Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) Review

Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) At A Glance

4/5

+As good to drive as standard A4 Avant but with quattro four-wheel drive and raised ground clearance. Ideal for towing. Refined and well built.

-Prices new are close to the Q5.

Insurance Groups are between 26–33
On average it achieves 80% of the official MPG figure

The Audi A4 Allroad of 2009 is the smaller counterpart to the A6 Allroad but in essence a very similar car. It's ideal if you tow a trailer or regularly have to cover muddy or slippery roads, but don't want a traditional 4x4 with its associated bulk. Thanks to quattro four-wheel drive as standard, the A4 Allroad is very surefooted and useful in the snow, but will struggle with more challenging terrain.

What marks it out from the standard Audi A4 Avant is the raised ground clearance, extra body cladding including wheel arch covers and stainless steel underbody guards to give it a more rugged appearance. The extra ground clearance is useful on rutted tracks and the A4 Allroad will surprise you at what ground it's able to cover.

The good news is that these changes don't adversely affect how the A4 Allroad handles on the road. It feels very much like a normal A4 with good poise, impressive comfort and a forgiving ride on all but the roughest of roads. There are only three engines available but they're some of Audi's best with the 2.0 TDI our choice thanks to its strong performance but useful economy.

However, it isn't a cheap choice as a new buy and the impressive Audi Q5 is only slightly more, while the standard A4 Avant is available with quattro four-wheel drive (albeit without the raised ground clearance) for considerably less. However, there are few premium cars, aside from the Volvo XC70, which offer something similar.

Real MPG average for a Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

80%

Real MPG

22–45 mpg

MPGs submitted

95

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Best estate car with all-wheel drive under £10,000?

"I am looking to buy a used mid-size estate car. As I drive a lot in Europe during winter, I could probably do with 4WD. Also, it should be reasonably economical as I drive a lot of long distances, and not too dull. My budget is around £7,000 to max of £10,000. I've been thinking of the BMW F30 3 series xDrive, but not sure if a high-mileage example could be a false economy, and if the xDrive all-wheel drive system is reliable. I'd be very keen to hear other recommendations, too. "
The F30 3 Series is a good car and the xDrive all-wheel drive system is well regarded, but you'd likely be looking at a pretty leggy example for your budget which could prove costly to run. We'd also be looking at the Audi A4 Avant/Allroad, VW Golf Alltrack or, Skoda Octavia Scout or SEAT Leon X-Perience. To be honest, though, a good set of winter or all-season tyres on any estate car would be more effective in adverse conditions than four-wheel drive and regular summer tyres.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Should my Audi A4 Allroad have the emissions fix?

"I have just received a recall for my Audi A4 Allroad to have the NOx fix. The letter clearly states that following the modification there will be "no negative impact on engine performance, maximum torque, fuel consumption, noise and CO2 emissions". This statement is at odds with your recent comment that owners, having had the modifications carried out, are finding "a decrease in drivability, with the usable torque coming in at 300rpm higher than before"."
The statement from Audi amounts to a guarantee, but it is not the experience of a lot of readers with this engine. So have the work done and if it affects the car, take it back to the dealer, demand that he fixes it and demand that he keeps you mobile in an equivalent car until he has. If he refuses, sue him for the value of your car.
Answered by Honest John

Volkswagen emissions scandal - has it been over dramatised?

"You seem to think that the emissions scandal is all a bit of a storm in a tea-cup. Why is this? I have an A4 Allroad on a PCP deal and I was wondering the same thing as the Tiguan driver who asked you if he could reject the car. Your answer was "don't be ridiculous". I was just wondering if you think it has all been over-dramatised? I was wondering the same thing about the guaranteed future value of the car. "
Yes, it has all been over dramatised. I think it is unforgivable of the CEO of VW/Audi Group that such a climate of fear existed within the organisation that could lead to this cost-saving shortcut, and he cannot expect me to believe that he knew nothing about it. But the cheat itself is not very serious. It simply means that the vehicle ECU recognises that the car is not being steered, and in that situation alters the parameters of the engine to reduce NOx emissions to a level below that when the car is being driven normally. So, in traffic, driving slowly in a straight line, NOx would be reduced as it is for the tests and pedestrians on sidewalks in cities would not actually suffer from inhaling too much of the stuff. Unfortunately, hard acceleration and deceleration massively increase NOx emissions from any diesel powered vehicle (not merely Volkswagens), so unnecessary obstructions such road humps and artificial stoppages are actually more harmful than emissions test cheating. Your car still runs exactly as it did before the scandal broke and it will continue to run exactly the same. By the end of 2016, VWG will have deleted the 'cheat' software in all of the affected cars and modified the EGR systems and DPF systems of those that need it. The greatest damage is to the perception of VWG cars as somehow being superior to other makes, but everyone who bought one is effectively a subscriber to brand snobbery and is likely to continue to support that to protect their investment.
Answered by Honest John

Can you recommend an automatic 4wd vehicle with decent load space?

"I have been very satisfied with my Subaru Outback 2.5 automatic. It's an excellent car, but slightly too big for my driving now. I am not keen on the XV car as its finish is a bit ‘tinny’ and seats uncomfortable. What do you suggest? I do not want a real ‘off-road’ car, like a Discovery, but I need four-wheel drive, automatic, decent loadspace, Bluetooth, satnav, DAB radio and CD player. Do you have any suggestions?"
There will soon be AWD estate versions of the new Golf and Octavia. I can't tell you if they will be offered as automatics or DSGs, but probably. There are xDrive versions of the BMW 120d and 320d and 320d Touring, manual or automatic (10 per cent of BMW 1-Series and 3-Series sold in the UK are now xDrive). And, of course, quattro versions of Audi A3s and A4s, including an A4 'Allroad'.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Audi A4 Allroad (2009 – 2015) cost?