Audi, however, seems to be one manufacture that is flying the estate-car flag as high as it can, in the form of the new Audi RS4 Avant. I spent some time behind the wheel to see what the public is missing out on.
Driving the RS
I have been fortunate enough to have experienced the previous generation Audi RS4 which was also only offered wagon guise. It was powered by a glorious 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 which produced one of the best engines sounds in its segment. I fell deeply in love with the car however it had a long list of flaws, firstly due to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system the car was heavy and the engine only developed around 430 N.m of torque with the result being, it struggled to keep up with the lighter and torquier offerings from BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.
The performance
For its latest iteration, Audi has replaced the V8 lump with something a bit better, in my opinion, a 2.9-litre bi-turbocharged V6 which measures 30kgs lighter than its predecessor. This new engine develops the same amount of kilowatts, 331 kW, and an impressive and much needed 600 N.m of torque. With the forced induction and its Quattro all-wheel-drive system that can send around 70% of the power to the rear wheels, make the new Audi RS4 a potent machine that will hit 100km/h in around 4.1 seconds. The 8-speed Steptronic gearbox is smooth and barely noticeable which adds to the cars overall refinement.
The RS4 Avant sits about 30-mm lower than other Avants in the line-up which is not available in South Africa. This has improved the handling and how the car feels around corners which impressed me as older Audi RS models usually suffered from understeer, this is when you are navigating into a corner at pace, you turn the wheel and nothing happens. The latest RS car utilizes a clever new torque vectoring system which provides added turn-in via the machinations of Audi’s braking system. It is also worth noting that the Quattro system can also send 85% of the power to the front wheels for added grip in sticky situations.
Practicality
This is all good and well but that fact remains that the RS4 is a station-wagon and like I mentioned earlier, the local market just doesn’t seem to like them, however, along with just about every other motoring writer in South Africa, I adore it.
Autodealer, editor, Sean Nurse said that the Audi RS4 Avant is his perfect one-car garage because the station-wagon is practical its luggage capacity of around 505-litres and 1510-litres with the rear seats folded down. The ride is surprisingly compliant although this is considered a sports car. Although the car has various driving modes to choose from yet there is not much of a difference between Comfort and Dynamic from an overall suspension compliance point of view. Some cars in the segment stiffen up so much that the ride borderlines harsh. In Dynamic mode the RS4 becomes more throttle sensitive and the flaps in the exhausts open up for a more dramatic soundtrack, although not as dramatic as the V8 that came before.
Inside the RS4 you will find a well put together interior with a neatly sculptured facia, my test unit featured white leather interior trim which is not family-friendly but when contrasted against the Navarra Blue exterior paintwork it looked very tasteful, but only when it was clean which lasted for about ten minutes. The technology inside is also worth noting as the fast wagon offered up items such as blind-spot alert, active cruise control, LED adaptive headlights and for the entertainment-focused driver; Apple CarPlay as well as a fantastic sound system.
Verdict
After my week with the new RS4, I can confirm that I like it more than the RS5 Sportback which is identical despite the different body, which could be the reason. I also like it because despite being positioned as a sports car I found the RS4 to take on the duties of a long-distance GT car with ease. It can eat up the long road with effortless elegance while returning a face altering and stomach-turning driving experience at the push of a button. I also managed to average around 8.8l/100km over my week-long stint which is hugely impressive for a car of this nature.
Price
You can expect a starting price of around R1 211 500 the Audi RS4 which does come with a host of features as standard but as always there are always some additional items to choose from.
Likes:
- It is an estate car and a fast one.
- It is well built and looks good
- The ride is comfortable even in Dynamic mode
Dislikes:
- It comes across as a bit too clinical at times, somewhat emotionless.
- Needs to make more noise.
- Maybe an Audi RS3 sedan is all that you need.