I guess we all love those big crossovers which look more like SUVs, and give us the commanding view of the road we crave so much. And there are crossovers which don't fit in this category, and here's where we must introduce you the 2017 Audi A4 Allroad. The 2017 Allroad is a rather good-looking alternative to a mid-size SUV.
You can have a two-tone Allroad in one of 13 colors with gray trim along the bottom and the fenders. Or, pay an extra $1,000 on top of the cost of metallic paint and you can opt for one of five monochrome color schemes. The drivetrain is identical to that of the A4 sedan, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. TThe combo is said to scoot the Allroad to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds- not bad for a 3,825-pound car. While we're fans of the engine, and the transmission works seamlessly once moving, we're not thrilled with the lazy transmission mapping from a stop – there's plenty of power but plenty of lag. Push the gas pedal, count one one-thousand, two one-thousand; get frustrated, push harder; fire off too aggressively and too late. The phenomenon is something we're seeing more and more in current Audi and VW products, and the solution is the same here: Engage the transmission's Sport mode from a stop so you can make your merge or get across an intersection without drama, then back into drive to avoid hanging in lower gears after you're up to speed in traffic. It's an easy fix – especially on the ergonomically pleasing spring-loaded shift lever – but one that shouldn't have to be employed.
Every Allroad has standard adaptive suspension, which electronically varies damping depending on the drive mode you've selected. You can really feel the difference- comfort is decidedly plusher than Sport. The new Allroad is a compelling package if you're not looking for the visual bulk of an SUV, and you're just too proud of yourself to drive a Subaru Outback. It starts at $44,950 and is available now.
