• High quality interior beats rivals
• Design breaks little new ground
• Wealth of on-board technology available

How is the quality and the layout?

Even so many years after its launch, we think the quality of materials and construction in the Audi A4 Avant’s interior still sets the benchmark in the compact executive car class. Though it now looks decidedly old school next to the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series and even the Skoda Superb with their jumbo infotainment system displays.

Physical controls are pared back to a minimum in typical Audi style, but we found it’s still extremely user-friendly, with buttons and knobs to control the aircon and other vital functions. Everything you touch has a lovely tactile feel to it and all the controls have a well-damped action. Even in the back, where some other car manufacturers cheap out a bit.

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Infotainment and technology

Taking centre stage is a large 10.1-inch infotainment system touchscreen protruding from the dashboard, which controls the A4 Avant’s major functions. Audi’s MMI software is brilliantly easy to navigate and packed with features (of varying usefulness). We found the voice control system works very well, taking little time get used to. If that’s not for you, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity work without issue, too.

Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit also features, enabling you to fully configure the instrument panel in front of you, depending on whether you’d like navigation or map info, the trip computer or more detailed journey data. It’ll take a little while to flick through all of the functions, but it’s very easy to use once acclimatised. Some of our testers noted the high quality of the stereo, as well.

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We should note that all Audi A4 trim levels have broadly the same package of standard features. The key differences lie in their packages of interior and exterior styling details, though high-spec models do gain plusher seats and more capable infotainment.

Comfort

• Front seats offer excellent support
• Plenty of room for two adults in the rear
• Still one of the most comfortable cars in the class

There’s plenty of adjustment in the A4 Avant’s driver’s seat and steering column, and even our most demanding testers could get comfortable without too much difficulty. Both the front and rear seats can initially feel too firm. But you soon get used to them and none of our testers raised concerns about the seats’ comfort or support, even after an extremely long journey.

The sports seats fitted to S Line models were particularly praised. Very little noise from outside gets through to the interior, and the ride is generally smooth and serene.