AUDI'S wanderlust shows no abatement. First it was the A6 Allroad that broke new ground by producing an impressive town car that could double up with occasional offroad ventures.
Now comes the smaller but just as elegant crossover version of the A4 Avant – the A4 Allroad. The mid-sized estate borrows styling cues from its big sister, although it misses out on the larger car's height-adjustable air suspension.
But the A4 Allroad does have longer travel springs and larger 18-inch wheels which boost the ride height by 37mm over the standard A4.
And if you really do want your A4 Allroad to get dirty in the name of duty, Audi supplies it with stainless steel under-body suspension and tough-looking wheel-arch extensions.
Traction offroad is sorted by re-engineering the Allroad's ESP, with sensors detecting the new conditions, allowing the wheels to lock and plough their way through when the going gets heavy.
Apart from its obvious attraction as an 'unstoppable' prestige vehicle, the A4 Allroad is an incredible engineering masterpiece. It's hard to take in its capabilities and high-tech prowess, making you wonder if there's anything it can't actually do.
The 3.0-litre V6 TDI 240PS flagship version I have been testing somehow manages to make a bulky 1,730kg of honed metal race from standstill to 62mph in an incredibly quick 6.6 seconds, which makes most of today's so-called hot hatches look pretty lame.
So, it can reach places most other roadgoing cars can't and out-accelerate them. Then we have that famous quattro four-wheel drive system that also provides safe and confidence-inspiring cornering which few other marques have matched. And perhaps only a handful of fellow German cars could rival the Allroad's superb build, fit and finish, which is exemplary.
The big 3.0-litre diesel even manages to overcome some of the fears you might have about fuel consumption. The 237bhp unit averages 39.2mpg and on my final day's journey, I was clocking 40.3mpg, which is pretty impressive for such a heavy, big-engined car.
Practically, it can do the business when it comes to the basics of luggage-lugging. Heavy-duty rear seats flip down to instantly convert the car to a level-floored load carrier, complete with stylish chrome kick-plate at bumper-level for extra protection. Unobstructed and with decent load height, it is incredibly useful.
But drivers won't buy the A4 Allroad just because they can fill it full of trash and take it to the tip, tempting though it may be to swank around the containers in front of other envious drivers.
The Allroad is a magnificent performance car in its own right and Audi engineers have even widened the front and rear tracks by 20mm to compensate for the increased ride height.
On the road, the Allroad is as poised as the Avant and body roll is well contained through the bends, which the elegant adventurer tackles with complete confidence bordering on disdain.
Steering is wonderfully rewarding and engaging, with super feedback to the driver, and progress is positively regal, with sublime ride quality.
I tested the auto gearbox model, but just in case you thought this might be a boring option, the Allroad also features a sequential over-ride for more control and the option of racing- driver-style paddle changes tucked a fingertip away behind the steering wheel.
Add into the mix a superb sound system, a seemingly bottomless well of information, superbly contoured, all-electric sports seats and a user-friendly dashboard angled towards the driver and it's a hugely satisfying package.
Fast facts
- Audi A4 Allroad quattro, prices from £29,285-£34,560.
- Under-body protection, plus wheel-arch extensions and 18-inch wheels.
- Longer springs for added ground clearance.
- Load partition system; climate control; auto wipers and lamps.
