The Goldilocks approach normally works when selecting automobiles, and this one isn't any totally different. We'd select the Premium Plus trim for its mixture of luxury options and relative affordability. The Premium Plus comes commonplace with desirable features similar to blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automated emergency braking, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, keyless entry, push-button begin, and a arms-free power liftgate. Likes: Smooth and peppy engine, quick-reacting transmission, deft dealing with. Dislikes: Fuel economic system is not nice, no towing capability. There's only one obtainable powertrain for the A4 Allroad, however it is a superb one. The A4 Allroad's 252-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission work effectively collectively. The engine is pleasant, punchy, and downright quick, and the most recent version of Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system adds a brand new level of intelligence to the way it functions. The gearbox modulates its attitude depending on the driver's calls for and may snap off quick, exact shifts below hard driving or more relaxed, unobtrusive shifts around town. At our take a look at observe, the A4 Allroad managed a brisk 5.2-second zero-to-60-mph time. For a lifted wagon, nonetheless, the A4 Allroad drives like a dream; in Auto drive mode, it balances journey and dealing with extraordinarily effectively.
Its cornering grip is a lot ample and puts it right in line with most opponents. It seems like a car quite than an SUV, something we think quite a lot of consumers will recognize. We definitely do. The A4 Allroad isn't rated for towing. For drivers who have to haul a light trailer, the Subaru Outback or Volvo's V60 or the similarly lifted V90 Cross Country could be a better alternative. Several of the A4 Allroad's rivals have some variation on a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and all-wheel drive and, perhaps unsurprisingly, all of these cars share very comparable EPA ratings. Despite a 30-mpg highway fuel-financial system ranking from the EPA, our A4 Allroad check automobile managed just 27 mpg over our 200-mile highway gasoline-economic system test route. Likes: Comfortable seats, good outward visibility, extra cargo area by quantity than A4 sedan. Dislikes: Interior is extra practical than luxurious, much less cargo area than key wagon rivals.
The A4 Allroad has a sexy, businesslike inside, which we might like much better if we hadn't seen the artwork piece that is the V90's cabin. It will not be lovely, however the A4 Allroad is completely functional, handsome, nicely appointed, and snug. Despite being significantly shorter in exterior length than several of its competitors, the Allroad's again seat has nearly as much legroom as each the Mercedes-Benz E-class wagon and the V90. As befits a luxurious automotive, the Allroad comes customary with power-adjustable leather-based seats, a panoramic sunroof, and three-zone automated climate management. We're less thrilled that heated seats aren't customary within the entry-stage trim. Audi was considered one of the first automakers to deliver knowledge plans and Wi-Fi into cars, and it hasn't stopped innovating. Audi's MMI infotainment system's latest crown jewel is the non-obligatory Virtual Cockpit, a excessive-resolution configurable show located where the gauge cluster would normally be. It may be arranged to show both a digital version of a conventional cluster layout or a more infotainment-focused display, which might function real-time Google Maps overlays of the surrounding environs, depending on the driver's choice.
The A4 Allroad lost the carry-on-luggage test before we even acquired our suitcases out. It's smaller inside and out than competitors such because the E-class wagon and the Outback. More perplexing is the fact that it barely beat the sedan model of the A4: despite the Allroad's 11-cubic-foot benefit in cargo volume, it held simply six carry-ons behind the rear seat. That's only one more than the A4 sedan. The A4 Allroad has solely been tested by one of the two U.S. Marginal, it aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's checks. Its wide array of accessible driver-help expertise can be spectacular, however solely ahead-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are customary. Almost all the cars in this class, together with the A4 Allroad, have a warranty based around a 4-12 months or 50,000-mile restricted or powertrain guarantee. Audi distinguishes itself by offering a yr of complimentary scheduled upkeep, but that plan is outdone by Volvo's three years or 36,000 miles of included upkeep.
