Originally published Sept. 1, 2012
In my driveway one day last week sat the 2013 Audi allroad; it has been eight years since the German builder sent a wagon of that model name to this country. It replaces the A4 Avant for the coming year.
It’s stylish, with a large, vertically ribbed grille and flared fenders, and has an easy-load cargo area accessed by a power liftgate.
Jan was in Denver lunching with old friends from the former Cherry Creek Realty on South Wadsworth Boulevard.
So, alone, and with no pressing matters at hand, a drive of 50 miles or so came to mind, and I began carrying out and loading up the necessities for the venture – fishing pole, fly rod, vest, tackle box, boots, etc.
The allroad competes with the Volvo Cross Country and Subaru Outback, as well as a number of crossovers. It is more sleekly styled than the Volvo and much more luxurious than an Outback.
The Audi’s cargo space, 27.6 cubic feet, was open enough for the fishing equipment, with room left over; yet, it is smaller than the cargo areas in the XC70 or Outback. After loading, the push of a button in the frame bottom of the allroad’s liftgate closed it automatically.
Inside the cabin, a blend of luxurious leather and aluminum trigon inlays with a panoramic sunroof overhead, I fired up the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and headed west.
It’s an impressive powertrain – the 211-horsepower, 2-liter turbo 4 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The torque kicks in with thrust at low rpm and continues strong through midrange speeds. As I left the Big Thompson Canyon at Drake and continued on the Devil’s Gulch Road, full of twists, I moved the Tiptronic transmission into manual mode and used the shift paddles on the steering wheel. This is the most satisfying manner of driving this narrow highway, whether heading toward Estes Park or returning toward Big Thompson. The 8-speed shifts quickly, though not as smoothly as a V-6 or V-8-powered Audi.
After two stops along the stream, I dropped by the Glen Haven General Store for coffee (25¢ for small, 50¢ for large) and cherry cobbler, and was back home in time for dinner. The mountain drive, several mornings of slow in-city maneuvering and a run to Denver and back resulted in overall fuel mileage of 23.6 miles per gallon for the allroad, which carries an EPA rating of 20/27.
Most noticeable difference in the new allroad and the replaced A4 Avant, which I drove about a year and a half ago, is that the latter was low-slung, with ground clearance of only 4.2 inches. The allroad sits high – ground clearance 7.1 inches. The quattro grip is outstanding in either, and the allroad displays little more lean than normal, with a bit more body roll, from its higher stance. The new allroad is based on the A4; the allroad sold here from 2001-’05 was tied to the A6.
Two pricey optional packages pushed the Audi allroad sticker from a base of $39,600 to $47,395. One was a combination of auto-dimming and power-foldable heated exterior mirrors, music interface with iPod cable, trip computer, heated front seats, three-zone climate control and xenon-plus lighting with LED daytime running lights; the other, navigation with voice control, driver information display and rearview camera.
A look back
Almost 35 years ago, I reviewed in The Denver Post a 1978 Chrysler New Yorker four-door hardtop. Excerpts:
If you get a chance, take a drive in the 1978 Chrysler New Yorker. It could be your last opportunity to ride in a really big Chrysler – a company spokesman says next year’s model will be smaller and almost 1,000 pounds lighter. The New Yorker, one of the oldest and most prestigious model names in the auto industry, offers an outstanding ride on the highway. Regarding the 4,800-pound sedan, I liked its exceptionally straight and sure braking, comfortable leather seating and an impressive stereo system.
Sidebar: Keep it clean
Protect your new car’s value by keeping the interior looking fresh.
Keep the inside free of clutter that seems to build up. Consider an organizer and a small trash bag; Add an extra layer of protection by installing heavy-duty floor mats; Clean up spills quickly. Coffee and soda can be diluted with water and blotted up; Set the ground rules. Prevention is the best defense – set rules for yourself and your passengers about what can and cannot take place in the car; and If your car interior is already cluttered and dirty, cotnsider getting an interior cleaning performed by an auto detail shop.– Creative Services Staff
