2008 Audi A4 Avant

Little Wagon, Big Potential

The Audi A4 Avant is a stylish station wagon that's fun to drive and ready to haul.

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The Audi A4 Avant is a tidy station wagon that packs a pair of potent engines and standard all-wheel drive. Its cargo hold and handsome interior appointments make it a reasonable alternative to a compact luxury SUV.

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Like the Audi A4 2.0T sedan, the Avant 2.0T is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Avant 3.2 comes with a more-powerful V6 shared with the larger Audi A6.

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Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard. Either engine can be mated to a six-speed manual or a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, the latter which lets drivers select gears manually.

An optional S Line sport package on the less-expensive models includes an upgraded suspension and performance-oriented tires to sharpen handling.

Audi A4 Avant Vehicle Summary

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Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and the latest version of Audi’s stability and traction control systems are standard to help drivers retain control under slippery conditions or during extreme handling maneuvers. Front side and side-curtain airbags are standard.

Adaptive high-intensity headlamps that pivot to illuminate the road around curves are part of an options package, as is a navigation system controlled by Audi’s Multi-Media Interface, or MMI. The Audi MMI system can be confusing to operate at first, but less so than BMW’s iDrive system. Audi does a particularly nice job of keeping radio channels organized with the optional satellite radio receiver.

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Is the Audi A4 Avant for You?

Buy the Audi A4 if
You want a comfortable, stylish and sporty station wagon that isn’t as harsh-riding as some of the competition; you want all-wheel drive; you need just a bit more practicality than the A4 sedan offers.

Keep Looking if
You need comfortable seating for five adults; you prefer a car that skews toward luxury or performance rather than blending the two; you prefer flashy styling.

Who Fits?
Four fit in reasonable comfort and five in a pinch; front-seat occupants will find ample room in the Audi A4 Avant; the rear seat will accommodate most passengers.

Closest Competitors
BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Volvo V50

Did You Know?
The Audi A4 series has been around for more than three decades and has been sold under a variety of names during that period. Originally offered in 1972 as the Fox, it was the automaker’s second model here after the 100 (now known as the A6). Redesigned in 1982, it was renamed the 4000 and became the first U.S. Audi to feature the renowned quattro all-wheel-drive system. The car would receive yet another name change later that decade as the 80 and was subsequently rechristened with its current nameplate — A4 — in 1994. A later redesign for 2001 boasted a continuously variable transmission (which eschewed conventional gears for a series of belts and pulleys).