Audi A4 Allroad Review 2023

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 a car that's capable enough to tackle mud, snow and ice when needed, but still has plenty of creature comforts.

Sure, on paper the Audi A4 Allroad seems like an expensive alternative to a proper off-roader, but the folks who buy this type of car tend to absolutely love them. It's 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's also an excellent tow car - with strong engines, a smooth automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. Yes, it'll cost more to buy and run than a normal estate, but its exclusivity and tough image might (just) be worth it. If you don't need the 'allroad' bit, there is of course the standard Audi A4 Avant.

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

In Audi A4 Allroad Sport guise, it also happens to be the most affordable version with the lowest running costs. That's true for both private and company buyers, since the smaller-engined car has cheaper insurance, VED (road tax) and BIK (Benefit-in-Kind) costs. Not to mention its superior fuel economy, although we're not sure if affordable is the right word for a £40k+ car.

That price does include every conceivable item of standard equipment you could want though, and the Sport trim feels just as luxurious inside as the fully-loaded Vorsprung, minus a very fancy stereo and sunroof.

The only fly in the ointment is the 40 TDI's seven-speed S tronic gearbox, which can occasionally be jerkier than rivals systems at parking speeds, and has a tendency to hesitate when you demand a quick burst of speed. The tiptronic eight-speed gearbox in the 50 TDI is no better though, so it's not worth the jump in price.

There are no shortage of rugged go-anywhere estates to suit every budget. If the Audi is just out of reach, the Skoda Octavia Scout has many of the same characteristics, but with a considerably lower starting price.

For buyers who need 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 is the closest of its premium rivals. The Swedish car is equally stylish on the outside, and almost as lavishly appointed inside, with closely-matched performance stats and a bigger boot.

If you can afford to pay a bit more, then Audi's own A6 Allroad and the Mercedes E-Class All Terrain both feature adaptive air suspension for even greater terrain-crossing abilities and can swallow a lot of cargo too.

Few premium cars feel as solidly built as the Audi A4 Avant, and the Allroad is even more luxurious inside. The V60 Cross Country just edges the Audi out when it comes to seat comfort, but as for material quality the Volvo is a distant second, and cheaper rivals like the Octavia Scout and Subaru Outback aren't even close. 

The metal finish on the door handles, engine start button, and climate controls add a sense of quality. It's so substantial in fact, that from a distance you could mistake the slick fascia for a high-end espresso machine. 

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

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

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

We're not convinced that touchscreens are the best solution when it comes to 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, then the new 10.1-inch display in the Audi A4 Allroad is an excellent example of this technology.

Its sheer size (and position atop the dash) means it dominates the cabin but also reduces the chances of you hitting the wrong button by mistake. The graphics are bright and sharp, the essential functions are not buried in confusing sub-menus, and it comes with all the features you'd expect 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 are all standard.

That smartphone connectivity means you can mirror streaming apps like Spotify or traffic info from Waze, but if you use the latter then you'll only get mapping on the main screen, not the 12.3-inch digital driver's display.

Audi calls it Virtual Cockpit, and it's one of the best alternatives to normal dials we've used. Information is clearly displayed, it's customisable, and reduces distractions for the driver. It used to be a pricey option but is now standard - although the pre-facelift Allroad is a better choice for those who don't want a touchscreen. 

The Audi A4 Allroad dimensions make it 4.7m in length and 2.0m wide including mirrors, making it as good as the same as the regular Audi A4 Avant. 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 actually carry, they're quite closely matched.

The Audi A4 Allroad has a 505 litre load bay that expands to 1,510 litres once you drop the split-folding rear seats. Access is easy, with a powered tailgate that opens at the push of a button, and an electric luggage cover that slides out of the way when you open the boot. It's a nice feature, but it's very heavy and is a pain to remove.

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

It's longer wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels) means the Audi A4 Allroad has more room for taller passengers to stretch out in the back, and head- and shoulder room are generous too. Seating for five is a tighter fit, with the passenger in the middle seat straddling the transmission tunnel, but it's fine for short trips.

The rear doors open nice and wide, and the additional length comes in handy, so you don't have to contort at a strange angle to fit a bulky rear-facing child seat. The ISOFIX points are readily accessible, and if you need to carry two kids there is just about room for a (slender) adult to squeeze in the middle seat at the same time.

Storage inside is plentiful, with four cup holders, deep door pockets and several smaller cubbies in the front for loose items. The A4 Allroad also comes 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 are 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 is a smooth, refined performer, but has 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 has less power but more low-down torque, making it feel less strained when fully loaded. This engine is the pick of the Allroad range, blending decent performance with reasonable running costs.

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

When the current generation first launched in 2016, it 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 has a secret weapon for isolating its passengers from the world outside: acoustic glass. The windscreen and front windows are both double the conventional thickness, and the effect is almost magical.

On the move, wind, road and engine noise are incredibly well suppressed. We'd go so far as saying that this Audi is the most refined car in its class, and that really contributes to making this a relaxing car to drive. Most of the engines are barely audible once you're settled into a motorway cruise, and can only be heard in town.

The smoothest engine is 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 is impressively hushed for a four-cylinder, and the differences are minor. You'll hear a distant boomy growl when accelerating in the TDI, but the S tronic automatic gearbox shuffles through its seven gears without a fuss, keeping both engine revs (and cabin disturbance) to an absolute minimum.

Softer suspension and thicker tyre walls mean less suspension noise too, even over fairly rough surfaces. A dull thud is the only noise to alert you to the fact you've run over 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 comes 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 has Audi's Pre-sense City autonomous braking. This system uses a camera to sense obstacles in the car's path (an unseen pedestrian, swerving cyclist or suddenly-stopped car in front) and will alert the driver if it thinks a shunt is imminent and performing an emergency stop if you don't respond. It works below 52mph.

Another smart feature is multi-collision brake assist. It automatically stops the car if it senses an accident has occurred, stopping the momentum of the crash and avoiding more potential impacts.

All of this equipment translates 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 shares with the Avant and Allroad. A V60 Cross Country is marginally better at protecting adult occupants, but no safer for children.

Top-spec Vorsprung models come with the optional Driver Assistant Tour pack fitted as standard. It features 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 doesn'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 is not an exceptional score.

Audi as a brand came 21st out of 30 manufacturers overall, which is likely not where the brand would like to be and a little disappointing given its premium positioning. 

Keeping your Audi A4 Allroad insured will be an expensive undertaking, especially if it's the newest shape. Of the current range, the most affordable to cover 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 with the same engine.

Annual premiums for the more powerful 45 TFSI and 50 TDI will rival some sports cars. However, if you are buying used, 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 lower bills.

Every model in the current Audi A4 Allroad range has a starting price of over £40,000, and it was launched in 2019. That means that all versions will attract the premium VED rate of £520 for years two through to six following the date of first registration, before dropping down to the regular rate of £165.

The exclusivity of the Audi A4 Allroad is matched by its expensive list prices - but Audi certainly gives you a lot for your extra cash. The standard car has 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 are a nice touch, too.

The 10.1-inch touch screen MMI Plus infotainment system, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit and satellite navigation all come 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.