Audi A4 Avant Review 2024

Audi A4 Avant At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Audi A4 Avant is a compact premium estate car with a classy image and an impressive, high-end interior. Other estates can offer more in the way of practicality, though.

+High-quality interior packed with technology. Choice of economical petrol and diesel engines. Strong brand image.

-Not the biggest estate car on sale. A BMW 3 Series Touring is more fun to drive. Firm ride on S line and Black Edition cars

New prices start from £33,700, brokers can source from £32,064
Insurance Groups are between 19–39
On average it achieves 78% of the official MPG figure

Audi might be continuing to develop its range of SUVs, but the German brand still has space for traditional estate cars. The Audi A4 Avant looks a little anonymous, but its classy image has helped it win many admirers. It also has plenty of capable rivals, including the BMW 3 Series Touring and refined Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate

The fifth-generation A4 Avant was launched all the way back in 2015, but it’s testimony to this car’s design and engineering that it still feels modern. It is not the largest estate car on the market – a Skoda Superb Estate is far more commodious – yet it can comfortably transport four adults and their luggage. Our Audi A4 Avant review will explain why it’s worth considering.

When it comes to all-important boot capacity, the Audi A4 Avant is competitive with its closest rivals from BMW and Mercedes, as well as the Peugeot 508 SW and stablemate the Volkswagen Passat Estate. Offering 495 litres of luggage space with the back seats up, rising to 1495 litres with them folded down, it should be roomy enough for most families.

A Skoda Superb might offer more capacity, but it can’t match the Audi A4 Avant for interior quality. In fact, its cabin remains one of the Audi A4 Avant’s key selling points.

It has a genuinely premium look and feel, with leather upholstery standard on the entry-level Sport trim. Compared with newer alternatives, the Audi A4 Avant’s interior layout and MMI infotainment system are a beacon of clarity.

A BMW 3 Series Touring will be more engaging to drive, with better steering feel and feedback. For most drivers, though, this is unlikely to be a major concern. Instead, the Audi A4 Avant manages to be comfortable and refined, although the S line and Black Edition models have a tauter suspension setup.

The engine range for the Audi A4 Avant is now relatively simple, with a choice between two petrols and two diesels. These place a focus on efficiency and effortless progress, with the diesel 35 TDI a great choice for those covering larger mileages. Quattro four-wheel drive is only offered with the more potent diesel version.

For those who want maximum performance in their compact estate, the Audi RS4 Avant is available, which we have covered separately. This has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that develops a colossal 450PS. Such huge speed and ability clearly makes it deserving of its own review. 

Unlike many of its rivals, the Audi A4 Avant is not offered with a plug-in hybrid option. In some ways, this reveals how old the car is underneath, now that such powertrains have become a staple of the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate ranges.

It is a rare chink in the armour of the Audi A4 Avant, in what is otherwise one of the best compact estate cars you can buy. With a balance between comfort and sportiness on the road, plus a host of efficient engines to pick from, it is easy to recommend.

Add to this the high-quality interior, generous level of standard equipment and competitive pricing, and the result is an estate car that is tough to ignore, despite its advancing years.

Ask Honest John

What winter/offroad tyres would you recommend for an Audi A4?

"We have a 2015 Audi A4 quattro estate and have moved to a hilly elevated area that often suffers from winter snows. What would be a good choice of winter/offroad tyre to allow us to still drive around without purchasing an SUV with better ground clearance and AWD?"
You don't mention which size tyres are currently fitted to your Audi, but assuming they are 245/45R17, looking on blackcircles.com we would suggest looking at the Vredestein Wintrac Pro, which offers a C rating for fuel consumption, B for wet grip and a noise rating of 72dB, which is good for a heavily-treaded winter tyre. You may also wish to consider an all-season tyre, such as the Michelin CrossClimate 2 or Continental All Season Contact - these will not offer as much grip in the snow as a full winter tyre, but it will be superior to a summer tyre and work better on dry roads than a full winter.
Answered by David Ross

Best car to replace a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Estate with?

"I want to replace my 2011 Mercedes-Benz Estate and I am wondering about buying another Mercedes or perhaps an Audi A4 or Volvo V60 as perhaps my final ICE car. What would you suggest? And would a much cheaper Skoda Octavia Estate provide as much refinement and comfort as any of those? "
If refinement and comfort is a priority we'd err towards either the Volvo V60 or a newer Mercedes E or C-Class estate. It's not that the A4 is uncomfortable, it's that it has a slightly firmer ride than the others (particularly in S-Line trim). The Skoda Octavia is a very good car but no, it won't quite match your E-Class for refinement and comfort because it has firmer suspension and less sound insulation. It's worth giving one a test drive to see if that's a big issue.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

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 I buy as Audi A4 Avant or a Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer?

"I am going to be in the market for an estate car in the next few months and have been looking at the Audi A4 Avant 1.4 TFSI and the higher trim Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer from 2017 onwards with the 1.5-litre petrol engine. Would you lean more towards one or the other or are there any others worth considering? I don't think we will be doing enough miles to make a diesel worthwhile. "
I'd go for the Audi because it's better in almost every measurable way, although you will pay a slight premium. Stick to smaller wheels and the Audi is more comfortable, quieter and should also be better on fuel. It's not quite as roomy as the Vauxhall, so if that matters I'd have a look at the Skoda Superb estate. It's huge inside and shares many parts with the A4, so the cars feel surprisingly similar to use. You can read our reviews of all three cars, below. Audi: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/audi/a4-b9-avant-2015/ Vauxhall: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/vauxhall/insignia-sports-tourer-2017/ Skoda: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/superb-estate-2015/
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions

What does a Audi A4 Avant cost?

Buy new from £32,064(list price from £38,310)