Audi RS 4 Avant

The cabin is where you will really start to get that racecar feel. At the front is an overstyled dashboard with continuous air vents and a hooded gauge. Instead of a standard gauge meter, there’s a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit which shows the g-meter, boost mode, tire pressure, and a new hockey-stick runway tachometer.

Sitting on the dashboard is a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel. Mounted controls allow the driver to easily switch to “RS” and other drive settings. At the center is a 10.1-inch infotainment that plays music across 19 Bang & Olufsen Speakers. Below it are rotary dials for heating and cooling options.

The bucket-style seats up front provide extra comfort and back support. Rear passengers get a standard bench with headrests for three adults. Behind the second row are 505 liters worth of cargo space. This can be expanded to 1,495 liters by folding the rear seats.

Textured hard plastics and aluminum inlays called ‘anthracite’ are used throughout the cabin and door handles. The seats are clad in premium Nappa leather with contrasting honeycomb stitching and RS embossing. You can go with a standard black-and-grey theme, or the sportier RS design package.

The RS 4 Avant shares a roofline with the Audi A4 Sedan - at least, up until the front half. From there, it extends all the way to the tailgate, giving it a classic station wagon look. Both cars also ride low, making it easier to load and unload passengers and cargo.

Elsewhere, its outer shell looks nothing like the sedan. The super wagon comes with a single frame honeycomb all-black grille, darkened Matrix LED headlights, and massive air intakes on its front end. At the back are wraparound taillights, dual exhaust pipes, a rear spoiler with a built-in stop lamp, and a distinctive diffuser.

On the sides are roof rails, slightly wider wheel arches, and 19-inch Audi Sport wheels with alloy rims. You also get black trims instead of chrome. Its overall exterior resembles that of the Audi RS 5 Coupe. While it gives off a sporty vibe, the RS 4 Avant has the presence of a humble family wagon.

Quattro all-wheel-drive makes it incredibly stable and agile. You can choose from six Drive Select modes to have better control of the experience. Combined with accurate steering and reliable suspensions, the RS 4 Avant is an absolute delight for both the driver and passenger.

The latest Audi RS 4 Avant packs the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6 engine as its predecessor. It offers a maximum of 450 horsepower and 600 Nm torque, and combined fuel efficiency of 11 kmpl.

Thanks to the vehicle’s lighter weight, it can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.1 seconds. Its top speeds register at 250 kmph, though you can get it up to 280 kmph with the optional RS dynamic package.

The brake has enough bite to handle the superwagon at top speeds. Unfortunately, it has an odd placement that requires you to lift your foot in order to reach it.

As for safety, it comes with 8 airbags, seatbelts, and a wide range of active safety and driver-assist features. Some of which include adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, lane-change and exit warnings, lane-keep & turn assist, and parking sensors.

The Audi RS 4 Avant offers the ride comfort of a sedan, the practicality of an SUV, and the performance of a racecar. It’s the perfect halfway for families in need of a reliable vehicle, and a driver who’s after the thrills of a racecar.