Wheels in the Forest: The Audi A4 Avant

First Impressions in the Forest: How the A4 Avant Feels on Schmücke’s Roads 

The first thing that hits you about the Audi A4 Avant isn’t the way it looks, though the sharp shoulder line and the unmistakable “tornado line” slicing through the doors do give it a mature poise, it’s how it isolates you. Even as I pulled out of Suhl and onto the winding B247, engine off thanks to the mild, hybrid system’s coasting function, I noticed how serene it was. Cabin insulation is almost over, engineered. Tire roar, wind, drivetrain noise, it’s all so subdued that even the rustle of Schmücke’s dense tree canopy felt louder than the car itself. 

My test cars were the 40 TDI with quattro all, wheel, drive and the 40 TFSI front, driven petrol. Both were paired to a seven, speed S tronic dual, clutch transmission. The diesel car had adaptive suspension, which soaked up rough tarmac without feeling floaty, ideal for the patchy, post, winter repairs common on these regional routes. The petrol A4 felt a bit lighter, a bit more eager to turn in, but both drove with that Audi signature: solid, unflappable, clean. 

Engines & Performance: Calm Confidence or Quiet Muscle? 

There’s a quiet strength in the 40 TDI that’s hard to describe until you really ask it to move. With 204 hp and a chunky 400 Nm of torque, it’s not blisteringly fast on paper, but in the real world, it’s exactly what you want. Overtaking on a single, lane road toward Gehlberg? No hesitation. The turbo spools early, and the mid, range punch is surprisingly potent for a car weighing in at nearly 1.7 tonnes. 

The petrol 40 TFSI, rated at 204 hp in its latest tune (originally 190 hp), felt lighter on its feet. It revs cleaner, more willing to chase the redline, and on the short Autobahn stretch toward Erfurt, it hit an indicated 230 km/h with very little drama. It’s slightly less suited for the low, rev, torquey pull you want for mountain hairpins, but it’s undeniably smoother and more refined for daily driving. 

The S tronic gearbox behaves differently in both. In Comfort mode, the diesel shifts almost imperceptibly, always chasing efficiency. In Dynamic mode, the TFSI becomes more playful but exposes a small hesitation during stop, and, go maneuvers. The crawling function isn’t as refined as a torque converter auto, something I especially noticed inching through Ilmenau traffic in the evening drizzle. 

Inside the A4 Avant: Modern Touch or Digital Overload? 

The cockpit is clean. Almost too clean. Audi removed the rotary push, button and MMI touchpad for this generation, replacing them with a 10.1, inch touchscreen that dominates the dash. It looks modern, sure. But once you’re bumping along Schmücke’s cobblestone village roads or trying to adjust something on the fly through narrow switchbacks, you start missing the old hardware. 

Still, some parts of the interface work well. The climate control is refreshingly physical, with clean toggles and haptic feedback. Voice control is usable, at least for setting destinations or changing radio stations. The Virtual Cockpit display is as sharp and adaptable as ever, with map overlays and detailed drive data available at a glance. 

Seats are a high point. Both test cars had sport seats with extendable thigh supports, strong bolstering, and long, haul comfort. Over four hours behind the wheel each day, including tight corners, hard acceleration, and stop, and, go urban traffic, I never once wished for anything more cushioned or ventilated. 

Real, World Consumption: How Efficient Is the A4 Avant? 

Both models come with a 12V mild hybrid system, designed to switch off the engine during coasting (between 55 and 160 km/h) and support the engine during acceleration. On paper, it’s supposed to cut consumption by about 0.3 liters per 100 km. In reality? Let’s say it’s optimistic. 

Driving sensibly on mixed routes, Schmücke’s tight inclines, federal roads, and a bit of Autobahn, I averaged 6.0 l/100 km in the diesel and 7.8 l/100 km in the petrol. That’s within expectations, but not outstanding. Other competitors in this class can squeeze out more from a liter. But pollutant emissions, measured under the ADAC Ecotest, were impressively low for both variants. The diesel scored 4 out of 5 stars; the petrol got 3. 

Practicality and Trunk Space: Surprisingly Underwhelming 

This is where things get tricky for the A4 Avant. You’d expect a station wagon to be the embodiment of utility, but the A4’s cargo space is only average. The official figures say 495 liters with the seats up and up to 1,495 liters with them folded, but in real life, the loading area is narrow, and the slope of the hatch eats into usable vertical space. 

Hauling a gravel bike to Schmücke’s hiking trails took some creative disassembly. Removing the front wheel and folding the 40:20:40 rear seats helped, but even then, the narrow boot made it awkward to slot everything in. You do get standard lashing points, a luggage net, and a power tailgate (optional wi

th foot gesture), but compared to a Skoda Superb Combi or even a VW Passat Variant, this felt cramped. 

At least rear passenger space isn’t an issue. I had a 1.90, meter, tall friend join me for part of the trip, and he fit fine behind my own 1.85, meter driving position. That’s rare in this segment. Legroom is ample, headroom sufficient, and ingress/egress is easy, even in tight parking spots off Schmücke’s narrow forest clearings. 

Cost and Equipment: The Price of Premium 

Audi doesn’t give anything away. The A4 Avant starts at just under €50,000 for the petrol and a bit more for the diesel. But the test cars, fully loaded with adaptive suspension, Bang & Olufsen 3D sound, S line packages, and full driver assistance suites, topped €63,000. 

Navigation? That’s €2,255 extra. The Bang & Olufsen sound system? €1,140. Want lane keeping assist, blind, spot monitoring, or adaptive cruise? Those come bundled into pricey option packs. What you’re really paying for here isn’t just equipment, it’s feel. The tight shutlines, the material quality, the precision of everything you touch. If that matters to you, the A4 justifies its price. If it doesn’t, there are cheaper wagons that do more. 

Conclusion: Wagon Dreams & Realities  

After nearly 700 km across Thuringia, the Audi A4 Avant left me with a mix of admiration and slight frustration. It’s one of the most polished, refined, and competent station wagons on the road. It drives with a calm precision that few others match. The diesel is ideal for long, haul tours; the petrol for urban daily life. Inside, it’s beautifully made, tech, forward, and premium in every sense. 

But in a segment where wagons live or die by how much they carry and how affordably they’re optioned, the A4 Avant just misses top marks. Trunk space feels like an afterthought. Prices balloon quickly. And the new touchscreen, first interface removes some of the intuitiveness Audi used to be famous for. 

That said, it’s hard to think of a better car for a week in Schmücke. And maybe that’s the whole point.