The entry-level 2.0-litre 35 TFSI petrol engine is capable of averaging up to 44.8mpg in Sport trim, with CO2 emissions as low as 144g/km.

However, it is worth noting that the more powerful 40 TFSI petrol engine suffers only the smallest drop in average fuel economy. On the official WLTP combined test cycle, the 40 TFSI engine can reach 44.1mpg.

Choosing a diesel delivers improved fuel economy, with the 2.0-litre 35 TDI returning up to 57.6mpg in the WLTP test.

Even opting for the 40 TDI engine, with its standard Quattro all-wheel drive, won’t cost you heavily at the pumps. In Sport trim, this diesel can officially reach an average of 52.3mpg.

To see if these figures are achievable on the road, be sure to check out our Real MPG submissions for the Audi A4 Avant.

Where the Audi A4 Avant lags behind its closest rivals is with its lack of a plug-in hybrid option or, in fact, any kind of hybrid powertrain. Both the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate can be had with plug-in hybrid power.

This not only reduces potential running costs, but also nets them low Benefit-in-Kind company car tax rates, helping company car drivers pay less. Audi does offer a plug-in hybrid engine in the larger Audi A6 Avant, though.

When it comes to a warranty, the Audi A4 Avant comes with three years or 60,000 miles of cover. This is similar to warranties from other premium European marques, but looks less generous alongside what companies such as Kia, Hyundai and MG can offer.

The Audi A4 Avant model range has been reduced to just three trim levels, all of which are generous in their level of standard equipment.

In Audi A4 Avant Sport specification, the Audi A4 Avant comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED tail lights, aluminium roof rails and exterior trim in high-gloss black. There are bumpers bespoke to the Sport model, too.

On the inside, Audi A4 Sport spec brings sports seats finished in twin leather, with the front pair heated and manually adjustable. Aluminium interior trim, LED ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and a multifunction steering wheel are all included. Cruise control with a speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are other highlights.

Like all Audi A4 Avants, the Sport model comes with a 10.1-inch MMI multimedia touchscreen, incorporating DAB radio, satellite navigation, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity. A 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display is included as well.

Choosing the Audi A4 Avant in S line trim brings 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension lowered by 23mm and bespoke S line exterior styling. The latter includes S line bumpers and a special radiator grille, rear privacy glass and plenty of S line badges.

There are S line-branded sports seats on the inside, finished in microfibre Dinamica upholstery, with matt aluminium used for the trim detailing.

Perforated leather can be found on the three-spoke sports steering wheel and gear shifter, with the headlining in black cloth. Stainless steel pedals and illuminated S line door sill trims complete the package.

At the top of the range is the Audi A4 Avant Black Edition, which brings a stealthy appearance to the standard S line model. This begins with 19-inch alloy wheels in a five-spoke design, and with a gloss anthracite finish.

At the heart of the Black Edition is a black styling package, covering the front grille, window trims, side mirrors and roof rails. The Audi rings and model badging also get the black finish treatment, with dark chrome used for the exhaust tailpipes.

The interior has piano black trim inlays, plus there is a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather. Metallic paint is standard, while an ‘Audi Beam’ projects the Audi logo onto the ground when you exit the car.