Audi A4 Allroad quattro estate (2016-2022) - Engines, drive & performance
Ride comfort takes precedent over sporty handling in the Audi A4 Allroad, but this is no bad thing
In many ways, you’ll find the A4 Allroad is actually a more pleasant car to drive than the standard A4 Avant. This is simply because its ride is so much more comfortable, thanks to the longer suspension travel afforded by the car’s raised ride height. The standard A4 isn’t the most fun car to drive in the class anyway, so the extra layer of comfort is a welcome addition.
While the Allroad doesn’t exactly wallow in corners, it does lean a noticeable amount more than the standard Avant. You can dial some of the body lean out by putting the Drive Select system into dynamic mode but this does make the suspension feel very firm. There’s always plenty of grip, though, thanks to every model getting four-wheel drive. The Allroad isn’t as much fun to drive as a four-wheel-drive BMW 3 Series Touring, however, while the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is just as competent, but costs a bit less than the Audi.
Audi A4 Allroad petrol engine
Just the one petrol engine is offered for the A4 Allroad – a 248bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder. As you can imagine, it’s pretty brisk, accelerating to 62mph from rest in just 6.1 seconds when fitted with Audi’s S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. This version has a top speed of 152mph and is also the only A4 Allroad (for now) available with Audi’s ‘quattro with Ultra technology’ part-time four-wheel-drive system, with the rest of the range getting the normal full-time quattro setup.
The part-time system means the car is front-wheel drive for the vast majority of the time, only engaging drive to the rear wheels when it detects the fronts are losing grip. The shifts between front and four-wheel drive are seamless and it rides very comfortably. One issue, though, is a rather gruff, loud and unpleasant engine note that never quite goes away.
Diesel engines
Initially, there are three diesels to choose from – a 187bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder and two 3.0-litre V6s. A less powerful version of the 2.0-litre, producing 148bhp, will join the range soon.
Right now, however, the entry point to the diesel range is the 187bhp version of the 2.0-litre and that should prove sufficient for most people. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 7.8 seconds and it tops out at 137mph. It’s smooth and quiet, too, while there’s plenty of power throughout the rev range, giving the car impressive in-gear acceleration.
We’ve yet to drive either of the V6 diesels – which produce 215 and 268bhp respectively – in this car, but we know from other Audi models that they’ll provide quiet, smooth and surprisingly brisk progress. The 215bhp version will reach 62mph from rest in 6.6 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 143mph, while the top-end 268bhp diesel is the quickest A4 Allroad in the range. It’ll do 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds and go on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
