Audi A4 Allroad 3.0 TDI (2009) CAR review

Audi has given the latest A4 Avant the Allroad treatment by raising the ride height and adding some butch cladding. But is it just a load of marketing rubbish? And why wouldn’t you have a Q5?

What’s involved in turning an Audi A4 Avant into an Allroad?

It’s essentially the same trick Audi began using on the A6 nearly a decade ago: chunky plastic cladding to protect the bodywork (or more likely let people know that it’s not a normal Avant) and cover a 19mm wider track, plus there’s a 37mm hike in ground clearance. But unlike the air-sprung A6 Allroad, the A4 has conventional steel springs so the ride height is fixed at that level. An Allroad costs around £1500 more than an A4 Avant Quattro SE with the same drivetrain but does come with 18in alloys and a boot organiser thing as standard.

What’s under the bonnet?

Powertrain options are more limited than in a regular A4. The only petrol engine is the latest Golf GTI’s 207bhp 2.0-litre turbo four, available with manual or S-tronic (DSG) gearboxes, both featuring six speeds. It’s actually quicker than the GTI, reaching 62mph in 6.9sec, 0.3sec sooner, and can return 35mpg. Diesel fans looking for similar performance can choose the beefy 3.0-litre TDI six but most will likely settle for the 2.0TDI.

Is it actually any good off road?

Surprisingly so. Audi laid on a mild off-road course that the Allroad cruised through with no problem – and which an A4 Avant with the same Quattro transmission probably could have tackled equally well. But a couple of quite serious ascents and descents proved not just the level of traction but also the surprisingly generous approach and departure angles. A proper SUV would certainly be able to do more, but the Allroad is capable of handling anything most of us would ever ask of it. Audi mentions research that suggests only 2% of SUV buyers actually ever venture off road.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Audi A4 Allroad first drive