Audi A4 Avant 3.2 FSI Quattro: In the Autoblog garage, day 2-3

The Audi A4 Avant 3.2 FSI Quattro is in the Autoblog garage for the 2nd and 3rd day.

Besides having an arsenal of gadgets, the Audi possesses some serious grip. All four wheels seem glued to the road like a mutant gecko. It’s quick and possesses this unbelievably tenacious traction. You throw it into a corner and let the car do the work. It is effortless to drive quickly, all the while you feel like you’re almost a passenger to the Audi’s Quattro genius at work beneath your seat. We wouldn’t say that it has quick reflexes; it is responsive but not hyperactive to driver inputs. Needless to say, the A4 is a smooth operator.

Audi’s 3.2 FSI engine is a brilliant power plant. The 3.1-liter, direct-injection V6 produces 255 horsepower at 6500 RPM and 243 lb-ft of torque at 3250 RPM. The torque curve is almost flat, so the V6 provides plenty of grunt at any speed. The engine zips right up to red line, and Audi reports the A4 Avant 3.2 FSI will sprint from 0-60 in 6.8 seconds. It feels faster than that, and we’ve seen other publications publish numbers closer to 6.1 seconds.

Oh well! When left in S-mode, the transmission does a pretty good impression of an enthusiast driver rowing the gears.

When you look at how Audi has put this car together, it becomes clear that it’s more than four wheels, some seats, and an engine. It is very hard to explain that its aesthetics are top notch. For a compact wagon, there are other ‘cheaper’ options, but when you look at the Audi’s prestigious competition the Audi is actually a pretty good value. Neither BMW nor Mercedes offer a six-cylinder, all-wheel-drive wagon. Neither BMW nor Mercedes offer a compact all-wheel-drive wagon with their top-of-the-line engine. Their sedans in the large six-cylinder, all-wheel-drive configuration, comparably equipped, are priced higher than Audi’s wagon. Not only do they retail for more, but the Audi A4 has arguably the better interior and higher quality assembly. The quality and sheer thoughtfulness that went into designing the A4’s interior is mind boggling. There are a couple shortfalls, like the ultra small door pockets, but overall it’s brilliant.

Looks like some people still have good taste for cars!

GermanCarBlog, Audi A4

Source: Autoblog

Audi A4 Avant 3.2 FSI Quattro: In the Autoblog garage, day 2-3

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