The Audi RS4 Avant May Make You Forget About The Ford Focus RS

More expensive? Yes. Not sold in the US? Also yes. But it's naughty. Very naughty.

It’s one of those things we’re powerless to do anything about. Audi does not appear like it plans to sell any of its RS Avant wagons in the US. This is nothing new, but with the recent launch of the new RS4 Avant, we’re finding ourselves nearly begging (again) for that 450 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque wagon goodness. Carfection was given some wheel time with the new RS4 Avant and host Henry Catchpole commented it’s probably the perfect third car to buy once you have your classic and supercar sorted out.

Your three-car garage will be complete. The new RS4 Avant, like its predecessors dating back to the RS2, is a multi-purpose driving tool that does pretty much everything well. In fact, it does everything above and beyond.

With all of that power going to all four wheels via the proven Quattro system (40/60 front/rear bias), plenty of cargo space, and an interior only Audi can build, the RS4 Avant sprints to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Despite its 3,946 pounds, Audi managed to shave off about 176 pounds compared to its predecessor. Under the hood, the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 is an absolute gem. Thanks to its longer wheelbase, the RS4 Avant even feels livelier than its RS5 coupe counterpart out of the corners. Having its engine placed ahead of the front axle, an Audi tradition, also makes for a better driving experience.

Can You Predict The Outcome Of A Ford Focus RS Vs Audi SQ7 Drag Race?

This is a much closer race than we'd ever expect it to be.

We’ve reached boiling point. The crossover segment has gotten enough red hot horsepower that chaos is bubbling and the only way to determine if this pot of water is better than hot hatch cauldron—the one that preceded the super crossover and earned our respect for preserving the love of driving inside the most practical of packages—is to dethrone the kings of that segment. Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen Golf R, you’ve been put on notice.

The differences in size between large crossovers and hot hatches are obvious, but here the Audi SQ7’s disadvantage in the weight department is made up by the extra room it has up front, which affords it the luxury of a 4.0-liter tri-turbo V8 engine. The Focus RS, on the other hand, has only its 2.3-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost inline-four to help it out.

Differences in drive wheels are null here thanks to the Ford’s all-wheel drive system and the obvious inclusion of four-wheel drive in the Audi, but the transmission could make or break the race. With a manual gearbox giving the driver the power to make decisions in the Focus RS, it makes the 0-60 mph run in 4.7 seconds with the help of traction control. The Audi needs an extra 0.2 seconds to hit 60 mph, but that triple charge system and the ability to accelerate without relenting thanks to the automatic gearbox could be the deciding factor.