For a station wagon to promote in at present’s market, it has to emulate the almighty crossover. That is why high-riding wagons aren’t so uncommon lately. The Subaru Outback, Volvo V60 Cross Nation and Buick Regal Tourx are nice examples of wagons that supply crossover-like functionality and magnificence. However maybe essentially the most well-rounded participant on this section is the Audi A4 Allroad.

Audi’s rugged A4 wagon is a modern household hauler and an environment friendly but succesful leisure automobile. Plus, it is glitzy sufficient to fulfill luxurious consumers’ wants. The Allroad is ostensibly three vehicles in a single.

Allroad attract

Whereas the Allroad checks lots of containers, so does each luxurious crossover available on the market. How does the Allroad stand out, then?

For starters, it seems totally different — its decrease, sleeker silhouette and butch proportions present refreshing distinction to the crop of recent CUVs. But, on the identical time, the Allroad can do just about every part your neighbor’s crossover can do. Should you’re an individual who prides your self on being totally different and standing other than the group, the Allroad is your machine.

However for these considering much less philosophically and extra virtually, the Audi A4 Allroad makes an honest case for itself with regards to effectivity. Based on EPA estimates, the Allroad will get 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. That is Three mpg higher than Audi’s extra conventional Q5. That stated, each the A4 Allroad and the Q5 web 25 mpg mixed, largely because of the Q5’s 23 mpg metropolis score versus the Allroad’s 22.

The Allroad’s 2.Zero-liter four-cylinder performs properly with its seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. 

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Some sport, extra utility

Over the course of 1 week and 1,020 miles of principally freeway driving, I averaged 27 mpg. A 6-hour drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco was hardly tiresome — the Allroad’s supportive seats are greater than able to hauling your bottom over lengthy distances in consolation.

The wagon’s acoustic windshield and the non-obligatory dual-pane, front-side window glass of my Status-package tester do job of preserving the inside quiet. Low-frequency street rumble nonetheless permeates the cabin at greater speeds although.

On twisty tarmac, the Allroad feels extra like a crossover than a sport wagon. You may suppose its barely decrease experience peak might make it a bit extra succesful in turns, however with its tender suspension, it handles about the identical as many crossovers available on the market.

The lifted Audi’s street manners mirror your neighbor’s crossover greater than they do a sport wagon. 

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A scarcity of suggestions and directness via its massive steering wheel means the Allroad does not actually encourage sporty driving. Although it is a relative light-weight, at Three,825 kilos, even a crossover just like the 300-pound-heavier BMW X3 feels extra playful on winding roads.

Energy comes from a 2.Zero-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that makes 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. That energy will get to the bottom through customary Quattro all-wheel drive and ventilated disc brakes in any respect 4 corners can simply as simply scrub off any heap of velocity thrown at them.

Due to Audi’s Extremely all-wheel-drive know-how, the Allroad can decouple its driveshaft and rear axle for higher gas financial system while you’re cruising on the freeway. As quickly because the system senses that extra grip is required, whether or not in spirited canyon driving or in inclement climate, the Allroad can recouple its rear axle in 200 milliseconds. From behind the wheel, it would as nicely be a full-time all-wheel-drive system as a result of the Extremely know-how works imperceptibly. Plus, the automobile’s 6.5 inches of floor clearance means the soft-roading wagon can profit from that all-wheel-drive functionality on gravel roads, or via packed snow.

Audi Digital Cockpit with Google Earth integration retains the Allroad close to the highest of the category with regards to tech.

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Tech wagon

For a luxurious automobile that may crest $50,000, the A4 Allroad’s inside might use some higher high quality supplies. The sprint and the tops of the door panels are a bit of too shiny and plasticky for my liking.

That stated, my top-level Status spec options leatherette on the door armrests and heart console, which along with the nice and cozy climate package deal’s perforated leather-based seats, feel and appear terrific. If that leatherette had been to cowl the sprint and door panels as nicely, the standard of the inside would match the Allroad’s value.

The place the Allroad actually shines, although, is within the tech division. My tester contains Audi’s Digital Cockpit with embedded navigation, which replaces the standard gauges of the decrease trims with a crisp 12.Three-inch, high-resolution show.

The Allroad’s infotainment is powered by an Nvidia graphics processor, which means each display within the tall wagon is a deal with for the eyeballs.

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It is uncommon that I choose an automaker-supplied navigation interface over the simplicity of Apple Maps inside Apple CarPlay — which the Allroad additionally options, in addition to Android Auto — however as a result of Digital Cockpit will get attractive Google Maps graphics rendering via an Nvidia quadcore processor, the Audi wagon offers an eye-dazzling, cutting-edge tech expertise.

Status fashions additionally come customary with a shade head-up show that integrates traffic-sign recognition in addition to navigation and driver help information. Additionally included is stop-and-go adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, flip help (which may cease the automobile if the driving force tries transferring into oncoming site visitors when turning left at an intersection), computerized excessive beams and a 4G LTE-powered Wi-Fi hotspot that may help as much as eight units.

The Allroad’s prime two trims come customary with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and even automobile exit help, which helps forestall you from opening your door into cyclists or different autos when parallel parked. Collision-mitigation braking is customary on all Allroads, as is hill-descent management, three-zone local weather management, LED ambient inside lighting, rain-sensing wipers, heated aspect mirrors and an influence liftgate.

The Allroad gives the utility and functionality of a crossover, however is wrapped in a package deal that bucks the crossover development. 

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One thing totally different

The A4 Allroad’s finest attribute is that it extra simply stands out in an ever-growing sea of crossovers.

On paper, a Q5 is perhaps higher suited to the wants of most consumers. Its greater experience peak means higher visibility, and it could tow as much as four,400 kilos (the Allroad is unrated for towing). Moreover, the Q5 gives extra headroom (when outfitted with no sunroof), extra rear legroom, extra shoulder room and 1.9 cubic toes extra cargo capability than the Allroad’s already beneficiant 58.5 cubic toes. Equally outfitted, each autos are available in across the identical value.

The Allroad, then, is an emotional buy, even compared with different high-riding wagons available on the market. It might supply 15 fewer cubic toes of cargo house than a Subaru Outback or Buick Regal TourX, however the Audi is extra subtle, swankier and extra technologically superior than these vehicles. The Allroad is a wagon that can fulfill a lot of your necessities by being a number of autos in a single, however better of all, you will not be misplaced within the herd of crossovers.