Estate cars are thin on the ground in South Africa these days, and fast ones are even more rare. Audi fields 2 such machines, with the monstrous RS6 Avant hogging the limelight and the smaller RS4 Avant as supporting act. But, while the former has a surprising amount of charisma, the latter takes a different approach.
A different kind of RS4
Through the years, the Audi RS4 has presented storming performance in a compact package. And, starting with its second generation (the 2006 B7, the first one we received in South Africa), a high-revving V8 was front and centre of the RS4’s performance appeal.
There’s simply nothing that sounds like a highly-tuned V8 reaching for its limiter on the far side of 8 000 r/min, so it’s no wonder that the howling 4.2-litre V8 became such an integral part of the RS4’s character. The V8 stuck around for two generations, and its rev-happy nature and wicked soundtrack became defining characteristics of this particular Audi Sport (formerly quattro GmbH) product.
What should we make of this new one, then? There’s no naturally-aspirated V8 anymore, its place taken by a much more-efficient V6 engine. Two turbos pump up the smaller engine’s power to the same level as the old V8 offered, and the forced induction adds a measure of mid-range torque that the old RS4 could only dream about, but also fundamentally changes the engine’s power delivery.
The sharp-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, as featured in the B8-generation RS4/RS5, is also gone, replaced by a smoother 8-speed torque converter automatic. How do these changes to the recipe alter the taste of the latest RS4 Avant?
Styling
Finished in Sonoma Green Metallic paint, our test RS4 Avant presented a dashing image. Hunkered close to the ground on 20-inch wheels and sporting black trim accents to go with its flared wheel arches, the RS4 looks ready to tackle the Autobahn’s overtaking lane, and stands out from the sea of anonymous hatchbacks and same-same SUVs.
It’s definitely not a friendly-looking car, with its gaping grille and frowning headlights, but it has the kind of road presence that clears the overtaking lane very quickly. And yet, behind all the air vents, bravado and puffed-up shoulder lines, there’s a simple elegance to the shape, albeit overshadowed by some cartoonish detailing.
The plastic filler panels between the light clusters and fenders are a bit unbecoming, for instance: Seeing as the engineers designed new fenders for the RS4 anyway, why didn’t they close up those gaps with metal instead of patching-on shiny black plastic pieces? These trim pieces are probably intended to add extra aggression, but they do spoil the RS4 Avant’s otherwise-clean design somewhat.
Interior and space
The Audi RS4 Avant is a fairly large car, measuring almost 4.8-metres in length and more than 2-metres mirror-to-mirror, which should give a pretty spacious interior. Front-seat occupants will have no cause for complaint, with generous leg- and shoulder room, although the (optional) panoramic sunroof takes away some headroom.
However, the deeply-sculpted front bucket seats are quite bulky, which compromises rear legroom. In mitigation, the rear bench seat is flat enough to accommodate 3 occupants in relative comfort.
The luggage compartment isn’t quite as large as you’d expect, either, with a useful-but-not-generous 495-litres on offer behind the rear seats. Even folding them down doesn’t really create a massive volume, but the 1 495-litres thus liberated should still be able to handle a mountain bike or two.
Seeing as this is a high-end Audi, it’s only logical that the interior is top-notch in materials and construction. Soft-touch surfaces abound and it’s all screwed together beautifully, but there’s very little real sense of occasion to the dashboard design – from the driver’s seat, it looks just like any other Audi A4 inside.
That is a pity, as some standard carbon-fibre trim inserts could have provided a suitably sporty counterpoint to the sobriety of the cabin’s styling. At least the seats are covered in supple Nappa leather with honeycomb-pattern contrast stitching, along with the door cards and centre arm rest.
Only 2 digital screens are employed: The first is Audi’s excellent digital instrument cluster, and the second is a high-resolution colour touchscreen that fronts Audi’s latest infotainment system. Secondary controls, such as seat heating, audio volume, and climate control adjustments are handled via physical buttons in logical locations, making for first-rate user-friendliness.
Standard equipment
Given its positioning as the ultimate A4 derivative, some special equipment is to be expected… except that the RS4 Avant doesn’t really include many unusual features as standard. It’s well-equipped enough, though, with three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, electric front seat adjustment, navigation, smartphone mirroring and so on. But, in true German style, the really nice things reside on the option sheet.
Our test car was loaded with a cool R 254 400 in options, running the full spectrum from active steering to a head-up display. Other notable additions include Audi phone box, which amplifies your cell phone’s signal and provides a wireless charging pad, a sports- (torque-vectoring) rear differential, heated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, and a self-parking system.
Safety
A 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating is a given, and so are stability control, 6 airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchors everywhere except the driver’s seat. In other words, an Audi RS4 Avant should provide capable protection for all its occupants. Additional safety features include automatic emergency braking, LED headlights (with a Matrix LED upgrade option), blind-spot monitoring, a rear-view camera, and parking sensors all round, but the fancier driver assistants are again optional.
A surround-view camera system is an available option but wasn’t fitted to our test car, but the optional rear side airbags (fitted, for a total of 8) should interest safety-conscious buyers, and will further improve the RS4 Avant’s exemplary safety credentials.
Performance and driving impression
As alluded to earlier, motive power is now provided by a twin-turbo petrol V6 engine with a displacement of 2.9-litres. Outputs are respectable at 331 kW and 600 Nm, sent to all 4 wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.
These outputs are enough for a claimed 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 4.1-seconds, and a top speed that’s limited to 250 km/h in standard trim. Our test car also had its top speed raised to 280 km/h, but we didn’t feel any need to test the accuracy of that claim.
Against the stopwatch, the new RS4 Avant is an all-round improvement on its predecessors, with quicker sprint- and in-gear acceleration times. However, the nature of the power delivery is very different, and enforces a different driving style.
Unlike the old V8, which had to be wrung out to the red line to do its best work (and make its best noises), the new V6 happily delivers all of its torque from 2 000 to 5 000 r/min, but then turns a bit surly as you wind it past its 5 700 r/min power peak. The V6 will rev to 6 700, sure, but it won’t give any indication of enjoying doing so. It’s also not terribly eager to get going until it’s been fed some boost, with most of the action happening to the north of 2 000 r/min.
Besides, there’s little sense in revving the V6 past 6 000 r/min anyway, when there’s such a rich seam of torque to tap. All of this is fine and well if outright bragging rights are the ultimate aim while efficiency regulations need to be met, but it sadly drains a large part of the RS4’s distinctive traditional character from the new model.
Rather than working the engine hard to go quickly, it just loafs along in the mid-range, riding that fat wave of torque. Meanwhile, the automatic gearbox smoothly shuffles through its cogs, unlike the snappy old 7-speed S-Tronic. Effortless, yes, but not at all what traditional RS4/5 buyers would expect or may desire.
One (current) B8 RS5 owner remarked, after the first 2 kilometers in this test car’s passenger seat, that the new model is really a very nice S4 Avant. Call it an S4 Plus, if you wish, but rather reserve the RS badge for something with more-frenetic power unit, then?
The potent but rather bland engine does provide some serious shove, mind you, and its lighter weight leads to much more nimble cornering behaviour than the old model ever had. In fact, thanks to the optional active (variable-ratio) steering and sports differential, the test car danced through corners with the finesse of a rather oversized Mitsu Evo.
That’s high praise indeed, especially remembering the nose-heavy behaviour of earlier RS4/5 models, but it confirms something we noticed with the previous S4 (3.0 TFSI): This chassis works best with a lighter engine, and it needs to be specified correctly to work properly. Fortunately, the test car had all the right options, and none of the wrong ones.
Our test car rode on the standard steel springs, rather than the optional adaptive suspension, and we’d recommend that buyers stick to this setup – the adaptive system is firmer than standard even in comfort mode, and doesn’t bring much tangible handling benefit.
Overall handling balance tends towards safe understeer at very high limits, but a committed driver can induce some lovely and controlled power slides through skillful manipulation of the throttle pedal and steering wheel. Don’t do this on public roads, mind you, as such anti-social driving behaviour should not be condoned!
Fuel consumption
To a large degree, Audi’s move to downsize the RS4’s engine was driven by emissions- and fuel-efficiency regulations. It’s simply easier to make a smaller engine emit less exhaust gas in an official test cycle, but these tricks don’t always result in real-world benefits. And, while the old V8 was known for its many wonderful soundtrack, it was also known for its prodigious drinking habits.
We have no doubt that, driven with moderate restraint, the new V6-engined RS4 Avant will use less fuel in general use… but there’s also no way that it will ever achieve the official claimed average figure of 9.2 ℓ/100 km in the real world. Bargain on closer to 13 ℓ/100 km if the power underfoot is exploited with any regularity, and about 18 ℓ/100 km if driven like a hooligan.
Pricing
Audi South Africa managed to pull off a pricing miracle, and offers the Audi RS4 Avant quattro for “only” R 1 345 500 before options. That’s a pretty good deal in a world where a BMW M3 starts just shy of R 1.9-million, or slightly more with AWD.
The M3 is a stronger performer, though, and some buyers may be able to justify paying extra for more speed. We’re not so sure that the RS4 Avant should be compared to an M3 anymore, either, because it has evolved into a different kind of car. It’s an estate, for one…
* Pricing was accurate at the time of writing, but is subject to change without prior notice.
Verdict
Undeniably rapid, cultured, and sure-footed, the latest Audi RS4 Avant quattro is a technological tour de force, but loses much of its predecessors’ response, character, and vitality with the switch to a boosted V6. Perhaps some slight engine re-tuning would be in order, now that we know what power the new wave of performance sedans are pushing.
Another 50 kW or so certainly won’t go amiss, and should remedy the boosted engine’s comparatively flaccid high-rev behaviour. But, as it currently stands, the new Audi RS4 Avant ticks all the boxes except the most important one: Charisma.
Keyword: Audi RS4 Avant quattro (2022) Review