• Broad range of petrol and diesel engines
• All the engines are great
• No hybrids available

Petrol engines

The range of TFSI petrol engines available in the Audi A4 Avant is baffling. Only two engines have been used, both four-cylinder turbocharged units of 1.4- or 2.0-litres in size. But there have been no less than six power horsepower outputs to choose from, ranging from 150hp to 265hp (the 1.4 only ever had 150hp).

Audi originally stated an engine’s power output in its designation, but later switched to a different system. Thus, more recent engines are badged 35 TFSI, 40 TFSI and so on, the number indicating the power level. Various combinations of manual or S Tronic automatic gearbox, and front- or Quattro four-wheel-drive are available – check out our specs pages for a full breakdown.

Of the engines currently available, we think the popular 150hp 35 TFSI feels punchier than its power rating would suggest, and that’s balanced by strong fuel economy. But the 190hp 40 TFSI is the better all-rounder. Performance is stronger, especially on the motorway, and you don’t lose much in efficiency. The 245hp 45 TFSI is faster still, but MPG drops as a result.

Then there’s the S4 Avant, which comes with a 3.0-litre, turbocharged V6 TFSI engine producing 354hp. That translates to a 0-62mph time of under five seconds; MPG isn’t disastrous, either. Quattro four-wheel drive and an automatic ‘box are fitted as standard.   

Diesel engines

The choice of TDI diesels in the A4 Avant is even more baffling than the petrol engines. There’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit available with five horsepower outputs from 136hp to 204hp, and a 3.0-litre V6 with three outputs from 218hp to 286hp. That’s two engines with a total of eight power ratings.

As with the petrol engines, the amount of power is stated in the engine designation or indicted by a prefix number. Various combinations of manual or automatic gearbox, and front- or Quattro four-wheel drive are available – our specs pages can help you unpick what those combinations are.

At present, just two diesels are available to buy new, both 2.0-litre units. The 35 TDI develops 163hp and 370Nm of torque, and we think it strikes a great balance of performance and economy. The 190hp 40 TDI isn’t that much faster, and its MPG drops quite significantly.    

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At the top of the range there’s the discontinued S4 TDI, which has a 3.0 V6 engine producing 347hp and a stonking 700Nm of torque. It’s 0-62mph time of under five seconds is impressive enough, but it’s the engine’s massive overtaking muscle that really left an impression on our testers.

What’s it like to drive?

• Well-weighted, direct steering
• Safe handling, lacks agility
• Quiet and calm on the motorway

The Audi A4 Avant feels very assured from behind the steering wheel, whatever sort of road you’re driving along. We think the steering lacks the last few degrees of finesse the BMW 3 Series has, nor does its chassis feel as agile as that car’s. But you can easily make rapid cross-country progress. There’s little body roll in corners and the steering has pleasant weight to it. That can be adjusted via the Drive Select dial, but we found Comfort is the ideal setting across a variety of road conditions.

The ride is generally very good, though the standard suspension combined with the bigger wheels of S Line models can send shocks through the car from big holes and bumps. Speccing adaptive suspension solves that problem, though.

Get the A4 Avant on a motorway and it feels in its absolute element. It’s resolutely stable and absolutely safe, the ride is mostly very settled and there’s very little cabin noise. Some of our testers have covered vast distances in a single day with it and got out at the end feeling none the worse for wear.

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If you want to have a bit more fun, the S4 can provide it. More of the engine’s power is sent to the rear wheels – particularly with the optional Sport differential – which makes the car feel more interactive. The steering still feels too remote for our tastes, though.