Audi A4 Allroad 2016

There are people out there that prefer the thought of driving a beefed up wagon as opposed to a bulkier SUV.  This is probably because the big height of an SUV and the added weight doesn’t play nicely when it comes to fuel economy and, if you’re a true driving enthusiast, the road holding isn’t as engaging as a lighter AWD wagon with its lower centre of gravity.  If the high driving position and higher running costs of an SUV don’t interest you, but you like the thought of still being able to run the back routes and tackle light off-roading, then a vehicle like the well-built 2016 Audi A4 Allroad might be a model well-worth considering.

Audi A4 Allroad 2016

As part of the beefed up wagon brigade, the new A4 Allroad does a commendable job of rivalling the likes of the Subaru Outback, Volvo’s XC70 and Skoda Octavia Scout 4×4.  Not quite as roomy as the other two, the new A4 Allroad is still a very versatile wagon that can happily carry a small family about with ease.  Essentially, the A4 Allroad design is pretty much an A4 Avant with a raised up ride height and sturdier underpinnings.  The car feels very solid and always seems to cope well when traversing gravel back roads and heading up to the ski slopes.

At a little over $70k, the 2016 Audi A4 Allroad is reasonably pricy.  You’ll get a Subaru or Skoda alternative for less than that, but then the badge is probably half the reason for that.  Ride quality is excellent, and though there is a slight roll with the added height of the new A4 Allroad, the grip and handling is very rewarding and satisfying on any road surface.  One thing that is worth mentioning is that the A4 Allroad actually uses a lot of the hardware that you will find on-board a Q5 SUV.  And, in practice, the Allroad is cheaper to buy, faster and more frugal than the Q5.

Audi A4 Allroad Interior 2016

Late model A4’s have a very nicely put together cabin that still remains one of the finest of any car on sale.  The first class materials form a natural ergonomic design with plenty of slick technology to keep it at the forefront of cabin design.  New model Volvos might snatch a win in this department, however.  The Audi smartphone interface, featured as standard on the Audi A4, creates an unbroken link between your smartphone and the infotainment system, so you can enjoy uninterrupted smartphone functionality while driving.

And as far as space goes, the A4 Allroad provides a good level of leg and headroom for front and rear occupants, and at the rear is a decent 505-litre boot space with an easy seat folding mechanism for larger and longer cargo.  The luggage compartment can grow to 1510 litres with the rear seat back folded down and when loaded up to the roof.  The electric luggage compartment cover and an electric tailgate are a standard features on both new A4 allroad Quattro models.  There is the option of “wave the foot under the rear bumper technology” and the tailgate lifts automatically

There are some key differences to the outgoing Audi A4 Allroad, and these are found under the bonnet and with the car’s exterior treatment.  Exterior features include plastic body cladding on the wheel arches, sills and roof rails; as well as some metallic skidplates front and rear.  The 2016 A4 Allroad also sits 34 mm higher than a standard A4 Avant, and that’s just 20 mm less than the current Audi Q5.

Power has taken a jump forward, and this is noticeable on the road.  You can feel the advanced technology and efficiency of the latest Audi A4 Allroad TFSI and TDI engines.  With the newly developed 2.0 TFSI petrol-fed motor rated at 185 kW, the 2016 A4 allroad quattro sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and has a top speed of 246 km/h when linked to the sweet seven-speed S tronic transmission.  In this guise you can expect some very good open road economy, and with start/stop technology, cruising the city streets won’t be too bad either.

If you would rather the latest A4 Allroad be powered by diesel torque, then the refined and efficient 2.0 TDI engine boasts 140 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque.  The blend is a nice mix for the car and impressive fuel consumption can be had in the real world – expect much lower than 7 litres/100 km from time-to-time.  The 2.0-litre TDI and seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox work very happily together, and I would expect it to be the biggest seller of the two – especially if you want to take your A4 Allroad on light off-road excursions.

New Audi A4 Allroad wagons boast some clever Quattro traction, and feature the ability to throw traction to the wheels with most grip when slippage is detected.  Out on the highway, the new A4 Allroad soaks up the bumps very nicely, and there is little wind noise – something that you’ll find is more evident with the higher riding SUV.  There is a Drive Select feature on-board the car, which enables you to choose modes between comfort and sport, depending on the mood you happen to be in.

While the 2.0-litre petrol model uses Audi’s new ‘quattro with ultra’ part-time all-wheel drive system, the TDI currently still uses the permanent setup which works really well in the muddy stuff.  To be honest, the 2016 A4 Allroad, whether TDI or TFSI offers as much mud-plugging capability as most SUV owners would ever require – being as polite as possible in this statement.

As safe as ever, new A4 models are equipped with pedestrian detection, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic assist and Audi side assist.   Looks for the 2016 Audi A4 Allroad are sharp and attractive.  Strongly flared wheel arches, a chiseled headlight arrangement, and a more defined grille look superb and draw the eye.  Of course, the leather interior is lovely and impeccably crafted.

New Audi A4 Allroad  models include the:

• A4 Allroad TFSI
• A4 Allroad TDI

For any more information on the 2016 Audi A4 Allroad or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Audi dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!