Audi's Sexy Off-Roading Wagon Is Here to Replace Your SUV

In an era whenso many railcar are trying to please everyone , the Audi A4 Allroad is a breath of fresh air . The offroad - capable wagon ’s delegacy is to convinceSubaru Outbackdrivers ( and the German SUV faithful ) that , for a little more cash – the Allroad pop at $ 44,000 – you may get a much more svelte parcel . It ’s so much more than that , though .

Timing , as the locution goes , is everything , and just forwards of the first opportunity to drive the all novel 2017Audi A4 Allroadin Jackson Hole , Wyoming , something unexpected happened . It snowed . A caboodle . female parent Nature did us a favor , since the good room to experience Audi ’s revamped station wagon crossover is when driving experimental condition get a niggling messy .

Would the gunpowder prove to be a stumbling block in the face of Audi ’s newest Plough ? Hardly .

2017 Audi A4 Allroad

Jeff Jablansky/Thrillist

As luxurious off-roading wagons go, it’s phenomenal

First and first of all , the A4 Allroad is a phenomenally competent and luxurious wagon . That it ’s based on the excellent 2017 A4 sedan is a point in its favor , highlighted by the Allroad ’s name change ( to let in A4 before Allroad ) . Like the Allroad Quattro that was first usher in at the turn of the C ( time fly when you ’re off - roading ) , this station wagon is designed for lite off - roading and staying clear in sticky situations . Its ground clearance , at 6.5 in off the footing , is down now by about half an in , but that does n’t discourage the A4 Allroad from finding and conquer harsh terrain .

It maintains its composure on any road

Despite the snow and inclement weather conditions , we spent nearly all day over 100 miles off the bewilder path , on surfaces ranging from rutted gravel trails to knavish , unimproved grunge route . Not once did the A4 Allroad crack by allowing itself to drop off grip , notwithstanding attempts to make it pass . Down a cunning great deal pass rife with blind corners , the A4 Allroad was completely pen ; an attemptedScandinavian flickaround one of them was cross , as was an effort to lock the A4 Allroad into a shoe under operose braking on inhuman , wet pavement . With 252hp and 273lb - ft of torsion , there ’s never a dearth of force from the 2.0 - litre turbocharged four piston chamber . For those who care , the car go from 0 - 60 mph in 5.9 second .

Much of the recognition for the car ’s surefooted - ness go to the fresh revised Quattro withUltra System(a name that sound more apt for a cloth softener , but that ’s OK ) . Most of the time , the A4 Allroad act as a front bike - drive wagon , but the car ’s computer uses sensing element that measure forcefulness , manoeuver slant , and other driver input to settle which wheel might postulate more or less power , thus improving grip . According to Audi , the system can even shift power completely rearward if necessary – which is strange in today ’s market .

It has all of the benefits of an SUV in a sexy wagon shape

Audi ’s best selling product is theQ5 , which outsell the outgoing Allroad by a margin of nearly18 to 1last year . With figures like that , you might surmise that the Q5 is the superior framework , but we happily disagree . Everything you get from an SUV , pull through for the gamey - than - yard seats position , is available on the A4 Allroad . It offers 24.2 ft of cargo spacewithoutfolding the rear seats ( that ’s more than aBMW X5 , which is an entire size course up from the A4 Allroad , with a Leontyne Price rag more than $ 10,000 high ) . Fold the seating area down , and the useable quad increases to 58.5cbft – more than the boffo , similarly sized Q5 . The A4 Allroad also tops the Q5 in fuel economy by three city mpg and one mpg on the main road .

An optional adaptative suspension can firm up on demand , and the selectable " off - road " mode lightens the steering assist and disables automatic emergency braking – so that the A4 Allroad wo n’t throw a tree with avacillating footer .

Luddites beware: inside it’s a tech haven

Think of the A4 Allroad as the apogee of the A4 family , and its most desirable configuration . There are three fashion to enjoin one , and the sweet spot is the Premium Plus manikin , at about $ 50 G . you’re able to go all - out and rank the A4 Allroad with all the goodies , like a head - up show , but the fully digital dashboard makes a HUD for the most part excess . If you appreciate technology , you ’ll feel at home in the A4 Allroad , or any A4 for that subject , but the technical school - allergic might be overwhelmed .

The one and only gripe with the interior is that the leather tooshie feel more like vinyl radical than they should . Other than that , the Dipper condition and high tactual sensation of quality ( inside and out ) make the A4 Allroad the best manner you could consecrate an A4 . ( Pro peak : theabsolutebest direction is in Gotland green over a dark DoI . )

Overall, it’s as stylish as it is capable

The A4 Allroad drives smoothly , and is nearly silent deep down , even at full accelerator . It can get you out of a muddy mint , but even if you do n’t inhabit where the atmospheric condition becomes topsy-turvy , you ’ll want one . The only more desirable Allroad permutation would be a 333hp S4 Allroad rendering , but do n’t hold your breath on that Big Dipper fantasy – at least for now , this is Audi ’s good A4 offering .

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