Used 2020 Audi A4 allroad

The 2020 Audi A4 Allroad blends the amenities and plush ride quality of a luxury sedan with the utility of a compact wagon and the adventurous spirit of a crossover SUV. Essentially a raised all-wheel-drive wagon version of the A4, the Audi A4 Allroad is a special vehicle that boasts strong individuality and practicality.

Like other Audis, the Allroad is sporty, comfortable and efficient. Like other Audis, the Allroad has one of the most tech-forward, sophisticated interiors in the business, with a new 10.1-inch touch screen replacing last year’s 8.3-inch unit.

With a starting price of $44,600, plus a destination fee of $995, the improved 2020 Audi A4 Allroad has a premium price, far above the Subaru Outback, a far more mainstream raised all-wheel-drive station wagon.

In suspension tuning, the Audi A4 Allroad lands somewhere between the firmness of a BMW and the suppleness of a Lexus. The result? A ride that can be enjoyed on any road, thanks to the standard adaptive suspension that automatically adjusts the damping for the conditions. DriveSelect also allows the A4 Allroad driver to switch from Sport or Comfort to an Off-road mode that optimizes traction in the dirt.

Power-wise, the Allroad continues to be propelled by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The engine works well with the standard 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but it can be caught off-boost on occasion. As a quattro, the all-wheel-drive A4 Allroad is your ally on mildly snowy or muddy roads, aided by 6.5 inches of ground clearance. But if you’re hoping to do some more serious off-roading, look toward a more traditional SUV.

The A4 Allroad interior has undergone some functional refinements for 2020, most notably a new MMI touch-display infotainment system that’s up to 10 times faster than the one it replaces. In addition to a new 10.1-inch touch screen replacing the old 8.3-inch one, a panoramic sunroof is now standard.

As before, the A4 Allroad remains a 5-passenger station wagon with 24 cubic feet of cargo space in back, or 58.5 cubic feet when the 40/20/40-split rear seat is folded. Ahead of the transmission selector lever on the center console is the MMI interface, a dial and auxiliary controls for audio, navigation and other functions on the 10.1-inch display.

Premium Plus and Prestige models get the highly desirable Virtual Cockpit Plus, a 12.3-inch TFT (thin-film transistor) digital instrument cluster with Classic, Sport and Dynamic modes. The base A4 Allroad, the Premium, has a color 7.0-inch driver information screen. A traditional volume control is positioned just to the right of the transmission lever.

Audi says that almost every piece of sheet metal on the A4 Allroad has been revised for 2020, and that its nose is now characterized by a broader and flatter grille along with larger air inlets beneath the headlights. The grille, of note, has vertical chrome slats that emphasize the Allroad’s increased ground clearance and height over the standard A4 sedan.

From the side you can see how the Allroad’s pronounced wheel arches pay tribute to the brand’s quattro DNA, plus how the low-set shoulder line visually lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity. Broadened rear-quarter windows make the cabin look longer while making the C-pillars slenderer.

All 2020 Audi A4 Allroad models have gray body cladding that fosters a rugged and adventuresome look, but you can order your wagon with a fully painted one-color finish for an extra $1,000 (certain colors only).

VIRTUAL COCKPIT PLUS
Without question one of our favorite Audi features, the Virtual Cockpit Plus replaces the analog-instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch configurable digital display that can show virtual gauges, a huge Google Maps navigation display, audio setting and driving data. It’s like looking at the future, now.

AUDI DRIVE SELECT
Standard equipment on the 2020 A4 Allroad, Drive Select lets the driver choose among these driving modes: Comfort, Dynamic, Auto, Individual and Offroad, each tailored for a given driving situation. This works with the Allroad’s standard adaptive suspension.

As before, the Audi A4 Allroad remains available in three levels of trim: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige.

The Premium, the entry model, is well equipped with items such as adaptive suspension, leather seating, 8-way-power front seats, 3-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, walnut interior inlays, a power tailgate and the Pre Sense City safety suite. If you want the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus (the colorful and clear digital instrument panel that we highly recommend), it’s standard on the Premium Plus model, along with an anti-theft alarm, acoustic parking aids and the Audi Side Assist and Pre Sense Rear safety technologies.

Capping the lineup is the Audi A4 Allroad Prestige. Suitably named (and priced accordingly), the Prestige is packed with safety items like adaptive cruise control and active lane assist, along with other niceties such as a head-up display, matrix-design LED headlights, headlight washers, ambient interior lighting and even quietness-enhancing dual-pane acoustic glass for the front-side windows.

Most A4 Allroad options are contained in packages.

The Premium is available with a Convenience Package that we expect to be popular. Besides the Audi Side Assist and Pre Sense Rear safety technologies, the package contains rear cross-traffic assist, an anti-theft alarm, driver’s-seat memory and a 90-day trial with Sirius XM satellite radio.

The Premium Plus can be ordered with a Navigation Package and Driver Assistance Package, the latter including adaptive cruise control and active lane assist. Also available on the Premium Plus are a Cold Weather Package (heated rear seats, heated steering wheel) and a Warm Weather Package (vented front seats, sunshades for the rear-side windows).

Stand-alone options on the A4 Allroad include a full-paint finish (select colors only), thorax airbags for the rear-side passengers, and a 755-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system with 19 speakers.

As in 2019, the Audi A4 Allroad continues to be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mounted to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. The smooth powerplant, a proven player aided by excellent low-rpm torque, propels this all-wheel-drive Audi station wagon to 60 mph in a reasonably quick 5.9 seconds. EPA combined fuel economy is a respectable 26 mpg.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
248 horsepower @ 5,000-6,000 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg