New Estate of Mind

As automotive culture embraces lifestyle and SUVs transition into crossovers, it seems the station wagon is turning into a longer hatchback.

Or at least that's what has happened with the latest Audi A4 Avant.

With its less upright tailgate, the all-new Avant's profile is not so much estate but more extended hatchback.

The A4 Avant's tapering roofline also gives it a different image, one that is sportier and slightly younger.

The all-new Avant is based on the ninth-generation A4 with its new platform architecture and body panels. Like the A4, the new-generation Avant is also lighter than its predecessor.

There are two versions - the Audi A4 Avant 1.4 TFSI S tronic and the A4 Avant 2.0 quattro with a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine and permanent all-wheel-drive.

The Audi A4 Avant 1.4 with its bigger body weighs in at 1,415 kg, or 40 kg heavier than the A4 Sedan 1.4. They share the same generous 2,820 mm wheelbase and surprisingly, similar luggage space - 500 litres for the four-door model and 505 litres for the wagon. But when the back seats are folded, the Avant's load volume is clearly superior, trebling to 1,510 litres.

This A4 estate also comes with two extremely useful features.

The first is the automatically opening luggage compartment lid. When the tailgate is lifted, the privacy cover automatically retracts for easy access to the load area.

The second is the reversible luggage floor. One side has conventional carpet but the other is a hard, waterproof surface for carrying wet and/or muddy objects.

But perhaps the best aspect of the Avant is that its rear suspension is tuned differently from the Sedan's.

It is firmer for load-carrying duties and this has made this particular A4 even more confident when unladen. The tail is more planted, resulting in good body control in sweeping curves.

The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine is punchy and drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission. With its excellent low-end torque, the Avant sprints from stationary so enthusiastically it feels like there is a bigger engine under the hood.

Its small displacement is only evident at higher speeds, when it runs out of breath with limited elasticity. This is where selecting the dynamic mode in the Audi Drive Select function or the S position of the gearbox is important.

Speaking of the transmission, it has the brilliant coasting function to save fuel but with the latest innovation.

In addition to being automatically engaged, the coasting feature can now be selected by the driver, whether in S, D or M (manual), merely with a half-pull of the right shift paddle on the steering wheel.

Few cars can claim to be this practical, yet as quietly stylish.

Audi A4 Avant 1.4

Engine 1,395 cc inline-4 turbocharged

Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch transmission

Max power 150 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm

Max torque 250 Nm @ 1,500-3,500 rpm 0-100 kmh 8.9 secs

Top speed 210 kmh

CO2 emissions 129 g/km

Average OMV S$34,500

Price S$182,400 (with COE)

Distributor Premium Automobiles, tel 6566-1111