Two views on the Audi A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi

Times are changing. Remember the days when Nokias were the only phones to have, and anything else, regardless of its features, was considered inferior and not even worth a second look? Nowadays you see all sorts of different models floating around; Blackberry, Treo, O2, blah, blah, blah... You get the point. Well... the same thing has happened to the luxury segment in the auto industry.

While it wasn’t too long ago when a Philippine motoring journalist probably had a better chance of being the next Gold medalist in a Thai hosted SEA games than getting an Audi test drive for a weekend, there I was spending the better part of last week dodging calls from the folks at PGA cars who kept inviting me to try out their latest offering, the new A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi, and then checking up on how much I was enjoying my test drive every day after.

But, who could blame them? Their timing was perfect. With fuel costs skyrocketing, and oil kissing 70 dollars a barrel, these guys have been noticing that even the pampered country club set have started pulling up to the pumps, thinking twice about the price, and making the switch to cruel fuel. They needed to jump in fast and offer the choice. Even if our local diesels still come with a stigma.

But if you’re thinking that by choosing the diesel over a gas model you are making some sort of compromise, you can shove that misconception straight in that vast empty hole in your back pocket. Still, for the sake of those that may have spent too much time behind a rattly public jeep and can’t get the image of black soot out of their heads, let’s clear the air on diesels.

Properly maintained, a diesel engine actually runs cleaner than gas. Plus you usually get more torque, which is that nice surge you feel as you take off from the traffic lights. Most new cars sold today in Europe are diesels. Diesels are widely credited for having a longer lifespan than their gas counterparts. The Philippines is one of very few markets in the world where the pump price for diesel is actually less than gasoline. A diesel engine is more economical than a gasoline equivalent engine. And new technology has significantly reduced noise and vibrations, making it almost imperceptible from inside the cabin.

There’s a lot to be said about Audi’s diesel technology, but nothing really screams louder than their incredible winning streak in Le Mans and their latest win in the 12 hour Sebring race.

This doesn’t mean you can expect to be tearing huge chunks of asphalt out of the roads as you accelerate, of course (that is what our buses and trucks are for) but you can expect a smooth, fluid response from your right foot and a matching smile spreading across your face. Rated at only a piddly 138 horsepower, the Avant performs a hell of a lot better on the road than in a spec sheet. Combine that with the best CVT (continuously variable transmission) in the business and you have a ride that is as dedicated to performance as it is to comfort and economy.

Being a diesel, though, it still has a narrow power band, and this one needs more revs than idle speed to get it cooking; then the torque comes in very rapidly, peaking at about 1,750rpm and staying at peak torque to 2,500rpm before tailing off. From this point, the horsepower takes up the cudgels with 90% kicking in from 2,500rpm, rising slowly to its maximum at 4,000rpm before it starts running out of ideas.

Yet despite the power curves being very cleverly mapped, the Euro 4 rating gives it a slight flat spot in the first stage of acceleration; but in fairness, it’s nothing you can’t learn to drive around. And after filing away around 15 kilometers per liter while still being able to poke around traffic quite briskly, it is definitely a very decent trade off.

Inside, Audi’s traditional cabin clarity, quality and comfort levels are preserved in the revised A4. The most obvious change is the center of the steering wheel, which reflects the shape of the radiator grille. For P2,990M, buyers will get full leather seats with complete power adjustments, a multi function steering wheel with audio controls and Audi’s fabulous paddle shifters plus a premium sound system and all the bells and whistles that you’ve come to expect from a brand that is still in the courting stage while trying to re establish itself as a serious player in a very discerning market. — James Deakin

Okay, while James has already made it clear that the A4 Avant’s diesel powerplant can supply enough pulling power to keep any serious, self-respecting car lover happy, he actually still gave enough room for this writer to delve on the other characteristics of this exciting new offering from Audi. Before sharing any of my impressions on the A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi, however, let me make it clear that I am beginning to have a newfound appreciation for the estate (or station wagon as it is more popularly known in these shores) in general. Immediately before getting my hands on the Avant, I had driven the Jaguar X-type Estate and the Chevrolet Optra Wagon. And, as you read this, I will be test driving a Volvo V50. Station wagons are the current flavor of this writer’s month, apparently.

As such, I will make it clear from the get-go that I do appreciate the extra space provided by the Avant, especially since when it was with me, I used it to pick up my wife from the airport over a weekend — extra baggage and all. If I had needed even more space, silver trimmed roof racks come standard as well. The Avant may not be shaped as sweet as my favorite A4 sedan, but it’s certainly more functional.

That being said, here’s what I think separates the Avant from the other wagons I’d driven so far (apart from it having a performing diesel engine) — handling. Of the four station wagons I’ve been fortunate enough to have driven, the Avant is the one that actually behaves closer to its sedan sibling in terms of handling. Apart from fantastic four-wheel drive technology, a known strength of the brand with the four rings is its adeptness in bringing smiles to its drivers. That’s because the A4 — and its other genetic siblings — can hit corners with bravado even as it throws in a steady amount of pulling power on a very predictable basis.

Yes, I have to agree with James that the A4’s diesel powerplant is surprisingly potent despite its modest advertised numbers. But no, I was not surprised at all that steering response was as solid as it felt. This is the fourth model from the current Audi line-up that I have driven home and I now have high expectations from this bunch of cars. Diesel or no, estate or no, the A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi makes its driver feel just as in control as any of the other Audis available now from PGA Cars. Those oh-so-fun paddle shifters are the icing on this German cake.

The Audi A4’s solid and predictable braking prowess is also evident in the Avant. Does it do a BMW and run away with the top prize where that high-end, go-kart response feel is concerned? Not quite yet — but it’s certainly getting there. Then again, there isn’t really a BMW estate available in the Philippines, is there? With its sound driving dynamics, the A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi is actually the most exciting station wagon to drive out there, despite the fact that personally I prefer the backseat plush of the Jaguar and the enviable rear legroom of the Volvo.

If you are in search of a station wagon, there are other, more compelling reasons to take this car into consideration, however. And the fact that it’s powered by a pretty potent diesel engine ought to be at the top of this list. While most of the time it all boils down to a matter of taste, if you look at the spec sheets, this is really the most fuel efficient car of the batch that’s made available here. If only for this fact, then the Audi A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi is actually in a league of it’s own. — Dong Magsajo