2008 Audi A4 Avant launched

By George Skentzos | September 05th, 2008

Audi is quickly establishing itself as the fastest growing luxury brand in Australia, and its keen to continue this trend with the launch of the new A4 Avant.

Carrying a reputation as the most successful premium station wagon in its class, it is available with a choice of two direct-injection engines.

Boasting the same level of technology as its sedan counterpart, Audi has shifted the newly developed five-link front axle forward to ensure ideal weight distribution.

To begin with, Audi will give Australian buyers the option of two engines: the 118kW 1.8 TFSI with 250Nm, and a 105kW 2.0 TDI with 320 Nm.

Fuel consumption is equally impressive with just 7.4 litres/100km for the 1.8 TFSI and 6.0 litres/100km for the 2.0 TDI version.

Both engines are mated exclusively to Audi’s continuously variable multitronic transmission as a standard feature.

The A4 Avant offers up to 1,430 litres of luggage space which is lined with a high-quality carpet and features a reversible cargo floor, a cargo cover that retracts at a touch and an electro-mechanical drive for the rear tailgate.

Rear legroom is a spacious 895mm – the best figure in the premium midsize segment – as is the headroom of 971mm.

Safety includes adaptive airbags and two-stage belt force limiters which have been even more finely-tuned, providing better passenger protection.

Range & Pricing

A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multitronic 118 kW $56,400
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI multitronic 105 kW $57,800 (25% LCT)

JayBee

Audi really have been shaping up over the last 5 or 6 years, i have always liked their cars, but like them even more of recent (even though some mihgt argue they all look the same.)

they can make a wagon look good!
Mitch

Electro tail gate, prue laziness
JCS

Has anyone heard rumours of the 2.0T release. Currently available in Europe with 155kw and 350Nm. 0-100 in high sixes. Such an A4, with a manual transmission and quattro would be a very desirable car for a \’driver\’.
Golfschwein

“Safety includes adaptive airbags and two-stage belt force limiters which have been even more finely-tuned, providing better passenger protection.”

Not only that, but 6l/100 kms for the diesel, but the diesel is where the LCT hits home. Over to the Passat wagon.

If only Holden’s Sportwagon offered a variant with a beautiful engine and good economy.
http://juiced.wordpress.com Juiced

For me it would be either this 2.0 TDI or a VW Passat R36 Wagon. Which one do you think’s better?
Frenchie

Holden will have a diesel soon! As for 6l/100km, for the holden, I think they will be hard press to achieve that!
http://deleted Alex

Juiced, the Audi if you want to look like you have money and want good economy, the Passat if you want not so good economy and alot of fun. I love this car. I had a Q7 for a little while last year and the electric tailgate is great when youve got alot of shopping and want to show off.
Neil

Fantastic looking wagon (sorry ‘Avant’)…with it’s brilliant interior and strong engines, its hard to go past one of these if your comparing it to the 3-Series or C-Class wagons

Frenchie, i dont think a larger VE Wagon (even with a diesel) is ever going to beat the economy of a A4, it’s just a tad unrealistic
Neo Utopia

I’ll have one in white please when I have a child or two one day. Petrol or diesel? Depends on the relative fuel prices in 4 years time when I am thinking about purchasing. I may well prefer a quattro though!

I think if you want a practical luxury car which is slightly better than a Honda Euro, Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo or Subaru Liberty the Audi is a very good choice. Better than a Lexus IS? Dynamically and practically yes, reliability wise probably not (but Audi is catching up) but then some people have different weightings on different criteria don’t they. Not everyone holds reliability higher than dynamics practicality, well if they do then they should be less boring and more interesting!
Captain Mainwaring

Can you get your golf clubs in the back? I mean across (like you can even in a diminutive Honda Jazz), not diagonally. If they’ve finally managed this, it will be a big step forward for Audi. Even the gargantuan Q7 can’t cope with this simple task. Funny how the ordinary, practical requirements seem to escape the makers of the snobmobiles. Not to mention the buyers, who seem to put the badge above all else. And they’ll even lay their golf bags across the back seat rather than admit that they’ve strayed from their self-perceived station in life.