Audi A4 allroad 2009 3.0 TDI Road Test Report

Performance

The A4 Allroad has a range of three engines to choose from: a 208bhp 2.0-litre TFSI petrol unit, a 167bhp 2.0-litre TDI with 258lb-ft of torque and, the version we drove, a 3.0-litre V6 TDI generating 236bhp and 368lb-ft of torque. This diesel is smooth and refined, and utilises all 369lb-ft of torque between 1,500 and 3,000rpm. It can et a little gruff-sounding further up the rev range, but you’re likely to be there so rarely that it’s not that noticeable. It certainly feels as if there’s plenty of power of tap and the official 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds is entirely believable, with all that torque in the mid-range giving it some real urge – a real boon when attempting overtaking manoeuvres. The engine is mated to Audi’s seven-speed S tronic gearbox, with changes as quick as you expect with this dual-clutch transmission – although we did detect a bit of shunting that affected the usual smoothness.

Ride & Handling

The Allroad handles pretty well, with the usual body lean of higher-riding vehicles kept under control and plenty of grip, helped by Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system. It could do with a bit more steering feel, but it’s easy to park and it has a decent turning circle. Our test car came fitted with Audi’s optional drive select package that uses three settings – Comfort, Auto and Dynamic – to change the suspension and steering settings, throttle response and transmission shift points. The Comfort setting makes the ride very forgiving, but you do pay the price in performance. It’s worth adding that the ride height compared to the A4 is only 40mm greater and, although perfectly competent on the road, the Quattro all-wheel-drive isn’t really going to help if you go too far off the beaten track. It’s therefore not a true off-roader and, if that’s what you’re looking for, and you definitely want an Audi, you’re better off looking at the Q5.

Build Quality & Reliability

This is an Audi, so the build quality is of the high standard that we’ve come to expect from the German marque. The car feels robust and well screwed together, even more so because of the additional bits and pieces that give it the air of an off-roader - touches such as a different bumper and grille design, wheel arch extensions, stainless steel under-body guards and plastic cladding on the lower sections of the body panels. The interior is also excellent, upholding Audi’s reputation for building the best real-world cabins in the car business. There’s a solid, high-quality functionality to the A4 Allroad’s cabin that fits the character of the car. In terms of reliability, Audi’s performance in customer satisfaction surveys is good, but not exactly sparkling. In the most recent JD Power survey, the company came 11th place in the league table of 29 manufacturers and the A4 was 51st in the list of 101 models: these are respectable results, but not earth-shattering.

Safety & Security

The Audi A4 (of which the Allroad is a variant) has scored well in Euro NCAP crash tests, winning the maximum five-stars and receiving a 93% score for adult occupants, 84% for child occupants, 39% for pedestrian protection and a 71% safety assist score. As you’d expect from a premium car such as this, there’s plenty of active and passive safety equipment. In addition to the Quattro four-wheel drive, there’s special Offroad Detection technology (ORD) incorporated into the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), which adjusts the parameters of the system to maximize grip. There’s also ABS, six standard airbags plus two optional rear side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, a head-restraint system for front-seat passengers and Isofix child seat fixings. Optional safety equipment includes lane assist and side assist systems, plus adaptive cruise control that detects vehicles ahead and maintains a proper following distance by accelerating and braking automatically.

Space & Practicality

As you’d expect, the space inside an Allroad is pretty much the same as the standard A4 Avant. This means that the driver is fairly comfortable, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, and the occupants of the rear seats have enough leg- and headroom. The boot is very practical, with a low sill and 60/40 rear seats that fold down easily, extending the capacity from 490 litres to 1,430 litres. The boot also comes kitted out with a handy reversible loadliner that has a water-resistant and dirt-resistant underside, plus a load securing system, which uses nets and straps in combination with moveable runners to hold all the luggage, equipment (and/or shopping). The interior also has the usual high-quality Audi kit, such as the MMI (Multi Media Interface) system that incorporates the excellent sat nav system and controls a telephone via Bluetooth, the radio and music from the CD changer or MP3 player.

Ownership & Value

The 3.0-litre TD version isn’t exactly the most frugal version of the A4 Allroad. The official fuel consumption of 39.8mpg isn’t fantastic and the CO2 emissions of 189g/km place it in Band J for road tax (£215 a year). The performance that this V6 diesel provides is a nice thing to have, but weighed up against the lower running costs of the 2.0 TDI version, the smaller diesel has to be judged as a perfectly decent alternative. This version of the A4 Allroad also has the highest insurance grouping, 16, so premiums won’t be cheap either. However, the A4 Allroad, because of it relative rarity and premium status should command decent residual values of between 42-46% after three years. On balance though, we’re left wondering who exactly is going to want to own an A4 Allroad: those who want an Audi off-roader will probably opt for a Q5 and buyers who want an estate will go for an A4 Avant.