Audi A4 Avant 3.2 FSI Quattro Tip Review: Estate of the art

What we like:

Large loading area with rear seats folded away. Positive handling despite the huge engine all the way up front.  That B&O system...

What we dislike:

6 speed transmission could be quicker. And where's the clever load floor divider found in the A6 Avant?

The A4 Avant delivers a comfortable ride at all speeds, despite riding on 18-inch low profile rubber. What's commendable is the pliant and well-damped ride even when Drive Select is set to the stiffer “Dynamic” mode.

With quattro all-wheel drive, there is not only ample grip when exiting corners - it also gives you a feeling of reassurance and stability. Should anything turns pear shaped, there is the ESP to hopefully save the situation.

The 3.2 FSI quattro’s comprehensive equipment list includes bi-Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, electric sunroof, electrically adjustable front seats, cruise control, a Bang & Olufsen factory fitted high end stereo, S line body kit and seats, 18-inch wheels and GPS. Probably the only thing that you’ll miss in the top end Avant is an electrically operated tailgate.

At $195,000, the A4 Avant 3.2 FSI quattro is more expensive than its saloon sibling. But even though it sounds rather expensive, the A4 Avant certainly makes for a stylish and practical lifestyle machine to suit most needs. There are cheaper rivals out there like the Saab 9-3 SportCombi and the (indent-only) Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate and the BMW 3 Series Touring, but none of these models can match the Audi when it comes to the right mix of luxury, quality, performance and style.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai, pictures by Azfar Hashim