Station wagons aren’t the hot family cars they were once upon a time. These days everyone wants a crossover, but there are plenty of reasons to go the wagon route. There aren’t tons of choices out there since automakers tend to design their wagons more toward crossovers and label them as such, but you won’t feel like you sacrificed a thing with the 2017 Audi A4 Allroad.
The A4 Allroad is a lot like the A4 sedan that shares its name, but there are some key differences. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Looking for an Audi A4 Allroad? Check out BestRide’s listings search here.
It’s a wagon, but it sounds and drives more like a sports sedan. It’s not the in your face performance of a traditional hot hatch like the Ford Focus RS, however, because this is an Audi. It’s not brash or defiant or rowdy. It is smooth and controlled. The power is right there should you need it, but it never feels like its begging to be let loose. This car has manners of which Emily Post would approve.
The interior is rich with the top trim Prestige we tested including heated leather front and rear seats and heated steering wheel, three-zone automatic climate control, full-color head-up display, and acoustic front window glass. It also included a 3D Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, SiriusXM, MMI navigation with MMI touch, and Audi connect Prime and Plus.
It looks and feels every bit an Audi with its smooth, quiet ride, comfortable interior, and modern technologies. There’s adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, high beam assist with traffic recognition, and parking system plus with a top view camera It also drives every bit an Audi with crisp handling and several drive modes.
Choose from offroad, comfort, auto, dynamic, or individual drive settings. These adjust transmission shifts, throttle, suspension, and steering. Unlike many other vehicles, however, the comfort mode in the A4 didn’t completely dull down the drive experience. It still provided plenty of response, just with a softer suspension and more relaxed steering feel. Dynamic turns everything up and will by your happy place is you want the most performance-oriented experience.
This is a wagon so cargo capacity is important. The rear seats split 40/20/40 with 24.2 cubic feet behind the second row and 58.5 behind the first row. That’s room enough to take the family and their gear on a weekend getaway or haul home what you need for that weekend home improvement project.
Pricing starts at $44,000 for the base Premium trim, $47,000 for the Premium Plus, and $51,400 for the Prestige. Our tester included premium paint and wood inlays along with a driver assistance and cold weather package that brought the price up to $54,625. It’s not the most affordable wagon available, but it offers a combination of style, performance, and utility that’s not easy to find elsewhere.
The Audi A4 Allroad walks the line between sedan and crossover. Wagons go largely ignored in the US market, but the A4 Allroad is a solid reminder that there’s a sweet spot in the middle.
Looking for an Audi A4 Allroad? Check out BestRide’s listings search here.
