2017 Audi A4 Allroad quattro: We're Driving it This Week
The Car Guide is on its way to Germany for a first test of the new Audi A4 Allroad quattro, engineered and built on the new MLB platform that obviously also underpins the recently introduced Audi A4. From a styling standpoint, the Allroad variant keeps its traditional plastic fender flares and aluminum trim protection plates front and rear. We also notice a 34-mm ride height increase compared to a conventional A4, thanks to 19-inch alloy wheels and a suspension adapted to this model whose mission is to provide enhanced versatility.
Moreover, the Audi drive select system of the Audi A4 Allroad quattro includes an Offroad feature that allows modifying throttle response and shift points of the automatic transmission according to all-terrain driving. Of course, the Audi Allroad wasn’t developed to tackle the worst off-road conditions, but rather to provide peace of mind for driver and passengers when the road conditions turn ugly.
Mechanically, the Audi Allroad inherits the same turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that motivated the A4 sedan. However, output is rated at 272 horsepower under the hood of the Allroad, 20 more than in the A4. For now, there is no indication that the turbo-diesel, 2.0-litre four will cross the Atlantic, the Volkswagen Group still struggling with emissions regulation issues in the case of its diesel powertrains.
The Car Guide will get a first crack at this version of the Allroad, which remains a popular choice for those who prefer the road manners of a car over that of an SUV. The Audi A4 Allroad quattro won’t be a volume seller in North America, where SUVs dominate, but will nonetheless be a niche product.
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