Used Audi A4 Avant 2015-present review

Once upon a time the Audi A4 Avant and its rivals were labelled as ‘lifestyle’ estates, as they seemed to rank style and intent above down-to-earth practicality. Now, though, a few generations on, these cars have all grown in size, and now offer space and flexibility as well as retaining a whole heap of handsome styling.

Basically, the A4 Avant is an estate car based on the Audi A4 executive saloon, one of our very favourite cars, both new and used. What's the appeal of the Avant? Well, it adds a larger and more practical boot.

Engines: What's more, the engine range of the A4 Avant mirrors that of the saloon, meaning four-cylinder petrols are offered alongside four and six-cylinder diesels, with front and quattro all-wheel drive and six-speed manual and seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

Later models became known by numbers, so the petrols became the 148bhp 35 TFSI, the 187bhp 40 TFSI and the 242bhp 45 TFSI, while diesels became the 134bhp 30 TDI, the 161bhp 35 TDI and the 187bhp 40 TDI.

Trims and equipment: There are four core trim levels to choose from. Entry-level SE models come with xenon headlights, 17in alloy wheels, an acoustic glazed windscreen, cruise control, parking sensors, keyless ignition and various semi-autonomous braking systems as standard. Inside there is tri-zone climate control, manually adjustable front seats and Audi's MMI infotainment system, complete with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, smartphone integration, a DAB radio and a 7.0in colour display.

Upgrade to Sport and you'll find more supportive front sports seats, interior ambient LED lighting, sat-nav and a 10-speaker audio system, while S line models get a bodykit, sports suspension, 18in alloy wheels, LED head and rear lights and a leather and Alcantara upholstery. Topping the range is the Black Edition trim, which adorns the A4 with 19in alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and lots of gloss black interior and exterior trim.

Later models became Technik, Sport and S line, with a range-topping Black Edition.

Ride and handling: While the A4 is in its element on the motorway, it’s not as exciting to drive as the BMW 3 Series, with the steering lacking anything in the way of feel and the suspension not giving the same sense of agility. Ride quality is also rather poor in the larger-wheeled S line and Ultra models, which also have lowered and stiffened suspension, although the optional adaptive dampers resolve this, if you can find a car so equipped. If you can’t, stick with an SE on smaller wheels and the A4 is a very agreeable companion.

Interior and practicality: It’s a sharp-looking car on the outside and is arguably even better inside, with 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 first-class.

You’ll also find the A4 Avant is a comfortable car, too, with a smooth ride and eager handling. But its main selling feature is its refinement, which is particularly good even with the diesel-engined options.

The boot space is rated at 505 litres, rising to 1510 litres when the standard 40/20/40 split rear seats are folded. The smaller boot volume figure eclipses both the BMW 3 Series Touring (2012-2019) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate (2014-2021), its main rivals, while the C-Class Estate is a match for the A4 Avant seats down.

Add a raft of good-quality safety and security kit and you’ve got a car that shines in this class and looks even more appealing for families on a budget when purchased used.

The Audi A4 and Audi A4 Avant were treated to a facelift in 2019. At the front, the updated 'singleframe' grille keeps it in line with other Audi models, while you might also spot that revised LED headlights have become standard across the range and display a unique light signature.

If you're interested in finding a used A4 Avant, 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.

You’ll need at least £10,000 to get on this latest generation of A4 Avant bandwagon. For that you’ll get a good 2016 car with a high mileage for the year, a full history and purchased from an independent dealer. You can pick a good one up for around £12,000. Up the ante to between £13,000 and £16,000 and you’ll find good 2017 and 2018 cars with a low mileage and full history. The same applies to the £17,000 to £19,000 range for 2018 and 2019 models, and around £20,000 to £25,000 for 2020 and 2021 cars. Look to spend between £25,000 and £35,000 on 2023 and 2024 cars.

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MPG

Not surprisingly it’s the diesel-engined versions that are the bigger sellers, and the most economical. The 2.0 TDI Ultra versions have a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 70.6mpg, according to the older NEDC tests, while some versions of the more powerful 2.0 TDI 190 diesel can return a claimed 62.8mpg. The most economical petrol version is the 1.4 TFSI with a claimed figure as high as 51.4mpg in some trims, again under the NEDC test.

Under the later, tougher WLTP tests, the 35 TFSI petrol claims an official 41.5mpg, the 40 TFSI a high of 40.9mpg, the 45 TFSI 35.8mpg, the diesels meanwhile offer 54.3mpg with the 30 TDI, 53.3mpg with the 35 TDI, and 47.1mpg with the 40 TDI in quattro form.

Road tax

Though road tax is determined by CO2 emissions on pre-April-2017 cars, those registered after that time will attract a flat rate fee of £180 per year.

Insurance and servicing

Audis do tend to be expensive to service at franchised dealers, but once these models are three years old they will qualify for Audi’s fixed-price servicing deal, which costs from £164 for a minor service and £319 for a major one (based on a 2.0 diesel model). Insurance groups are average for an estate car of the premium variety, meaning insurance costs will follow suit.

Reliability

The Audi A4 emerges as a generally reliable model in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, informed by real-world owner reviews. However, there are notable issues with its electronic systems and engine parts. Owners frequently mention warning lights and unexplained noises, necessitating multiple trips to dealerships.

Dealer service quality varies significantly; while some owners commend their dealers for efficient problem resolution under warranty, others express dissatisfaction with slow service and poor communication. This disparity in dealer service has notably affected owner satisfaction and trust in Audi.

Discover more about the Audi A4's reliability on our dedicated page.

Engines

The 1.4 TFSI petrol engine delivers reasonable pace but needs to be revved hard to extract it; it is smooth, though. Driven carefully it gives decent economy, but you can only have it with a manual gearbox. Other petrol versions are smooth and progressively more powerful but are thirsty and will cost more in fuel.

The popular 2.0 TDI 150 diesel engine is very smooth and also efficient, with CO2 emissions from just 104g/km in frugal Ultra specification. It’s available with a manual or automatic gearbox, but can feel a little underpowered when overtaking.

For that reason we recommend the 2.0 TDI 190 version. Depending on trim it comes in either standard or higher-efficiency Ultra form, and also with an automatic gearbox option. In whatever set-up, it’s efficient, offers good performance with lots of low-end shove and is more refined than equivalent rivals’ engines. Also available with quattro four-wheel drive, it's our favourite engine in the range.

Our favourite Audi A4 Avant: 2.0 TDI 190 Sport

The BMW 3 Series Touring (2012-2019) has been a class leader for years, especially among those looking for a practical and rewarding car to drive. The current 3 Series Touring keeps that tradition alive and is a more entertaining car than the A4 Avant. Just be aware that M Sport models have a hard ride unless adaptive dampers are fitted.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate (2014-2021) is less entertaining to drive than the BMW 3 Series Touring (in fact, it’s more on a par with the A4 Avant), but it has an excellent interior and is supremely comfortable. It’s only really the sometimes tiresome road noise and occasionally lumpy ride that lets it down.

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If you're interested in finding a used A4 Avant, 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.