Audi A4 Allroad review

The Audi A4 Allroad is basically a pumped-up, muscular version of the standard A4 Avant. This means it boasts the same smart, Teutonic exterior design, with the addition of black plastic cladding around the wheel arches, front and rear skid plates and a stylish chrome front grille.  

On top of that (literally), you’ll also get more pronounced roof rails than you’ll find on the standard car, adding further to the A4 Allroad’s tough, adventurous credentials. 

The A4 Allroad has an optimal driving position, with a great view out thanks to the car’s slightly raised ride height. This higher suspension set-up also makes the A4 Allroad an extremely comfortable drive, with a refined, pliable ride that irons out rough road surfaces and potholed tarmac.  

Tires grip like baby holding on to the finger – remember the A4 Allroad comes with Audi’s Quattro 4-wheel drive system. The car takes fast corners with ease - although there’s some noticeable body roll due to its added height.  

All petrol and diesel engines are smooth and quiet, providing plenty of power for fast A-road overtaking manoeuvres and brisk motorway cruising. The cabin is nicely insulated from tyre and wind noise as well, so longer trips should be a breeze. 

Thanks to a multi-adjustable driver’s seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and rake, finding your ideal driving position in the Audi A4 Allroad won’t pose much of a problem.  

The seats are exceedingly comfortable as well, which all adds to the premium experience you get from behind the A4 Allroad’s wheel. All-round visibility is great. 

Unsurprisingly, the A4 Allroad has a good level of equipment, with the entry-level Allroad model getting Audi’s intuitive 7-inch display MMI infotainment system, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone integration and 3-zone climate control as standard.  

The top-spec Sport version adds leather-clad sports seats, onboard sat-nav, acoustic glazing and rear privacy glass as well as an array of stylish exterior design flourishes. 

As with all other Audis, the A4 Allroad’s interior boasts quality materials and a typically logical German approach to cabin ergonomics. The beautifully engineered buttons and switchgear all fall easily to hand, the dashboard is clear and easy to understand, and steering controls take care of most major driving functions, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road. 

There’s plenty of room for people and stuff in the Audi A4 Allroad. Interior head and legroom are ample for both front and rear occupants, while the Allroad’s wide door apertures and higher ride height make getting in and out easier than on the standard A4 Avant.  

There’s a large boot, which easily trumps several of the Allroad’s premium rivals when it comes to load capacity, while the wide rear opening lacks much in the way of a load lip, making it easy to get bigger items in and out of the car.  

Interior storage is equally as impressive, with various cubbies and compartments dotted around the cabin. There’s also a large glovebox, decent-sized door pockets and the requisite pair of cup holders up front. 

The Audi A4 Allroad is relatively expensive to buy and run – yet still offers good value against premium rivals. Residual values are strong, and the Allroad offers decent fuel economy. You’ll get around 55mpg from its diesel engines depending on power output, while the petrol-engine Allroad is a little less frugal, delivering 44.1mpg. CO2 emissions figures are in line with the competition.  

Audi has an enviable reputation for building high-quality premium vehicles, and the A4 Allroad runs on tried and tested engines and hardware, so we don’t foresee anything major going wrong. Maintenance costs can be high and customers have noticed electrical issues with Audis in the past, so we’d recommend you consider cinchCare for additional peace of mind. 

We love the A4 Allroad’s rugged looks, combined with its premium cabin. It’s the perfect balance between a practical estate car and an SUV. It’s got all the standard safety gear you’d get on a luxurious SUV as well, including a host of airbags, stability control, seatbelt monitoring, automatic headlights and wipers. It also features Audi’s ‘pre-sense city’ system, which will stop the car automatically at speeds of up to 52mph if it senses that a crash is imminent. And, of course, the Allroad has a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating as well.