2002 Audi allroad quattro

It used to be there were cars, trucks and the occasional station wagon. Now, we have to decipher whether it’s a crossover, hybrid, sport utility, sport activity, recreational, minivan or any of many other concoctions available today. Even distinguishing between car and truck (the PT Cruiser, for example) has become challenging. If those of us who cover automotive trends are confused, Ms. Average Reader must be bewildered. So I’m not going to attempt to pidgeonhole this Audi allroad quattro, except to say it is one of my all-around favorite vehicles of recent test-drives. Of note: Like the word “quattro” which refers to Audi’s all-wheel-drive system, Audi does not capitalize “allroad.” I presume they intend it more as adjective than noun, more as description than statement. Whatever their quirks, I like their wagon, um, crossover, um, sport … oh brother. The Good News
Based on the Audi’s mid-size wagon, the A6 Avant, the allroad initially seems like the German carmaker’s quick answer to the question vital to every car dealer in America these days: Do you have a sport utility? Volvo’s Cross Country or Subaru’s Outback, both established all-wheel-drive wagons dressed in khaki shorts and hiking boots, are such creatures.

And this allroad definitely gives that deliberate outward impression, with its brushed aluminum wheels, rocker-panel trim, matte black-covered bumpers and wheel fenders and a subtle two-tone interior that looks as if it could be hosed off (except you’d ruin all that fabulous leather.) Clad in earthy shades of green inside and out, it’s fairly blatant about attracting the sport utility-shopping crowd.

But do not be lulled by what you see. For, in addition to its semi-offroad aspects, Audi has dropped in a version of the 2.7 twin-turbo V-6 available in the A6 and S4 sports sedans. It makes 250 horses and 258 foot pounds of torque matched with either a six-speed manual or, in my case, a five-speed automatic with Porsche-designed Tiptronic for clutchless manual shifting.

Coupled with the Audi A6 Avant’s already joyous quattro handling and sweet ride, the muscled-up engine turns this allroad into a wagon an enthusiast could love. Really love. The weight of its steering strikes me as particularly good. It feels exceptional in your hands: Centered, fluid, but always attached.

But lest we get carried away with how well this allroad does onroad, there are other enhancements in the offroad category worth noting. In particular, the allroad provides more ground clearance than the standard A6 and has more suspension travel. It also sits on air spring suspension and, with the push of a button, can be raised or lowered among four ride heights. For offroad, its impressive 8.2-inch peak ground clearance is the same as a Land Rover Discovery.

Then when you accelerate to 50 mph at regular ride height, the system automatically lowers an inch for better aerodynamics. At 75 mph (who me?), it lowers yet another inch. Inside, in addition to the aforementioned rich leather, you’ll find all the appointments of a German sport/luxury sedan. Understated fancy.



The Bad News
As with all these crossover vehicles, this allroad doesn’t give you true utility, as in “let’s blast through the woods!!” There is full-time all-wheel-drive in Audi’s capable quattro, but no lower gear for serious trouble. For most sport-utility shoppers, this matters not. The real bad news here is the price. My handsome Audi allroad quattro outfitted with automatic transmission, heated front and rear seats and steering wheel, glass sunroof, premium audio and a host of other nifties was just under $48,000. That’s a lot.

Gas Mileage
EPA rated at 15 mpg city/21 highway

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $41,900;
Price as tested, $47,850

Is it worth it?
I am thoroughly smitten with this handsome sport wagon, not for its offroad posturing as for its extraordinary spirit in everyday driving.

Having fairly recently driven a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon and a smaller BMW 325i sport wagon, both fine performance wagons in their own right, I can attest to how cool this Audi feels. The twin turbo delivers power quickly and efficiently without lag, and handling is superb.

But, even in this day of myriad automotive niches, this allroad’s sport-utility look combined with sport sedan athletics combined with a stinger of a pricetag might have a hard time locating an audience. It may be perceived too rugged for the sport/luxury wagon crowd; too expensive for the utility seekers.

Those who can afford and are drawn to the allroad quattro for all that it is, however, are in for a treat. It is a city slicker in naturalist’s clothing, a nod to the sport utility craze that truly understands the meaning of “sport.”

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.