A sporty alternative to the ever-popular crossover is the Audi A4 Avant (wagon). The A4 Avant packages plenty of performance, cargo capacity, luxury and all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction into a vehicle smaller and more athletic than typical crossover SUVs.
Beautiful body encompasses exemplary cabin
It would be difficult to locate an individual who finds the Avant's appearance undesirable. There's very little about its symmetry and clean lines to offend even the most critical arbiters of style and fashion. Yet, I suspect some would argue that the same inoffensiveness fails to inspire, but I wouldn't be among them.
I'm equally inspired by what awaits within the A4 Avant as I am with its external presentation. The Avant's cabin exemplifies Audi's inherent ability to craft high quality, accurately constructed interiors. One would be hard pressed to find an environment more pleasing both visually and ergonomically; nonetheless, room for improvement exists relative to the dual climate-control system.
Driver and passenger HVAC temperature setting are controlled individually by buttons raising or lowering air temperature by .5 degrees per click. Despite understanding the concept of "set and forget" when it comes to automatic climate control systems, I still wish to crank the heat up and down to suit my mood and comfort level. Doing so requires a lot of button pushing in the A4 Avant. When will straightforward rotary knobs be en-vogue again?
Well, at least my tester was free of Audi's cursed Multi Media Interface (MMI) technology, which is similar to but not as complex as BMW's i-Drive.
Avant's structural rigidity is outstanding
Drive the 2008 A4 Avant over the roughest of roads and you'll be struck by how solid and fused together this wagon feels while it absorbs bumps and ruts brought on by years of roadway neglect. This is an important issue to me; I despise rattles, squeaks and thumps in expensive vehicles. Believe me, not all premium-level rides respond to such pavement hardships as stalwartly as the A4 Avant.
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| A sporty alternative to the ever-popular crossover is the Audi A4 Avant (wagon). |
Beautiful body encompasses exemplary cabin
It would be difficult to locate an individual who finds the Avant's appearance undesirable. There's very little about its symmetry and clean lines to offend even the most critical arbiters of style and fashion. Yet, I suspect some would argue that the same inoffensiveness fails to inspire, but I wouldn't be among them.
I'm equally inspired by what awaits within the A4 Avant as I am with its external presentation. The Avant's cabin exemplifies Audi's inherent ability to craft high quality, accurately constructed interiors. One would be hard pressed to find an environment more pleasing both visually and ergonomically; nonetheless, room for improvement exists relative to the dual climate-control system.
Driver and passenger HVAC temperature setting are controlled individually by buttons raising or lowering air temperature by .5 degrees per click. Despite understanding the concept of "set and forget" when it comes to automatic climate control systems, I still wish to crank the heat up and down to suit my mood and comfort level. Doing so requires a lot of button pushing in the A4 Avant. When will straightforward rotary knobs be en-vogue again?
Well, at least my tester was free of Audi's cursed Multi Media Interface (MMI) technology, which is similar to but not as complex as BMW's i-Drive.
Avant's structural rigidity is outstanding
Drive the 2008 A4 Avant over the roughest of roads and you'll be struck by how solid and fused together this wagon feels while it absorbs bumps and ruts brought on by years of roadway neglect. This is an important issue to me; I despise rattles, squeaks and thumps in expensive vehicles. Believe me, not all premium-level rides respond to such pavement hardships as stalwartly as the A4 Avant.
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| The 2008 Audi A4 Avant is a remarkably solid autobahn slayer that is a joy to drive in the city. |