By Paul Gover.
Station wagons are about as popular in 2020 as a Trabant.
It’s all about SUVs, but a good wagon can still make a powerful point about practical, enjoyable, flexible motoring.
And the Audi S4 Avant, even though it’s getting old, is better than just good.
It’s quick and composed, beautifully finished, and relaxing and rewarding depending on your mood.
Avant is Audi shorthand for a wagon, just as BMW uses the Touring tag for its family haulers, even though the literal translation of ‘avant’ is before.
It actually comes after, since the A4 is the heart car for the mid-sized German family, and that’s a good thing as the basics are the same as the four-door sedan.
In the case of the S4, the mechanical package is upgraded to a turbocharged V6 model that makes 260 kiloWatts and 500 Newton-metres, with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
So it’s a brisk car, not nearly as rambunctious as the RS models, but still hits a sweet spot if you have just over $100,000 in the kitty.
The powertrain is smooth and refined, the cornering grip is great, and it can really punch out of corners or through an overtaking spot.
The various driving modes make a significant difference, from the exhaust note to suspension grip and feel, although it’s fine to leave it in the standard setting unless you want the extra in everything that comes with Sport.
The flappy paddles make manual shifting easy and, if you want to go sprinting, you can hold onto the ‘downshift’ paddle and watch the electronics do the job of selecting the correct ratio without having to make individual down-changes.
It’s one of the clever items in the S4 package, which range from classy safety equipment to the heads-up speedo display and brilliant LED headlamps.
The styling of the S4 is almost timeless, smooth but not exceptional, with good looking 19-inch alloys and supportive sports seats and a large infotainment screen.
I’m not convinced by a price-tag that trips over $100,000, but Audi Australia has sharpened the value in its cars over the past year and there is a lot to like – and enjoy – in the S4 wagon.
On that front, or back, the Avant has a giant load space with a big opening and things can be improved if you want to sacrifice the back seats. It’s definitely as good as an equivalent SUV.
In the end, the appeal of the S4 Avant is fairly narrow in a world so overflowing with SUVs.
But, for anyone who enjoys driving and prefers a car to a truck, the Audi is a powerful reminder of what SUV buyers are giving up by following the herd.
THE BASICS
Audi S4 Avant
Price: from $102,900
Power: 260W/500Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Position: prestige mid-sized wagon
Plus: classy in every area, not an SUV
Minus: getting a bit old, not an SUV
THE TICK: for sure
Score: 8/10
