Now this is my kind of ride. All the seating roominess and active-lifestyle cargo capacity of an SUV combined with the lower ride-height

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

and better handling of a sport wagon, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous styling, the A4 Allroad has it all.

OK, Audi has raised its suspension beyond the regular A4 sedan and previous A4 Avant, this being an Allroad, which I might add was the name given to the coveted four-ringed brand’s first crossover vehicle that entered the scene in ’99 atop the larger A6 platform, a model that’s still going strong in other markets, but the more compact D-segment A4 Allroad is better suited to Canada’s small car appetite while its slightly taller ride height and four-wheel Quattro traction complements our colder climate ideally as well.

As

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

you can probably tell the Allroad still sits lower than the Q5 that shares its MLB platform with the current A4 sedan and A4 Avant, the latter a five-door wagon that as mentioned is no longer available in our market. The Allroad essentially replaced the Avant back in 2012 for the 2013 model year when the rest of the A4 line received a mid-cycle upgrade. It still rides on the brand’s eighth-generation B8 platform architecture, so enjoy it while you can because an entirely new B9 will soon be upon us.

I’ve seen the upcoming A4 sedan and while it’s gorgeous the current A4 Allroad is still a very elegant looking five-door. It includes the A4’s usual LED-enhanced headlamps, albeit these bookending a unique bright chromed waterfall grille that hovers

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

above an aluminum-look brush guard undertray that I’d certainly hate to scratch on any untoward rocks or stumps. Medium grey body-cladding bisects the two metallic elements before wrapping around a set of circular fog lamps ahead of arcing over each wheel as it continues its rearward path, my tester filling each rounded cutout with upgraded triple five-spoke alloys on Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 245/40ZR19s for a thoroughly rich yet rugged looking little wagon. Additional touches include aluminum-look rocker mouldings and the same brushed alloy for the roof rails, while a large aluminum-finish rear valance framing big chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes puts a classy cap on the rear end design. It’s a sweet looking low-riding crossover, especially in metallic black. And this example isn’t even top of the line.

Inside,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

it boasts black leather upholstery and patterned aluminum inlays, lots of additional brushed aluminum trim and, of course, the A4’s superb quality materials plus excellent fit and finish. Nice details include a race-inspired flat-bottomed leather-wrapped sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, fabulously supportive and comfortable powered leather sport seats with four-way lumbar support on the driver’s side, three-way heatable seats that really sizzle in their top temperature, a sunglasses holder in the overhead console that’s ideal for your Audi Sport Gloryfy shades, plus a reverse monitor with active guidelines so you don’t scratch the R8 in your adjacent stall, as well as a very effective navigation system, an open and airy panoramic sunroof, and Audi Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual modes.

As you might have suspected I left it in Dynamic, which is Audi-speak for sport mode.

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

This way I was able to make the most of the Allroad’s turbocharged and direct injected 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine, this being the base engine for the A4 line albeit amply potent with 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque mated to a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic that connects through to Quattro all-wheel drive, a combination that results in a 6.6-second sprint to 100km/h and speed-limited terminal velocity of 209 km/h (130 mph). That’s about a half-second quicker to 100km/h than the aforementioned Q5, incidentally, the 1,765-kilo (3,891-lb) Allroad about 90 kg (200 lbs) lighter, so needless to say I found there was more than enough output for spirited acceleration and even more so for highway passing performance, where the Allroad truly shines. Don’t get me wrong, as it’s sublime on a sinuous side road as well, the slightly higher riding wagon hardly feeling much different than an A4 sedan when pushed hard through complex

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

curves despite coming standard with an off-road suspension, its extra wheel travel actually helping over bumpy sections that could otherwise upset a stiffer undercarriage, while no matter the road surface being covered, gravel included, the Allroad delivers a decidedly smooth and comfortable ride.

This versatility comes from a five-link double-wishbone front strut suspension assembly and trapezoidal link rear setup that’s directed via speed-dependent electromechanical power steering; electronic traction and stability control managing any situation that overwhelms the mechanical components, while braking is strong thanks to ABS-enhanced dual-circuit, diagonally-split four-wheel discs with electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, and brake disc wiping.

While

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

I’m talking features, the Allroad, which starts at $47,300 plus freight and dealer fees, includes a wealth of standard convenience and luxury kit such as auto on/off bi-Xenon HID headlamps with dynamic auto headlight-range adjustment and washers, separate LED daytime running lamps, fog lamps, LED taillights, high-gloss exterior window surrounds, dark tinted rear glass, unique “allroad quattro” branded aluminum doorsills, an interior lighting package, rain-sensing wipers, an electromechanical parking brake, heatable powered side mirrors, powered windows with auto up/down all-round, a tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, a multi-information display ahead of the driver, powered front seats with fore/aft, height, angle of seat cushion and seatback plus four-way

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

powered driver’s seat lumbar support, leather upholstery, trigon aluminum inlays, three-way heatable front cushions, a rear centre armrest with integrated cupholders, dual-zone automatic climate control, Audi’s MMI infotainment system, 10-speaker AM/FM/CD audio with auxiliary and USB plug-ins, satellite radio and Bluetooth phone connectivity with audio streaming, the Audi Music Interface, an alarm, a panoramic glass sunroof, a powered tailgate, and more, while previously noted Audi Drive Select has also been made standard this year.

You’ll need to add an $1,100 Convenience Package to get proximity-sensing passive access with pushbutton ignition in Komfort trim if you appreciate the convenience of this feature as much as I do, while this upgrade also features a powered

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front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated compass, and rear parking sonar, the latter two new for 2016.

The Convenience Package came standard in my tester’s Progressiv trim, which also includes unique 18-inch five-spoke alloys, a colour multi-information display, driver’s side memory, auto-dimming side mirrors, a Homelink universal garage door opener, tri-zone automatic climate control, navigation, and the Audi Parking System with a rearview camera.

On top of this my Progressiv loaner included an optional $1,500 Sport Package that added the 19-inch alloys, flat-bottom steering wheel and sport seats noted earlier, plus a black roofliner. Audi added a $200 standalone Homelink garage door

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

opener to my test car too, as well as $890 Mythos Black metallic paint bringing the total to $55,985 plus freight, which in my opinion is quite reasonable for such a stylish, nicely finished, well-equipped CUV.

I should mention you can get more, top-line Technik trim adding the universal garage door opener as standard equipment, plus adaptive headlights with cornering capability, an upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio system, heatable rear outboard seats, and Audi Side Assist, while additional standalone upgrades across the line include painted bumpers for $1,300, a load-securing system for the roof rails at $200, adaptive cruise control for $1,700, adaptive headlights with cornering capability for $300, rear side-impact airbags for $500, tire pressure monitoring for $350, rear window sunshades for $300, fine grain natural ash or dark

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

brown walnut inlays for $500, Beaufort oak inlays for $700, and a ski bag for $250.

What might be most impressive to those unfamiliar with Audi wagons and crossover SUVs is the attention paid to cargo area details, including my tester’s beautifully finished ribbed stainless bumper protector, the deep rich carpets on the cargo floor and sidewalls, stylish yet robust chromed metal tie down hooks, and what is easily the most sophisticated cargo cover on the planet, that slides up and out of the way or retracts ahead of being removed fully if required. The rear seats fold 60/40, which was my only disappointment with the car. Rather than maximizing passenger/cargo flexibility with a 40/20/40 rear seating configuration like Audi did with the Q5, the

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

Allroad gets the same seatback design as the A4 sedan that ultimately limits its possibilities. I could live with it of course, but it could be so much better.

An all-new A4 Allroad based on the B9 platform will be arriving next year, and while this updated model has my curiosity piqued I certainly wouldn’t hold off buying today’s version if in the market. It’s a well-proven product that delivers at a very high level of functionality, luxury, performance, safety and economy, the NHTSA having given this year’s model a 5-star crash test rating, while Audi claims an efficient five-cycle EnerGuide fuel economy rating of 11.2 L/100km city, 8.4 highway and 9.9 combined. On top of all that its design still looks fresh and oh-so good. Truly, the A4 Allroad has it all.
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