2021 Audi A4 allroad Review

　　

2021 Audi A4 Allroad Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Can't decide between a wagon or an SUV? Audi might have just the vehicle for you: the 2021 Audi A4 Allroad. It's essentially a wagon version of Audi's A4 sedan that has a slightly higher stance, extra body cladding, standard all-wheel drive and a few other minor changes. Notably, the Allroad is currently the only version of the A4 wagon available in America, so it's this or nothing. But it does complement the Audi A4 sedan's already comfortable and premium interior with extra cargo space.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi A4 allroad Premium 4dr Wagon AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$177/mo  for A4 allroad Premium

　　A4 allroad Premium

　　Premium 4dr Wagon AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $44,600 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr Wagon AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $48,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr Wagon AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $54,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Since nearly every automaker has stopped selling wagons in the United States, the A4 Allroad has few rivals. The most notable competitor is the Volvo V60 Cross Country. The Cross Country treatment is basically Volvo's equivalent to the Allroad, with a lifted suspension and body cladding for a tougher look than the standard V60 wagon. There's also the Subaru Outback. It's larger and less expensive than the A4 Allroad, but it can't compete with the Audi when it comes to luxury features. What should you get? Check out our Expert Rating below to see if the updated Audi A4 Allroad is the right fit for you.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the A4 allroad drive? The Allroad's turbocharged engine gets it moving with unexpected authority. In zzdcar' testing, our test car sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in a respectably quick 5.7 seconds. In less aggressive driving, however, the Allroad can seem a bit slow because the transmission can be slow to downshift when you need it to. The brakes are powerful, though, and make it easy to stop smoothly.

　　The A4 Allroad handles capably. Its tire grip limits are on the modest side, but the car has great composure. It also has a surprisingly tight turning circle. On winding roads, the Allroad isn't as buttoned-down as the standard A4 sedan, but it's easier to wield than an SUV.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the A4 allroad? Serene and comfortable, the Allroad is an ideal car for a long road trip. It rides smoothly over bumps, and wind and road noise on the highway is outstandingly low. Likewise, its front seats provide long-haul comfort with good overall support, though the fixed lower thigh portion is on the short side for taller passengers.

　　The standard three-zone climate control system is a nice touch. It provides plenty of coverage from vents, but with a prominent whoosh sound. The back seat has vents and temperature control. The Allroad has heated front seats with the option for ventilated front seats and heating for the rear seats and steering wheel.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Its cabin is functionally and aesthetically pleasing. The Allroad requires less stooping over to get in because it stands a tad taller than the A4 sedan. It's also easy for drivers of just about any size to find a comfortable seating position.

　　This is an amply sized car despite its small luxury car status. There's loads of space up front, particularly headroom. Backseat space is easily suited to two 6-footers, though those longer of leg might want a touch more legroom. The panoramic sunroof is unfortunately compulsory, but headroom is still ample.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? This tech-forward cabin is easy to use. Our test car was equipped with the Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, which you can configure to display various functions besides just the gauges, such as a navigation map. The MMI infotainment system's menu structure is reasonably intuitive, though there's a learning curve to all such systems. The optional premium audio system sounds clear and powerful.

　　The Allroad offers a comprehensive suite of driver safety aids, though many proved to be overly sensitive and intrusive in heavy traffic. The acceleration and braking of the traffic-adaptive cruise control are smooth and natural. It even has predictive abilities to slow the Allroad as you approach a turn.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Wagon aficionados will be pleased with this one. Its cargo hold is usefully sized and easy to access. The seats fold from the cargo area — a nice touch. The front has many places to store smaller items. We like the handy sliding console lid and armest. The front seat area has numerous nooks and pockets too, though none are particularly big.

　　When it comes to kid transportation duty, the A4 Allroad has four lower car seat anchors that are readily accessible beneath plastic covers. The outboard upper tethers are two-thirds of the way up their respective seatbacks, and the center is located near the top. A rearward-facing car seat fits, but you'll have to slide the front seat up a bit to make it happen.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the Allroad at 26 mpg combined, which is average among chief rivals BMW and Volvo. Our Allroad test vehicle achieved 27.8 mpg on the 115-mile zzdcar mixed-driving evaluation route, which is a bit closer to the highway rating than we might have expected given the mix of driving.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the A4 allroad a good value? The Allroad stands out for its cabin construction, which is at once lovely and seemingly well built. It's priced similar to its chief rival, the Volvo V60 Cross Country. Audi's bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties are comparable to coverage offered by other German luxury brands.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　While the Allroad's off-road chops are mostly cosmetic in nature, it's a great look. Its over-the-road competence might surprise you, though it falls short of being a sport wagon. Its appeal is in its can-do disposition when it comes to real-world pavement.

　　A versatile wagon that looks great is a winner in our book. That it also has a beautiful and functional cabin is just the icing on the wagon cake. This is a car that you take on an unpaved access road to a hiking trail and then out for a night on the town.

　　

Which A4 allroad does zzdcar recommend?

The midlevel Premium Plus trim is the way to go. It offers a nice mix of standard features, such as adaptive cruise control and LED lighting, and gives you the most flexibility for picking optional extras you might want.

　　

2021 Audi A4 allroad models

The 2021 Audi A4 Allroad is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. All three are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gets a slight bump in power this year, up to 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Standard feature highlights include:

　　Premium

　　Comes fairly well equipped with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Power liftgate Adaptive suspension (enhances ride comfort and handling) Panoramic sunroof Keyless ignition Three-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable, heated front seats 10-inch touchscreen Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)The Premium trim's optional Convenience package adds:

　　Keyless entry Hands-free operation for the liftgate Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Memory settings for mirrors and driver's seatPremium Plus

　　The Premium Plus trim includes all Premium features plus:

　　All the features of the Convenience package Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the A4 Allroad back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the A4 Allroad and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Wireless device charging Rear-seat USB ports Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Configurable digital gauge cluster (Audi's Virtual Cockpit Plus)Options for the Premium Plus include:

　　Warm Weather package (upgraded and ventilated front seats, rear window shades) Integrated navigation system Bang & Olufsen premium audio systemPrestige

　　Comes standard with all of the above and further adds:

　　Upgraded LED headlights Dual-pane noise-reducing windows Ambient interior lighting Heated rear seats Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

　　

2021 A4 allroad Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$44,600
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$177/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	24.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles