ROAD TEST
Audi A4 Avant – Test Drive
Vorsprung Durch Technik means roughly 'progress through technology' and Audi has proved, time and time that this is true. The new A4 Avant is a great load lugger and it has got the BMW 3-Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class Estate firmly in its sights.
Audi has a great package in the A4 Avant and it is sure to slug it out for sales in the premium sector.
LOOKS
The Audi A4 Avant has one of the sharpest stylings of any premium estate car on the market. This does not mean that it looks bad, in fact it is striking and the bold lines at the bottom of the sides enhance the car's appeal. From the front the LED headlights and the large grille give the A4 Avant a powerful presence.
Don't be fooled by the neat styling, the Audi is a vehicle of great size.
INTERIOR
Jump in and you'll see that the inside of the A4 Avant is a classy place to be seated. The materials are made of high quality and the switchgear is laid out in a neat manner. It is also within easy reach of the driver - always a boon. Some claim the interior is a tad fussy but we like the set-up. Move into the rear of the car and you'll appreciate that the car has ample room for adults to be seated in the back. Audi claims the A4 Avant has the most generous passenger space in the sector.
PRACTICALITY
This estate has plenty of substance and lots of practicality. With the seats in position the boot can hold 490 litres but when they are folded this increases to an expansive 1,430 litres. It may not be the biggest in the sector as the Mercedes C Class estate can boast a capacity of 1,500 litres load room.
Audi has paid great attention to give its customers a hand when it comes to storing goods. The german maker fitted bag hooks to make storage easy and another bonus is that the floor has a reversible liner with a wipe-clean surface – especially useful if you have an active lifestyle.
This estate has plenty of substance and lots of practicality. With the seats in position the boot can hold 490 litres but when they are folded this increases to an expansive 1,430 litres. It may not be the biggest in the sector as the Mercedes C Class estate can boast a capacity of 1,500 litres load room.
Audi has paid great attention to give its customers a hand when it comes to storing goods. The german maker fitted bag hooks to make storage easy and another bonus is that the floor has a reversible liner with a wipe-clean surface – especially useful if you have an active lifestyle.
ON TEST
Under the bonnet we had the 2.0-litre TDI oil-burning engine, which had a power output of 141bhp. The engine we had is expected to be the most attractive when it comes to wooing customers in the UK and we'd have to agree…it's a cracker. Getting past slower traffic will be child's play, this is thanks to the power of the 2.0-litre unit - 320Nm of torque.
The engine is really smooth but yet punchy at the same time. This makes the car feel really quick, the figures look good for a motor of this size - zero to 62mph in 9.7 seconds and the load lugger has a top speed of 130mph. The power plant is mated to a smooth shifting six-speed gearbox. Shifts are slick with the classy 'box and the ratios have been spaced well, giving the car lots of grunt right the way through the gears.
The day-to-day figures look quite appealing too, it has a claimed combined economy of 49.6mpg and it emits 143g/km of CO2.
So how does it handle?
The increase in space has done nothing to deter from the handling of the car. The saloon sibling has great characteristics when it comes to ride comfort, body control and agility, and the Avant has got all these features. Another bonus is the steering as it is precise and weights up when you 'push on'.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Audi A4 Avant 2.0-litre TDI S Line/£29,630 |
| Engine/power: | 2.0-litre TDI/141BHP |
| Co2 emissions: | 143g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 49.6mpg |
IMN VERDICT
This Audi A4 Avant 2.0-litre TDI S Line is priced from £25,600. It is quite expensive as it is top of the range S Line trim and our test car had a host of options, which included, meteor grey, pearl effect £550, mobile telephone preparation – low £375, sat-nav system plus £1,975, Audi Music Interface £200 and servotronic power steering £180. These options take the price of our test car to £29,630. The A4 Avant is a brilliant car to drive while practicality may as well be its middle name. This is an estate with style and substance and classy German engineering
Simon McBride