Audi RS4 Avant review

The Audi RS4 Avant is a very quick estate – a curiously appealing car category, but one without very many entrants. Indeed, until BMW makes an M3 Touring (which it probably won’t) or Alfa Romeo designs an estate version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the RS4 Avant has only one direct rival: the Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate.

However, don’t think for one second that Audi has let its guard down due to a lack of competition. Oh no. With a 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 under the bonnet, the RS4 Avant certainly has the firepower to back up its looks. Speaking of which, it’s a pretty discreet package considering. As it flicks by in a flash, observant bystanders will be able tell it apart from a regular Audi A4 Avant, though, by its bulging wheel arches, which it needs in order to house its massive alloy wheels. It also wears distinctive front and rear bumpers, and it all adds up to an undeniably purposeful presence.

Of course, being an estate means it is as practical as it is fast, but performance cars need more in their arsenal than that. These cars need to provide thrills from every pore if they’re to justify their prices, which are steeply inflated over the regular models on which they’re based. So, does the RS4 provide you with the thrilling soundtrack and exquisite handling you'd expect to go with its monumental straight-line pace? And is it the super-fast estate to buy? Read on to find out, because we’ll tell you what an Audi RS4 Avant is like to drive and live with day to day.

And, if you decide it’s the car for you, don’t forget we can help you out with a great deal. Simply head on over to our new car deals page, where you’ll discover the hefty dealer discounts we’ve got on nearly every new car out there.