Audi A4 Allroad (2015-2022) Review

There is only a small section of UK buyers for whom a luxurious and adventure-prepped estate car will hold more appeal than a proper SUV or, indeed, a conventional premium wagon. It's for people who need something capable enough to tackle mud, snow and ice but with creature comforts.

Sure, on paper, the Audi A4 Allroad was an expensive alternative to a proper off-roader, but the folks who bought this type of car tended to love them. It was a genuine automotive Swiss army knife. Blending the cosseting ride and stunning interior of a grand tourer with the practicality and go (almost) anywhere abilities of a taller SUV.

It was also an excellent tow car - with strong engines, a smooth automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. Yes, it cost more to buy and run than a normal estate, but it was quite exclusive, and its tough image was worth it. If you don't need the 'allroad' bit, there is the standard Audi A4 Avant.

Choosing a favourite from the Audi A4 Allroad range was a simple matter. While it was easy to be drawn to the power and muscular performance of the 50 TDI, the 40 TDI had more than enough oomph for most buyers.

In Audi A4 Allroad Sport guise, it was also the most affordable version with the lowest running costs. That was true for both private and company buyers, since the smaller-engined car had cheaper insurance, VED (road tax) and BIK (Benefit-in-Kind) costs. 

Although still pricy, it did include every conceivable item of standard equipment you could want, and the Sport trim felt just as luxurious inside as the fully-loaded Vorsprung, minus a very fancy stereo and sunroof.

The only fly in the ointment was the 40 TDI's seven-speed S tronic gearbox, which could occasionally be jerkier than rivals' systems at parking speeds and often hesitated when demanding a quick burst of speed. The tiptronic eight-speed gearbox in the 50 TDI was no better, though, and wasn't worth the jump in price.

There was no shortage of rugged go-anywhere estates back then. If the Audi was just out of reach, the Skoda Octavia Scout had many of the same characteristics but cost considerably less. But like the Audi, the Skoda's also been canned. 

For buyers needing a more serious off-roader that can stay muddy all year round, the Subaru Outback is not afraid to get down and dirty, but its plasticky interior leaves a lot to be desired compared to the plush Allroad.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country was the closest of its premium rivals. The Swedish car was equally stylish on the outside and almost as lavishly appointed inside, with closely matched performance stats and a bigger boot. Likewise, this is no more. 

The whole estate crossover thing, well, isn't a thing now. These began disappearing several years ago, leaving just the new Subaru Outback and Ford Focus Active X.

Few premium cars of the era felt as solidly built as the Audi A4 Avant, and the Allroad was even more luxurious. The V60 Cross Country edged the Audi out in seat comfort but fell second to quality.

The metal finish on the door handles, engine start button, and climate controls added a sense of quality. It was so substantial that you could mistake the slick fascia for a high-end espresso machine. 

All the buttons and cubby lids were softly damped, climate control dials turned with a satisfyingly precise click, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter were weighty, solid in the hand and a pleasure to use.

Audi A4 Allroad Sport models had leather upholstery, front seat heaters, and aluminium interior trim. Vorsprung versions upped the ante in the luxury stakes, with softer Nappa leather, electrically-adjustable massage seats, and open-grain oak or piano black dash inserts. Quality was the same, but the pricier model looked fancier.

Picking the top trim also added extended (artificial) leatherette to the central armrest and inside the doors and a sportier flat-bottomed steering wheel, but these upgrades were cosmetic rather than material.

We aren't convinced that touchscreens are the best solution for in-car entertainment. They're a fingerprint magnet, can be distracting when driving, and aren't as intuitive as physical controls. Still, if you must have one, the 10.1-inch display the Audi A4 Allroad featured was an excellent example.

Its sheer size (and position atop the dash) meant it dominated the cabin but reduced the chances of hitting the wrong button. The graphics were bright and sharp, the essential functions were not buried in confusing sub-menus, and it came with all the features expected of a premium vehicle.

Sat-nav that you can pinch and zoom into like a smartphone, DAB radio, Bluetooth, an eight-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, online services (through Audi Connect) and voice control were all standard.

Some cars also had Audi's Virtual Cockpit instrument system.

The Audi A4 Allroad dimensions make it 4.7m long and 2.0m wide, including mirrors. Most buyers assume that family SUVs like the Q5 are more practical than a toughened-up estate car, but the differences are not so clear cut. The Q5 has a marginally bigger boot and a taller roofline that gives it a feeling of spaciousness, but in terms of what they can carry, they're quite closely matched.

The Audi A4 Allroad had a 505-litre load bay that expanded to 1,510 litres once you dropped the split-folding rear seats. Access was easy, with a powered tailgate that opened with a button and an electric luggage cover that slid out of the way when opening the boot. It was a nice feature, but it was heavy and a pain to remove.

Sure, the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (639 litres) and Volvo V60 Cross Country (529 litres) could carry a few extra items, but the Audi's boot was a useable shape, with a flat floor and sides, wide entrance and no load lip. When carrying passengers, the Audi had a big advantage over the Volvo V60 Cross Country.

Its longer wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels) meant the Audi A4 Allroad had more room for taller passengers to stretch out in the back, and head and shoulder room were generous too. Seating for five was a tighter fit, with the passenger in the middle seat straddling the transmission tunnel, but it was fine for short trips.

The rear doors opened nice and wide, and the additional length came in handy, so you didn't have to contort at a strange angle to fit a bulky rear-facing child seat. The ISOFIX points were readily accessible, and if you needed to carry two kids, there was just about room for a (slender) adult to squeeze in the middle seat.

Storage inside was plentiful, with four cup holders, deep door pockets and several smaller cubbies in the front for loose items. The A4 Allroad also came with the (optional on the Avant) Storage Pack, including elastic map pockets in the back of the front seats and a reversible boot mat with a rubberised side for muddy boots.

There were three engine choices in the Audi A4 Allroad: a 2.0-litre petrol and diesel, plus a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. With 245PS and 370Nm of torque, the 45 TFSI petrol was a smooth, refined performer but had the poorest economy. 

We'd only recommend it over the diesels if you're a private buyer with a low annual mileage and no plans for towing. The 40 TDI had less power but more low-down torque, making it feel less strained when fully loaded. This engine is still the pick of the Allroad range, blending decent performance with reasonable running costs.

Both 2.0-litre engines used Audi's twin-clutch S tronic automatic transmission, but the 286PS V6 in the 50 TDI had a conventional eight-speed tiptronic gearbox. The latter was frustrating, often hesitating when you need a quick turn of speed (like entering a roundabout), blunting the enjoyment of using all of its 620Nm.

The last generation was launched in 2016 and came with a wider selection of engines and gearboxes. A 150PS 2.0-litre diesel with a six-speed manual gearbox was the entry point to the range. And there were a pair of smooth 3.0-litre V6 diesels, with either a 218PS or 272PS output. The lower-powered V6 TDI makes a great used buy since it's smoother and faster than the 40 TDI's four-cylinder and almost as economical.

The six-speed manual is accurate and positive in its action, but the automatics suit the A4 Allroad far better.

The Audi A4 Allroad had a secret weapon for isolating its passengers from the world outside: acoustic glass. The windscreen and front windows were both double the conventional thickness, and the effect was almost magical.

On the move, wind, road and engine noise were incredibly well suppressed. We'd say this Audi was the most refined car in its class, making it a relaxing car to drive. Most engines were barely audible once at a motorway cruise and could only be heard in town.

The smoothest engine was the 2.0-litre petrol in the 45 TFSI, followed by the 3.0-litre V6 diesel. However, the 2.0-litre diesel in the 40 TDI was impressively hushed for a four-cylinder, and the differences were minor. You'd hear a distant boomy growl when accelerating in the TDI, but the S tronic automatic gearbox shuffled through its seven gears without fuss, keeping both engine revs (and cabin disturbance) to an absolute minimum.

Softer suspension and thicker tyre walls meant less suspension noise, even over fairly rough surfaces. A dull thud was the only noise to indicate a pothole or a sunken drain cover.

The Audi A4 Allroad is a safe family car that will protect you in the event of a crash and try to help prevent one, too.

Every model came with a full complement of airbags, sophisticated electronic stability control systems, seatbelt monitors, tyre pressure sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounting points and automatic lights and wipers.

Parking sensors and a reversing camera should help you avoid those annoying supermarket scrapes, and it also had Audi's Pre-sense City autonomous braking. This system used a camera to sense obstacles in the car's path (an unseen pedestrian, swerving cyclist or suddenly stopped car in front). It would alert the driver if it thought a shunt was imminent and perform an emergency stop if you didn't respond. It works below 52mph.

Another smart feature is the multi-collision brake assist. It automatically stopped the car if it sensed an accident had occurred, stopping the crash's momentum to avoid further impacts.

All this equipment translated to an impressive Euro NCAP crash rating. The A4 saloon was awarded a full five stars in 2015, with strong adult and child protection scores, an achievement it shared with the Avant and Allroad. The V60 Cross Country was marginally better at protecting adult occupants, but no safer for children.

Top-spec Vorsprung models came with the optional Driver Assistant Tour pack fitted as standard. It featured a suite of active semi-autonomous systems that will brake, accelerate and steer for you in traffic snarl-ups.

Despite its rugged image, the Audi A4 Allroad didn't come with a spare wheel - not ideal if you get a puncture while making the most of its off-road abilities - or just stuck on the hard shoulder waiting for a recovery lorry.

The Audi A4 Allroad scored a respectable 9.17 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, but this was not an exceptional score.

Audi scored 16 out of 29 manufacturers in the latest Honest John Satisfaction Index. 

Keeping your Audi A4 Allroad insured will still be expensive, especially if it's the newest shape. The cheapest in the latest range will be the 40 TDI Sport, which sits in Group 32E. That's one group higher than the Audi Q5 SUV and a whole seven more than a Passat Alltrack, which had the same engine.

Annual premiums for the more powerful 45 TFSI and 50 TDI will rival some sports cars. However, if you are buying a used model, then some pre-facelift models sit in lower groups. The discontinued 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 215PS from 2016, for example, is in Group 28E - giving you more power than the four-cylinder but with lower bills.

In April 2025, car tax will rise. The flat rate of car tax will be £195, but if your A4 Allroad exceeded £40,000 when it was first sold, you'll be liable for the additional £425 'luxury car tax' fee. The cheapest to tax is the 190 PS 2.0 TDI Quattro S Tronic. These emit around 128g/km, meaning £190 per year.

The exclusivity of the Audi A4 Allroad was matched by its expensive list prices - but Audi gave you a lot for your extra cash. The standard car had heated leather sport seats up front, 18-inch wheels, and fancier LED front and rear lights than the regular A4 estate. Practical features like a powered boot lid and luggage cover, plus the added convenience of the (normally optional) Storage Pack were a nice touch, too.

The 10.1-inch touch screen MMI Plus infotainment system, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit and satellite navigation all came as standard on the newest shape cars, so it's worth double-checking that these last two desirable options have been fitted - and if not - finding an example that does.