2009 Audi A4 Allroad preview

By Karl Peskett | February 16th, 2009

The Audi Allroad was a car that didn’t particularly move in tremendous numbers here in Australia. Based on the A6 Avant, it was a bit of a unusual vehicle as far as its share in the marketplace went.

That hasn’t stopped Audi trying again, but this time with a smaller, A4 based Allroad. Taking an A4 Avant, the track has been widened by 20mm, necessitating flares on the arches, as well as taller springs and shocks to give increased ground clearance. When unloaded, its stands 180mm from the ground.

In Europe, a choice of three engines will be available. The 2.0-litre TFSI, the 2.0-litre-TDI, and the 3.0-litre TDI. The transmission of choice will be Audi’s S-Tronic for the petrol and V6 diesel, whereas the turbo-diesel four will be a six-speed manual, each supplying all four wheels.

Interior-wise, the A4 Allroad is very much the A4 on which it’s based, with a few changes to suit the “lifestyle” aspect of the vehicle, namely, reversible trays for the boot which are said to be dirt resistant. A myriad of combinations of fabrics and colours are available, too.

Audi have this morning confirmed the A4 Allroad will not be considered for Australia.

Tim

It is an extremely attractive vehicle (as all Audi’s) and the interior is just the best! I think Audi should consider it for the Australian market..the market is considerably different now compared to 2002-2008 when the last Allroad was available. The new diesel engines/transmissions would be fuel efficient, looks outstanding and the buyers shift from hardcore 4×4′s to smaller SUV’s presents a chance for Audi.

Sure – it won’t cost the same as a Rav4, Forester, Outback, but it will still be competitive in the luxury market with the new Volvo XC60 etc.
Simon

It’s like a better-looking, dearer, Skoda Octavia Scout.
Both part of VAG.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Give me a Volvo any day,front end is hideous !

Those headlights look like it suffering a bad hangover……….and whats with the ugly two tone on the bottom pic ?ewwwwwwww
Myke

^I’d rather the Volvo too.
That coffee coloured one, just looks feral… Seriously who thought brown and grey would go together?
Simon

I love the look!

Breaking News:

“CHICAGO (Reuters) – General Motors Corp, nearing a Tuesday deadline to present a viability plan to the U.S. government, is considering as one option a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that would create a new company, the Wall Street Journal said in its Saturday edition.”
freddy

I may not like their decision, but I can understand Audi opting not to bring it to Oz. Carmakers will have a hard enough time shifting cars this year without potentially undercutting sales of their own models (in this case the Q5, which also uses the A4 platform).
Alex

I really do like this segment. I do agree that the brown one is vile but I like the idea. What I don’t understand is why they all have the plastic bumpers. Does plastic make them any better at being AWD?
This is a segment that is really coming up too. There is already the A6 allroad, the Skoda Scout, the XC70, the Saab that was shown the other day and the Subaru Outback. The one that I would be most likely to buy is the XC70 or the A6. I really like both of them and they both look great in black.
I think it would have made more sense for the next BMW X3 to be this sort of car. The X1 would have taken the place of the mini SUV and they still would have had the X5. I think it would have worked quite well for the next X3 to be an AWD 3 Series Touring rather than an X3 that is the size of the old X5. After all, the old X5 wasn’t all that much smaller than the new one.
Neo Utopia

I think Audi will sell more Q5s than this particular Audi. The Q5 is a much more macho model to suit the more macho SUV dominated Australia. Audi has done their research.
Reckless1

I agree with those who say this would be in direct competition with the Q5. Having this model here as well would only pad the range with no real benefits for anyone.

Nice that they’re starting to throw the beaut V6 VW diesel into more of the range.
Devil666

I want this car. I would go the Q5, but this car actually seems more macho, Q5 is a bit effeminate. I can only imagine this car would handle better on road and off.

Im thinking Audi should at least offer a low range or differential lock for one of these cars (Q5, A4a, A6a), considering their dual purpose nature. Either that or be banned from using the word “offroad” anywhere in their press releases.
Devil666

Just an afterthought….

Would this car really cannibalise sales of the Q5? I think Subaru is potentially the best case study for comparison, selling both Outbacks and Foresters. If anything I think that widening the Audi portfolio to dominate the market requires a myriad of vehicles to stay ahead of the competition.

For example: should someone be interested in a Q5, other vehicles it would have in mind are X3, Tiguan, Forester, (GLK irrelevant). If the Q5 is considered slightly too big, heavy, expensive or whatever reason, Audi has no product below to keep sales within the brand, whereas if a Forester is a potential buy but too thirsty for example, one can downgrade to the outback without losing practicality.

If anything this vehicle would be the perfect entry level soft roader, should it have been raised slightly higher to qualify for the Gov’t 4WD import tax concession and thusly be more competitive. This allroad should replace the A6 allroad which is a poorly targeted product, seemingly floating amid Audi’s lineup.
Motorhead

Alex I have a XC70 & the unpainted bumpers are really handy as they don’t get stonechiped like body coloured ones do especially if you do a lot of motorway or gravel driving, they can take a bit of a rub or knock without it showing up either.
You do need to look after them a little so they don’t look faded & grey but it’s much cheaper & easier then a respray.
Alex

Motorhead, fair point but you could say that of any car with black plastic bumpers. On your XC70 and indeed on this car, they were only put there to make the car look more like it could go off road and my point was that obviously, they don’t help at all unless you find stones to be a problem.
NotTheStig

I drive a new XC70 but will turn it over when it is 3 years old. I would seriously consider one of these in 2 years time if it was available. A A6 Allroad is far too expensive…

I prefer the elevated station wagon to the SUV type – there is a market out there Audi – I am not convinced I like the Q5 in the same way I don’t really get off on the XC60…
NotTheStig

BTW. It is rare that a week passes that I don’t drive at least a couple of kms on gravel. Black unpainted plastic is great !
Cupid Stunt

Nice but are there too many cars in Audi’s range that are similar. Having said than I would prefer the superior handling of this to a Q5. Than having said that I would prefer the bigger A6 Allroad.
Alex

To NotTheStig, I would very much hope that you didn’t get off on the XC60, that would be weird