Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi A4 3.0 TDI Avant

Facelift puts classy Audi A4 Avant in contention

A sleek shape and classy cabin give the Audi lots of showroom appeal, while the four-wheel-drive chassis and strong engine make it good to drive. Unfortunately, the boot isn’t as big as its rivals’, while the S line version suffers from a stiff ride.

Few manufacturers can rival Audi’s tradition for producing classy, versatile estates. The brand’s sleek Avant models have been setting the standard for decades with their mix of style, desirability and practicality – and the latest A4 is no exception.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A recent facelift has helped keep the Audi A4 Avant looking fresh, with the revised grille and new-look headlights the most obvious changes. Eye-catching 18-inch alloys and a subtle bodykit are standard on the sporty S line, as are the LED daytime running lights.

As you’d expect, the A4’s cabin is beautifully crafted. It’s not as stylish as the BMW inside, but the fit and finish is first rate. It’s easy to get comfortable, as there’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, while standard kit includes leather, Bluetooth and a 10-speaker stereo – although an iPod connection is £255.

There’s little to separate our trio for cabin space, but passengers in the Audi’s rear get a bit more head and legroom than in the Mercedes. With the rear seats in place, the A4’s 490-litre carrying capacity is only five litres down on the BMW. However, once its 60:40 rear bench is folded, the Audi’s 1,430-litre load area is 70 litres shy of the 3 Series’.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Still, the boot is well shaped, with a low loading lip, plus there are lots of handy shopping bag hooks, a 12v power socket and extra underfloor storage.

Our test car was also fitted with the optional load area fixing kit, which features a telescopic load fixing bar and belt that slot into rails in the boot floor. The set-up costs £155, but it’s well worth the extra outlay.

Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s plenty of family friendly storage, including the deep door bins, cavernous glovebox and lidded cubby between the front seats.

Just like the BMW, the Audi serves up equal measures of practicality and performance. Its 242bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel is the least powerful here, but the four-wheel-drive traction and a seven-speed gearbox meant the A4 needed just 5.9 seconds to sprint from 0-60mph.

The Avant feels equally responsive in-gear, although the dual-clutch gearbox isn’t as smooth as the 3 Series’ eight-speed auto.

Away from the track, the Audi is poised and planted in corners, its quattro all-wheel drive providing plenty of grip. However, the direct steering doesn’t seem as natural and well weighted as the BMW’s, while the suspension thuds into potholes and fidgets on motorways – the supple C-Class is a more comfortable companion. Still, the Audi’s cabin is well insulated from wind and road noise.

The car’s Achilles heel is its high price and running costs. At £38,395, it’s the most expensive of our trio, while its residuals of 39.7 per cent are the weakest. Factor in high servicing costs and less-than-brilliant fuel economy, and the A4 faces an uphill battle.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4
Opinion

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
17 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.
Lotus Emira - driving
News

Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.

Our Deal of the Day for 15 March is a half-now, half-later plan for the last-ever petrol-powered Lotus sports car
15 Mar 2024
New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs
New Audi A5 Avant - exclusive image
News

New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs

The new ICE and hybrid Audi A5 is due by year’s end in hatchback and estate forms
15 Mar 2024