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Audi A4 2021 review: Avant 45 TFSI quattro

The Audi A4 wagon is as stylish as it is practical.

The new Audi A4 wagon, the Avant, has had a similar makeover to the A4 sedan for 2021, but a wagon always comes with extra benefits, especially boot space.

It looks like it’s going to be more accommodating and while the sedan does have good space, the wagon feels more like a family car

I test drove the Audi A4 45 TFSI quattro, which is second from the top of the range and costs $71,400, putting it in competition with the BMW 3 Series wagon and the Volvo V60

Here’s how it did over seven days with my family of four.

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How does it look?

It’s a good looking car, and I got more comments on the A4 wagon this week than I got on the A4 sedan I drove last week. But maybe I just saw different people.

The wagon is elongated which makes it feel sleek and sophisticated and it’s beautifully designed. 

The wagon is elongated which makes it feel sleek and sophisticated. The wagon is elongated which makes it feel sleek and sophisticated.

The interior has been made over with a larger multimedia screen than its predecessor which makes a big difference. There’s a customisable digital display in front of the steering wheel which provides a very modern cockpit view.

This car has the standard upholstery (though the S Line interior is available). As standard you’ll get sport front seats and leather-appointed upholstery. You do still get the coveted flat-bottomed steering wheel in leather which really is all you need in this car to make it feel good.

The Audi A4 wagon is beautifully designed.  The Audi A4 wagon is beautifully designed. 

How spacious is it?

There is more space in the wagon, it’s not just that it feels bigger. There’s a nice wide interior in the front and plenty of leg and head space.

  • There’s a nice wide interior. There’s a nice wide interior.
  • Up front there's plenty of leg and head space. Up front there's plenty of leg and head space.
  • Rear passengers also get loads of leg room. Rear passengers also get loads of leg room.

Rear passengers also get loads of leg room and my two children, aged six and eight, had a lot of fun climbing in and out of the car and doing their seat belts up. 

It feels more like an SUV while driving it with the only difference being it’s not high off the road. 

The boot also grows to 495L from the sedan’s 460L. This puts it well in mid-size SUV range and as it’s a wagon the space is long rather than high.

The wagon's boot grows to 495L from the sedan’s 460L. The wagon's boot grows to 495L from the sedan’s 460L.

You’ll get a double pram in there and we were able to fit a large and medium suitcase. 

How easy is it to use every day?

There’s a good amount of automation in the A4 Avant, with power adjustable front seats and the park brake turns on and off automatically, as well as keyless entry. The tailgate is also power operated. 

In the front there are two cupholders, plus various small storage spots for keys and card holders, as well as a Qi (chi) charger where the centre storage bin normally sits, so you do miss out on that.

There’s a good amount of automation in the A4 Avant including power adjustable front seats. There’s a good amount of automation in the A4 Avant including power adjustable front seats.

The glove box is a little bigger to compensate and there are bottle holders in each door. 

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest along with a flat storage spot for tablets, and their own climate control which my children always appreciate. 

How does it drive?

There’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the 45 TFSI quattro.

It’s quick to take off and agile like a sedan would be, rather than how an SUV would feel. The A4 Avant is smooth to drive and very quiet. It’s such an enjoyable driving experience, I had fun getting around town this week. 

There’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the 45 TFSI quattro. There’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the 45 TFSI quattro.

It’s not as slinky as the A4 sedan, purely because you’ve got a bigger bottom, but it’s definitely more nimble than for example, the Q5 SUV.

You’ve got enough power to get up hills quickly and cruise along highways. The car gives you confidence to overtake with ease. 

Despite the length of the car, because the steering is evenly weighted and easy to turn, it’s still relatively easy to park. There’s a high definition reversing camera and a 360-degree view display (part of the 'Assistance Plus' package, $3770) to help you out. 

How safe is it?

The safety in A4 Avant 45 TFSI quattro is divided into what you get as standard and what you have to pay for as an option. So, as standard there is auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane change warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

I did have the auto emergency braking kick in twice for no reason when I was reversing into a park, which is a little unnerving because it brakes so suddenly. 

The extras in the Assistance Plus package ($3770) are things like adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, and a head-up display. 

The Audi A4 Avant scored a maximum five ANCAP stars in 2015. The Audi A4 Avant scored a maximum five ANCAP stars in 2015.

You’ll also get eight airbags, the difference here being that you get side airbags for rear passengers as well as the front. This is slowly popping up in more cars now and having little ones in the back seat I really appreciate those extra airbags. 

There are two ISOFIX points and three top tether points to fix kids car seats in and the Audi A4 Avant scored a maximum five ANCAP stars in 2015.

What’s the tech like?

The A4 Avant has a 12.3-inch digital cockpit behind the steering wheel and you can customise the view, plus a new and enlarged 10.1-inch multimedia screen that is a big improvement on the old model.

The A4 Avant has a 12.3-inch digital cockpit behind the steering wheel and a 10.1-inch multimedia screen. The A4 Avant has a 12.3-inch digital cockpit behind the steering wheel and a 10.1-inch multimedia screen.

The tech is also improved, with Audi saying the new model offers 10 times the computing power of the old model, with things like live traffic, weather reports and fuel pricing. You can also remote unlock or lock your car from your phone. 

It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which work when you plug your phone in and you can navigate and listen to music via those apps. 

There are 10 speakers in this A4 grade, so turn the sound up. 

How much does it cost to own?

The Audi A4 Avant 45 TFSI quattro costs $71,400 before on road costs and extras. The extras on this car are the Assistance Plus package, $3700 and the metallic paint, $1900.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.1L/100km and I averaged a best of 9.6L/100km for the week. 


The Wrap

The Audi A4 Avant is a very practical family car that looks stylish and makes you feel good driving it. 

There’s a good amount of interior space for a family of four and the boot will hold all the sporting equipment your family might use. It drives beautifully and has much improved technology relative to the last model so if you were holding out for the new version, it was worth the wait. 

I gave it a family rating of 8.2 out of 10 and my children gave it the same, they loved the fact that they had a spot especially for their non-existent iPad. 

Likes

Interior and exterior design
New tech
Interior space

Dislikes

Three year warranty
Advanced safety costs extra

Scores

Nedahl:

4.1

The Kids:

4.1

$45,880 - $49,888

Based on 3 car listings in the last 6 months

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