For a station wagon to promote in as we speak’s market, it has to emulate the almighty crossover. That is why high-riding wagons aren’t so uncommon lately. The Subaru Outback, Volvo V60 Cross Country and Buick Regal TourX are nice examples of wagons that supply crossover-like functionality and elegance. However maybe probably the most well-rounded participant on this phase is the Audi A4 Allroad.
Audi’s rugged A4 wagon is a trendy household hauler and an environment friendly but succesful leisure automobile. Plus, it is glitzy sufficient to fulfill luxurious customers’ wants. The Allroad is ostensibly three vehicles in a single.
Allroad attract
Whereas the Allroad checks plenty of bins, so does each luxurious crossover in the marketplace. How does the Allroad stand out, then?
For starters, it appears totally different — its decrease, sleeker silhouette and butch proportions present refreshing distinction to the crop of contemporary CUVs. But, on the similar time, the Allroad can do just about every thing your neighbor’s crossover can do. For those who’re an individual who prides your self on being totally different and standing other than the gang, the Allroad is your machine.
However for these considering much less philosophically and extra virtually, the Audi A4 Allroad makes an honest case for itself in the case of effectivity. In response to EPA estimates, the Allroad will get 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. That is Three mpg higher than Audi’s extra conventional Q5. That stated, each the A4 Allroad and the Q5 web 25 mpg mixed, largely because of the Q5’s 23 mpg metropolis ranking versus the Allroad’s 22.
The Allroad’s 2.Zero-liter four-cylinder performs properly with its seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission.
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Some sport, extra utility
Over the course of 1 week and 1,020 miles of principally freeway driving, I averaged 27 mpg. A 6-hour drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco was hardly tiresome — the Allroad’s supportive seats are greater than able to hauling your bottom over lengthy distances in consolation.
The wagon’s acoustic windshield and the non-compulsory dual-pane, front-side window glass of my Status-package tester do a very good job of preserving the inside quiet. Low-frequency highway rumble nonetheless permeates the cabin at larger speeds although.
On twisty tarmac, the Allroad feels extra like a crossover than a sport wagon. You would possibly suppose its barely decrease journey top may make it a bit extra succesful in turns, however with its smooth suspension, it handles about the identical as many crossovers in the marketplace.
The lifted Audi’s highway manners mirror your neighbor’s crossover greater than they do a sport wagon.
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A scarcity of suggestions and directness via its massive steering wheel means the Allroad does not actually encourage sporty driving. Although it is a relative light-weight, at Three,825 kilos, even a crossover just like the 300-pound-heavier BMW X3 feels extra playful on winding roads.
Energy comes from a 2.Zero-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that makes 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. That energy will get to the bottom through customary Quattro all-wheel drive and ventilated disc brakes in any respect 4 corners can simply as simply scrub off any heap of velocity thrown at them.
Because of Audi’s Extremely all-wheel-drive expertise, the Allroad can decouple its driveshaft and rear axle for higher gasoline economic system if you’re cruising on the freeway. As quickly because the system senses that extra grip is required, whether or not in spirited canyon driving or in inclement climate, the Allroad can recouple its rear axle in 200 milliseconds. From behind the wheel, it would as effectively be a full-time all-wheel-drive system as a result of the Extremely expertise works imperceptibly. Plus, the automobile’s 6.5 inches of floor clearance means the soft-roading wagon can take advantage of that all-wheel-drive functionality on gravel roads, or via packed snow.
Audi Digital Cockpit with Google Earth integration retains the Allroad close to the highest of the category in the case of tech.
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Tech wagon
For a luxurious automobile that may crest $50,000, the A4 Allroad’s inside may use some higher high quality supplies. The sprint and the tops of the door panels are slightly too shiny and plasticky for my liking.
That stated, my top-level Status spec options leatherette on the door armrests and heart console, which along with the nice and cozy climate package deal’s perforated leather-based seats, appear and feel terrific. If that leatherette had been to cowl the sprint and door panels as effectively, the standard of the inside would match the Allroad’s worth.
The place the Allroad actually shines, although, is within the tech division. My tester contains Audi’s Digital Cockpit with embedded navigation, which replaces the traditional gauges of the decrease trims with a crisp 12.Three-inch, high-resolution show.
The Allroad’s infotainment is powered by an Nvidia graphics processor, that means each display screen within the tall wagon is a deal with for the eyeballs.
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It is uncommon that I favor an automaker-supplied navigation interface over the simplicity of Apple Maps inside Apple CarPlay — which the Allroad additionally options, in addition to Android Auto — however as a result of Digital Cockpit will get attractive Google Maps graphics rendering via an Nvidia quadcore processor, the Audi wagon offers an eye-dazzling, cutting-edge tech expertise.
Status fashions additionally come customary with a colour head-up show that integrates traffic-sign recognition in addition to navigation and driver help knowledge. Additionally included is stop-and-go adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, flip help (which might cease the automobile if the motive force tries transferring into oncoming visitors when turning left at an intersection), computerized excessive beams and a 4G LTE-powered Wi-Fi hotspot that may help as much as eight units.
The Allroad’s high two trims come customary with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and even automobile exit help, which helps stop you from opening your door into cyclists or different automobiles when parallel parked. Collision-mitigation braking is customary on all Allroads, as is hill-descent management, three-zone local weather management, LED ambient inside lighting, rain-sensing wipers, heated facet mirrors and an influence liftgate.
The Allroad presents the utility and functionality of a crossover, however is wrapped in a package deal that bucks the crossover development.
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One thing totally different
The A4 Allroad’s greatest attribute is that it extra simply stands out in an ever-growing sea of crossovers.
On paper, a Q5 may be higher suited to the wants of most customers. Its larger journey top means higher visibility, and it may possibly tow as much as four,400 kilos (the Allroad is unrated for towing). Moreover, the Q5 presents extra headroom (when geared up with no sunroof), extra rear legroom, extra shoulder room and 1.9 cubic ft extra cargo capability than the Allroad’s already beneficiant 58.5 cubic ft. Equally geared up, each automobiles are available in across the similar worth.
The Allroad, then, is an emotional buy, even compared with different high-riding wagons in the marketplace. It might supply 15 fewer cubic ft of cargo area than a Subaru Outback or Buick Regal TourX, however the Audi is extra subtle, swankier and extra technologically superior than these vehicles. The Allroad is a wagon that may fulfill lots of your necessities by being a number of automobiles in a single, however better of all, you will not be misplaced within the herd of crossovers.
