Audi A4 Avant Review & Prices

Executive saloon cars are great at offering swanky interiors, impressive tech and great infotainment, but what if your dog also has a penchant for plushness and needs to come along for the ride? The Audi A4 Avant solves the problem with its bigger estate boot, but same high-quality inside. 

Of course, BMW and Mercedes have thought of this too, with their 3 Series Touring and C-Class Estate, but in many ways the Audi straddles the two. It’s not as sporty as the BMW to drive, and not as comfort-orientated as the more wafty Mercedes. So potentially it’s a Goldilocks porridge just-right sort of middle ground. 

It’s fair to say that the latest A4, despite an update back in 2020, looks more restrained inside and out than its alternatives. That update brought new LED lights and bumpers front and back, a flatter single-frame grille and bigger air intakes, but the A4 is still less in-your-face than the BMW or Mercedes.

Inside the A4 remains simple, intuitive to use and stylish. Audi’s numerous aluminium and soft-plastic trims look classy and feel absolutely bulletproof.  Every model gets a bright, high-definition 10.1-inch widescreen atop its dashboard, with built-in sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - though not wireless - as standard. The lack of wireless connectivity is a bit of a theme, with the A4 starting to show its age from a tech point of view. A new car, to be called A5 as Audi changes its naming strategy to allow for more electric cars, is due in late 2024 with petrol, diesel and - for the first time - plug-in hybrid power. 

You won’t have any trouble getting comfortable in the Audi A4’s front seats. There’s loads of head- and leg-room and plenty of seat adjustment as standard. Space in the back is very nearly as generous as up-front. There’s just about enough room for a six-foot-tall passenger to stretch out behind an equally lanky driver and more headroom than in the C-Class.

The Avant’s 495-litre estate car boot is five litres smaller than a 3 Series Touring’s, but five bigger than in the C-Class Estate. There’s basically nothing between them.

The engine choices boil down to two petrol and two diesel, with no plug-in hybrid or full electric to choose from. Audi’s slightly confusing naming structure gives you 35-branded TFSI petrol and TDI diesels with a respective 150hp and 163hp, or 40-branded petrol and diesel engines, both with 204hp. That’s without the performance-focused Audi S4 Avant and frankly bonkers Audi RS4 Avant fast estate models reviewed separately. 

If you do the majority of your driving in town or don’t like the idea and extra up-front cost of diesel, then the 35 TFSI is the best bet. It easily has enough power and low-down pull to haul the A4 along, and is smooth and quiet. If you’re buying an A4 as a company car or often travel long distances on the motorway then you’re probably better off opting for a diesel. In which case the cheaper 35 TDI is perfectly good, unless you want the extra power of the 40 model.

The Audi A4 is an easy and comfortable car to drive in town, and on the motorway there’s very little wind and road noise to be heard. Where the A4 isn’t quite as good as its alternatives is when pushing hard on country roads. Sure, the A4 is perfectly competent, but a BMW 3 Series is ultimately more fun on the right road.

So, aside from it being fairly restrained to behold, starting to feel its age from a tech and connectivity point of view and not huge fun to thrash through bends, the Audi A4 has a lot going for it. 

If you’re sold on its quality, comfort and space, then check out our Audi A4 Avant deals page for the best prices, or have a look through our great selection of used Audi A4 Avants, as well as the entire range of used Audi models. And just to complete the car-buying experience, you can also sell your car online through Carwow too!

The Audi A4 Avant sits close in price to the BMW 3-Series Touring, and both are a significant amount of cash cheaper than the Mercedes C-Class Estate,  with Mercedes insisting on pricing its cars at a level above other German premium brands. One other left-field alternative is the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, if you’re after a premium compact estate car. It’s lovely on the inside and cheaper than the BMW or Audi, although refinement and comfort over bumpy roads in particular can’t match the German options. It’s more powerful too, but significantly less efficient. 

The step from A4 Sport to S-Line specification level is fairly modest at a little over £1,500, while the top Black Edition is a further £2,000. The petrol models are significantly cheaper, so definitely the better option for anyone that doesn’t need the greater efficiency or four-wheel drive sure-footedness, as only the more powerful diesel engine comes with Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system.

The Audi A4 Avant majors on comfort and quality, but can’t offer a sporty driving experience

In town

The Audi A4 is an easy and comfortable car to drive in town. Although only the lowest Sport trim level has 18-inch alloys, the larger standard 19-inch wheels on S Line and Black Edition don’t harm the ride quality as much as might be feared, especially as these cars also come with a sports suspension set-up that makes the car slightly less absorbing of bumps. But even then you don’t crash into potholes or thud into ruts. The automatic gearbox fitted as standard to all A4 Avants is a smooth-shifting transmission. 

Visibility is good for the driver, although front and rear parking sensors are standard in any case, along with a rear camera, and the A4’s steering is light enough to make tight manoeuvres feel easy. The turning circle could be better though, any of the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and Genesis GV70 estates can swing tighter than the Audi. But overall, it’s a refined and relaxing drive in urban settings. 

On the motorway

It’s all good news on the motorway too. The A4’s comfort levels make it a great long-distance companion with very little wind and road noise inside. The petrol models are especially quiet.

For even more relaxation you can add Audi’s Driver Assistance Tour Pack which brings a system that’ll accelerate, brake and steer to keep you in your lane as long as you keep your hands on the steering wheel. It is a shame that adaptive cruise control is only available as part of an additional-cost package, and a head-up display is part of an even more expensive options pack. But the Virtual Cockpit dashboard display lets you choose how large you want various displays such as speed and navigation, making the information easy to see at a glance. 

On a twisty road

Where the A4 isn’t quite as good as its alternatives is when pushing hard on country roads. Yes, the A4 feels sure-footed and has precision to its steering, but a BMW 3 Series Touring is ultimately more fun on the right road thanks to its greater poise, body control and all-round sportier feel. 

S Line-specification A4s have lower, stiffer sports suspension, and adaptive suspension is available across the range as an option to make the driving experience more interesting if you’re looking for something sportier, but even then the A4 doesn’t quite put as big a smile on your face as the BMW. It’s perfectly safe and solid, just doesn’t feel like it necessarily approves of the sort of hooligan behaviour a 3 Series would revel in.

The Audi A4 is spacious inside for four adults and has a roomy boot, although there are ultimately bigger estate options if space matters most

You won’t have any trouble getting comfortable in the Audi A4’s front seats – even if you’re very tall. There’s loads of head and legroom and plenty of seat adjustment as standard, including four-way lumbar adjustment to save your lower back on long journeys.

Electric seat adjustment costs extra as part of a pricey options package, but it does also include a handy memory feature so you won’t have to fiddle around with the seat’s settings each time someone else drives the car.

The glovebox is pretty small, but the door bins are a good size and you get a pair of cupholders ahead of a small stowage area in front of the stumpy gear lever, and a larger area under the central armrest. 

Space in the back seats

Space in the back is very nearly as generous as up front. There’s just about enough room for a six-foot-tall passenger to stretch out behind an equally lanky driver and more headroom than in a 3 Series Touring or C-Class Estate – even in models fitted with the optional panoramic glass roof.

Your passengers will have plenty of space to tuck their feet under the front seats too, and the Audi A4’s wide cabin means there’s more shoulder room for three adults to sit side-by-side than in the C-Class or 3 Series. Okay, the central seat’s not quite as comfortable as the outer two but it’s still reasonably soft and there’s only a slight lump in the floor to get in the way of your middle passenger’s feet.

The wide rear door openings make it pretty easy to lift in a child seat and the ISOFIX anchor points come with plastic caps – just be careful not to lose them. The Audi A4’s relatively low roof means you’ll have to duck down slightly to strap in a child but it’s no more difficult than in the BMW or Mercedes.

The rear door bins are also a handy size, and the central armrest has a little storage area underneath, as well as a pair of pop-out cupholders. One thing it is missing is a good selection of charging sockets - rear passengers get only a 12V power socket between them, and no USBs, let alone a USB-C. 

Boot space

The Audi A4 Avant’s 505-litre boot is situated five litres smaller than the 3 Series Touring’s and the same amount bigger than the C-Class Estate. You probably won’t notice this difference unless you regularly fill your boot to the brim, and the Audi’s slightly wider boot opening makes it a touch easier to load bulky items than in the BMW or Mercedes. The other premium-level small estate car is the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, and that’s significantly smaller at 403 litres with the seats in place.

Unfortunately, there’s a slight lip in the boot and you can’t raise the Audi A4 Avant’s floor, which can make loading very heavy items slightly tricky. You do get plenty of handy tethering points, shopping hooks and storage nets to stop smaller items rolling around, which is handy.

Annoyingly there’s nowhere to store the load cover when you’re not using it and the remote seat latches don’t actually drop the back seats down – you’ll have to lean in and give them a shove yourself.

On the subject of folding seats, the Audi A4 Avant’s back row flips down in a three-way (40:20:40) split as standard so you can carry up to three passengers and some very long luggage at once. If you need to carry even more, folding all three at the same time opens up a 1,495-litre boot. That’s 15 litres behind the C-Class Estate and 3 Series Touring, but you’re not going to notice any real load-lugging difference between them. 

With the seats folded there’s no annoying step in the boot floor and it only ramps up slightly behind the front seats so it’s pretty easy to slide in a few heavy boxes. There’s even enough space to carry a large bike with both its wheels attached.

Bear in mind that, if maximum space is paramount, a Skoda Superb Estate feels a little less plush inside, but is far bigger at up to 660 litres with the rear seats in place, rising to a maximum of 1,950 litres.

Good-quality interior and nice infotainment, although the lack of tech betrays the A4’s advancing years

Audi’s interiors are generally classy and understated, and that follows through here, with good quality and a neat variety of surfaces including metal buttons for the climate control settings, which feel high-class. It’s also nice to see physical buttons, rather than loading everything into the touchscreen system where it’s harder to operate on the move. 

The lack of cutting-edge tech does reveal the A4’s age, with a replacement due late in 2024. A wireless charging pad is only available as an optional extra, and there are just the two USB charging points in the front, and none for rear passengers. The kids won’t be pleased about that. 

But the infotainment dates the cabin less, with the sharp and responsive 10.1-inch touchscreen being more user-friendly than some newer systems overloaded with functions, and the 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster offering loads of information and the ability to go almost full-screen with maps or other information across the dashboard display. It’s all just really nicely designed. 

Where it misses out is the extra functionality and features of newer and more complex infotainment systems. What’s there is fine, but newer alternatives have much higher levels of connectivity. 

The diesel engine options are predictably more efficient than the petrol ones, but you’ll need to be doing considerable mileage to pay back the higher purchase price. 

The most efficient Audi A4 Avant is the 163hp diesel, which has an official test figure of up to 57.6mpg, depending on wheel size and other optional extras. That drops to 52.3mpg for the 204hp diesel, and then falls away for the petrol engines, where it’s surprising to find the more powerful 204hp car is slightly more efficient than the 150hp engine - 44.1 and 42.8mpg respectively. 

CO2 emissions range from the 163hp diesel’s 128g/km entry point up to 149g/km for the 150hp petrol. But keep an eye on specification, as adding bigger wheels or other standard or optional kit as you move up through the trim levels will tip the emissions over 150g/km, which adds several hundred pounds in first-year Vehicle Excise Duty. All A4 Avants cost more than £40,000 so are hit by the additional premium in road tax for years two-to-six.

There is no electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid A4 Avant, which is a shame because it means any company car drivers looking to minimise their benefit-in-kind tax bill should look elsewhere.

Surprisingly, adaptive cruise control is only available as an option on Audi’s A4 Avant, coming in a pack with collision avoidance assistance and active lane assist safety systems. 

Brighter Matrix LED headlights are also an optional extra, as is a head-up display and 360-degree camera. But you do at least get a lane departure warning system, traffic sign recognition tech and a driver drowsiness detection system as standard. If you want LED headlights or high-beam assist you’ve got to go up to at least the S Line spec. 

The A4 was safety-rated by Euro NCAP back in 2015 and scored the maximum five stars at that point although it didn’t get into the 90%+ area for any of the crash test results. Euro NCAP has also tightened its test regime a couple of times since then.

The Audi A4 has proven to be generally reliable, with a few reports of glitchy infotainment seeming to be the biggest worries. 

Audi’s warranty is far from generous, offering only the most basic of three-year or 60,000-mile cover, the bare minimum from a manufacturer and some way off that you’ll find available on a Kia, Hyundai, Toyota or Lexus, for example.