I have never been a fan of these family vehicles known as "wagons". So when my editor offered me to spend a week behind the wheel of the 2009 Audi A4 Avant quattro (quattro as in four-wheel drive), I must say I wasn’t too enthused.
Of course, I wasn’t totally against the idea, either. After all, it’s hard to snub a premium automobile like this Audi, especially since the A4 -- both sedan and wagon -- received a complete makeover for 2009. But still…
As it turned out, my initial reluctance quickly gave way to excitement once I got up close and personal with the A4 Avant. While it can’t escape from the wagon stigma, the fresh new design along with the promise of spirited driving proved to be awfully convincing arguments.
A wagon, really?
In terms of exterior styling, the new 2009 Audi A4 Avant is light-years ahead of the traditional beige wagon of the ‘70s with wood panels all around. It looks extremely assertive and borderline sporty.
I know "wagon" and "sporty" don’t go hand in hand but the overall design of the A4 Avant is quite striking nonetheless. The revamped front grille looks sharp, the headlight clusters are sleeker and the sloping hood further enhances styling and aerodynamics. Add LED daytime running lights and you have a very dynamic, almost aggressive facial expression.
The rear hatch obviously falls victim to the wagon body style; however, the elegant roofline and rear curves make for a greater-looking package, in my opinion, than any other current wagon. Period.
Stocked interior
Inside, passenger room is plentiful, especially up front. However, when you look at the spec sheet and do a couple of tests, you soon realize that the cargo area is not as spacious as you would hope for. It’s actually smaller than the 3-Series Touring’s from German rival BMW. The low, swooping roofline is a probable culprit, not to mention the non-flat cargo floor once the seatbacks are folded down. As a result, the trunk is not as roomy and accommodating as expected.
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| The new 2009 Audi A4 Avant is light-years ahead of the traditional beige wagon of the ‘70s |
Of course, I wasn’t totally against the idea, either. After all, it’s hard to snub a premium automobile like this Audi, especially since the A4 -- both sedan and wagon -- received a complete makeover for 2009. But still…
As it turned out, my initial reluctance quickly gave way to excitement once I got up close and personal with the A4 Avant. While it can’t escape from the wagon stigma, the fresh new design along with the promise of spirited driving proved to be awfully convincing arguments.
A wagon, really?
In terms of exterior styling, the new 2009 Audi A4 Avant is light-years ahead of the traditional beige wagon of the ‘70s with wood panels all around. It looks extremely assertive and borderline sporty.
I know "wagon" and "sporty" don’t go hand in hand but the overall design of the A4 Avant is quite striking nonetheless. The revamped front grille looks sharp, the headlight clusters are sleeker and the sloping hood further enhances styling and aerodynamics. Add LED daytime running lights and you have a very dynamic, almost aggressive facial expression.
The rear hatch obviously falls victim to the wagon body style; however, the elegant roofline and rear curves make for a greater-looking package, in my opinion, than any other current wagon. Period.
Stocked interior
Inside, passenger room is plentiful, especially up front. However, when you look at the spec sheet and do a couple of tests, you soon realize that the cargo area is not as spacious as you would hope for. It’s actually smaller than the 3-Series Touring’s from German rival BMW. The low, swooping roofline is a probable culprit, not to mention the non-flat cargo floor once the seatbacks are folded down. As a result, the trunk is not as roomy and accommodating as expected.
 |
| Inside, passenger room is plentiful, especially up front. |