Driving is testing the three key types of family car over the coming months: a people carrier (Renault Grand Scenic); an SUV (Honda CR-V); and an estate (Audi A4 Avant, seen here). Which will prove the most useful for parents?
- Model 2017 Audi A4 Avant S Line 3.0 V6 TDI quattro tiptronic
- Price (with options) £41,550 (£50,245)
- Delivery date April 5, 2017
- Options fitted Daytona grey paint (£645); 19 inch ’10-V spoke’ alloy wheels (£900); Matrix LED front and rear lights with dynamic indicators (£650); Extended LED interior lights pack (£100); S line seats with leather/Alcantara (£450); Heated front seats (£300); Electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for driver (£800) Technology Pack (£1,450); Parking Assistance Pack Advanced (£1350); Folding door mirrors with memory function (£225); Audi Virtual Cockpit (£450); Advanced key with hands-free boot opening (£525); Folding tow bar (£850).Total cost of options: £8,695
May 4, 2017: All about first impressions
The Audi is easily the dearest of the three family cars Driving is testing at the moment. The A4 Avant (estate) with this large V6 diesel under the bonnet and the top spec S Line trim starts at over £41,000, and the German company has sent us a car with nearly £9,000 worth of options. But what do you get for the money?
Lots of tech, for a start. Keyless entry and start, parking sensors and reversing camera, auto parking, heated electric seats with memory function, tri-zone climate control, hands free boot opening and the very cool virtual cockpit (100% digital instrument panel), for a start. Lots to discuss on the gadget front; what do you need, and what’s a little frivolous.
We’d assumed that one immediate disadvantage would be that the comparatively large 3 litre V6 diesel engine would be considerably less fuel efficient than the four-cylinder motors of the Honda and Renault. It is claimed to return 52.3mpg on the mixed conditions test cycle, which is promising, but I’ve had the car for a month now and so far I’ve been getting less than 40mpg on most trips. A proper fuel efficiency report will follow at a later date. It has to be said, though, it appears to be a peach of an engine: so smooth and refined it could be mistaken for a punchy petrol.
The look of the car is conservative and understated, but classy, which appeals to me. With the V6 motor underneath the load-lugging estate bodyshape, it could be a “Q car” (i.e. a wolf in sheep’s clothing): we’ll check out its performance potential over the coming months, too. It’s only right and proper.
And the ride is superb. I tested the new A4 saloon in Germany’s Black Country, through hilly terrain, and found it to be the first in a long time (perhaps ever?) to be a match for the BMW 3-series for ride and handling. First impressions suggest that’s no different on the estate.
We’ll find out more about that, and how well the estate handles everything a young family can throw at it, in due course.
Got a question about the Audi A4 Avant? Keep an eye on this page and contact me via my Twitter feed, @wdron.
The post Extended test: 2017 Audi A4 Avant 3.0 V6 TDI quattro appeared first on Sunday Times Driving.
source https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/extended-test-2017-audi-a4-avant-3-0-v6-tdi-quattro/
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