Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £21,665 to £34,855
Good-looking; attractive interior; turbo petrol engines.
Not hugely roomy; overlight steering; extra-cost S-line suspension necessary for a sporting drive.
A great drive with the right suspension and steering set-ups, rather nondescript otherwise.
The A4 Avant joins the already-launched latest-generation A4 saloon on sale in June 2008. Like the saloon, it has styling to resemble the A5 coupe, and details including distinctive LED daytime running lights on sportier S-line versions.
The A4's chassis has been overhauled to give better weight distribution and improved interior space, and the range features more advanced technology and electronic driver aids. New options include Drive Select, with settings for suspension damping, throttle response, automatic gearshift speeds and steering ratio, as well as blind spot monitoring side-assist and lane assist systems.
The Avant's load bay is larger than that of the outgoing model - 490 litres, and up to 1430 litres with the rear seats folded - and rear legroom has been increased a little. It retains its raked fastback-style tailgate, however, and curved roofline.
Five engines are available at launch: 1.8 TFSI turbocharged (160bhp) and 3.2 V6 FSI (265bhp) direct-injection petrols, and 2.0 TDI (143bhp), 2.7 TDI (190bhp) and 3.0 TDI (240bhp) diesels. Gearbox choices are six-speed manual, six-speed Tiptronic auto and Multitronic CVT, depending on engine; the S-tronic sequential-shift gearbox will also be available later.
More engines follow later in the year: 1.8 TFSI (120bhp), 2.0 TFSI (180bhp and 211bhp), and 2.0 TDI (120bhp and 170bhp). UK pricing starts from £23,400 (1.8 TFSI SE).
Latest Readers' Drives About the Audi A4 Avant
wrote on 07 02 2009