Audi A4 allroad quattro 2.0TDi

A 4x4 for the real world

Bottom-line on this is it's a jacked-up A4 Avant and if you like the A4 Avant (and I do) and you want something a bit rugged that won't be stopped by a flurry of snow (and I do) then this is what you want. With winter tyres on this will go anywhere a Q5 or Q7 will go and it just appeals to people (like a big Tonka toy) without the negative Chelsea Tractor connotations of the Q5 and Q7.

It's well-made, has been faultlessly reliable over 40,000 miles in 14 months and it's even relatively cheap to run.

The only issues I have with the car are;

1. The stop/start system sometimes gets it wrong and you end up stuck at a green light waiting for the engine to fire up
2. The fuel economy is shocking for a 2.0TDi - 40 MPG is about usual. This seems to be due to the high ride height and the need to rev the 170PS motor to go anywhere and make progress.
3. The speedometer reads to 180MPH which means that legal UK speeds are crammed into the first quarter of the dial which makes it hard to be accurate with your speed.
4. Audi's integration of the audio system makes it almost impossible to have anything added to the car unless of retrofit the factory-fit bits at huge expense.
5. The halogen headlamps are not a patch on the optional xenons

I rather like this, but my next one will be the 3.0 TDi or possibly even the petrol 2.0TFSi for a bit more power and I suspect, nearly the same fuel economy. I would also have the top spec navigation and xenon headlamps (or LED if they become available).

Overall, I don't think I an recommend it any more highly than by having another one when this lease expires in March.

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