Used Audi A4 Allroad 2016-2022 review review

Like jam on toast, Audi once thought to spread some 4x4 on its A4 Avant to sweeten the product. What came of it was the A4 Allroad, an estate car with a taste of SUV. Is it now a proper off-roader? Not quite, but it does possess some added go-anywhere ability while retaining many of its standard sibling's impressive merits.

As with the original, this second-generation A4 Allroad gets jacked-up suspension (for better ground clearance), rubber wheelarch and bumper extensions and Audi's famed quattro four-wheel drive system. All of these features will be useful you're planning to go off the beaten track now and then.

There's a choice of four engines with the A4 Allroad – fewer than in the Avant. All are pretty powerful, and the entry-level 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel is our pick. It'll hit 0-62mph in just 7.3sec, but its real strength lies in its low-end gutsiness; you'll rarely need to work it hard, even if you're towing a heavy caravan.

The other four-cylinder option is a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol unit. It's not quite as punchy low down, but it's still got more than enough shove to ease you along in any circumstances and, with 261bhp, it’ll dispatch 0-62mph in just 5.8sec.

Then there are the 3.0-litre six-cylinder options, both of which are diesel. The 215bhp version is more common on the used market, but there's also a 268bhp one that's able to sprint from 0-62mph in a brisk 5.4sec.

The majority of A4 Allroads on the used market are in Sport trim, coming with 18in alloy wheels, xenon headlights and three-zone climate control. Surprisingly, sat-nav is not guaranteed on all models, because it was an optional extra from new.

The standard automatic gearboxes change smoothly, although the seven-speed unit in the 40 TDI and 45 TFSI can be jerky in stop-start traffic.

At motorway speeds, the A4 Allroad is very good at isolating you from wind and road noise. The suspension is quiet and deals with lumps and bumps incredibly well. There's more wheel travel than in a regular A4 Avant due to the increased ride height, and the set-up feels slightly softer. At 70mph on a motorway, the ride is about as calm and cosseting as it gets this side of a limo.

Inside, the A4 Allroad benefits from a thoroughly modern design and exquisite, class-leading build quality. The driving position is good, and there’s plenty of space for passengers front and rear. The dash looks classy and the infotainment system is among the best around.

Like the A4 Avant, boot space is rated at 505 litres, rising to 1510 litres when the standard 40/20/40 split rear seats are folded. Although that's more than you get in the Mercedes C-Class Estate, it's still shy of matching what the Skoda Octavia Estate and Volvo V60 have to offer.

If you're interested in finding a used A4 Allroad, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Around £20,000 is a good starting point. That'll get you a 2016-2017 example with the 2.0-litre diesel under the bonnet and around 80,000 miles on the clock. Spend closer to £25,000 for one with mileage dipping under 50,000, a 3.0-litre model or a 2018 car. All three qualities are unlikely to be present at once at that price, however. You'll need around £30,000 for that.

A4 Allroads begin to get sparse after 2018, with the few 2020-2021 examples going for upwards of £35,000.

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MPG

All the Audi A4 Allroad's engines are reasonably efficient, with even the 2.0-litre petrol officially averaging 34mpg. If you need more, you can expect nearly 50mpg (officially) from the 2.0-litre diesel. The 3.0-litre diesels will be somewhere between these two figures.

Road tax

All A4 Allroads registered after April 2017 will be subject to annual road tax of £155 per year, whether petrol or diesel – and if your example cost more than £40,000 when new, expect to pay an extra £335 per year for years two to six. Cars registered prior to that date will have their road tax decided by CO2 emissions. Find out more about current road tax costs here.

Insurance and servicing

Being a luxurious estate with a premium badge, expect insurance and servicing costs to be high, though not ridiculously so. Audi does offer fixed-price service plans.

With the A4 Allroad already being a welcome step up from the standard A4 Avant, getting four-wheel drive and a minimum of 187bhp, we feel there's not much need to add extra expense. The entry-level 2.0-litre diesel variant in Sport trim ticks the most boxes, including good performance, economy and value for money.

Our favourite Audi A4 Allroad: 2.0 TDI 190 Sport

While the A4 Allroad is more comfortable with its plusher ride, it isn't as much fun to drive as the BMW 3 Series Touring, nor will it handle with the same sharpness and agility.

The Mercedes C-Class Estate has an excellent interior and is almost as comfortable on the road. However, it suffers from sometimes tiresome road noise and an occasionally lumpy ride.

As with the C-Class Estate, the Volvo V60 has an impressively plush interior. The car is also very practical and luxurious to drive, plus it offers a direct rival to the A4 Allroad in the form of the rugged V60 Cross Country.

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If you're interested in finding a used A4 Allroad, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.