On the face of it, a conventional estate car modified for light off-road use with the addition of all-wheel drive, raised ground clearance and increased suspension travel would seem to make more sense for many buyers than a contemporary high-rise SUV. And the Audi A4 Allroad is just such a car, an the Audi A4 Avant that has been modified to provide it with the ability to head off-road, albeit not too far.
The A4 Allroad slots into Audi’s line-up between the Audi A4 Avant quattro and the Audi Q5 SUV, and serves to provide customers with yet another choice in a crowded four-wheel drive market.
As with the more expensive A6 Allroad, Audi has persisted with black plastic cladding to provide the exterior of the Audi A4 Allroad with a toughened-up appearance. It’s certainly not going to appeal to everyone, but the various styling measures help to instantly set the car apart from its road-biased siblings.
An added 34mm of ride height improves approach and departure angles, while extra cladding along the underbody also provides improved protection to the components underneath.
The Audi A4 Allroad’s cabin is standard Audi A4, so it’s good looking, superbly laid out and generally high in quality. Unlike the previous generation the new Audi A4 Allroad is available in two trims a standard one and a sport level.
Entry level models get 17in alloys, adaptive suspension configured for comfort, xenon headlights, aluminium exterior trim, cruise control and parking sensors as standard, while inside there is tri-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, city brake assist, and Audi's 7.0in display MMI infotainment system with Bluetooth, smartphone integration and DAB radio all included.
