REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

The SUV of the informed

Although its strength unquestionably lies in its functionality, the Allroad has its own special charm that distinguishes it from the Avant. Its front and back bumpers and roof have a slightly different tint than the rest of the body, while its front end, flared wheel wells and skid plates give it a rugged look, even though it ’ s admirably low-key compared to other SUVs.The inside is more or less that of the Avant, with the exception of certain accents that include a imitation-suede trim ceiling, which is without a doubt its only "gawdy" feature. Five adult passengers can fit comfortably.

An extra seat is available as an option and can be installed in the rear to accommodate two extra passengers. The firm seats and resistant seat belts will keep everyone securely in place during both tight curves and off-road driving.It was like driving on a small Canadian logging road, but with two minor exceptions: the ditch on the passenger side (where I was seated) dropped off 1,000 metres… and we were going 150 km/h! The experience could have been terrifying were it not for the fact that European rally champion Jochi Kleint was behind the wheel, driving his new Audi Allroad Quattro.

My copilot and I had taken turns driving this treacherous alpine track four previous times. Even if we were driving at less dizzing speeds, and with much less dexterity than Kleint ’ s, we didn ’ t push the vehicle beyond what an owner in a healthy state of mind would dare to do with his own vehicle, especially if it had cost him $60,000!

If Audi inflicted such extreme conditions upon us, it was to convince us of one thing: the Allroad Quattro is not an oversized family vehicle trying to pass for a SUV. Rather, it ’ s a genuine all-terrain vehicle with off-road abilities that can fulfill the needs of any sport utility buyer, except perhaps the rare fans of rock outcrops and mud-packed tracks.

Even more important, the Allroad Quattro ’ s off-road prowess doesn ’ t compromise its civility on ordinary roads. This is the goal. A market survey undertaken by Audi shows that SUV purchasers are tired of having dealers push conventional sport utilities on them in particular, vehicles with the control and handling of a truck, high fuel consumption and lack of refinement. Instead, they appreciate and want versatility, ample cargo space and both any-time as well as all-terrain qualities. What they really want, according to Audi, is to see all these assets combined with the best attributes of a top-of-the-line touring sedan, which is precisely what the Allroad offers.

The Allroad is a descendant of the elegant A6 Avant family, already an impressive car in itself. So that it can face the rigours of constant off- road use, Audi reinforced the chassis and body ’ s structure, taking care to use a thicker body in strategic places and large protection plates under the most delicate parts.

The main difference between the Allroad and Avant is its new height- variable four-level air suspension, whose entirely automatic function adjusts ground clearance according to speed. Having said that, it is also possible to adjust this device manually, as I did myself on the sinuous and broken mountain roads that overlap the Austrian-German border. When the suspension is in its lowest position, offering a ground clearance of only 132 mm, the Allroad hugs tight curves with ease and its profile and front appearance are almost identical to those of the Avant. For off-road purposes, ground clearance can be increased to 208 mm, higher than that of other well-equipped all-terrain vehicles. But this variable adjustment is only one of the reasons why this device is so ingenious. It also has an automatic ride height control, and offers a comfort and control totally foreign to other SUVs found on the market, either on or off-road. The Allroad also benefits from the Audi ’ s Quattro AWD system, which is not only well-tested but undoubtedly the best in the industry, except perhaps that of the Carrera 4 (Porsche). Backed by an electronic differential lock (EDL) and an electric stability program (ESP), it offers as much any-time and all-terrain versatility as one can expect from a vehicle. In short, if you crash or get stuck while aboard the Allroad, it can be only be your fault, not the vehicle ’ s.

In order to make it even more attractive, Audi equipped the Allroad with a 5-valve 2.7-litre V6 biturbo engine which powers the S4 and A6 2.7T "hot rods." They can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a five- speed Triptronic automatic. With 250 hp at 5,800 rpm, 260 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm, and a final-drive ratio lower than that of European rivals, the Allroad that will be available in Canada should be capable of surpassing BMW ’ s X5 V8 in acceleration.

The Audi Allroad Quattro offers such an intelligent response to the real needs of SUV purchasers it ’ s a wonder why no one thought of it before.

PROS
Versatility
Solid handling
Detailed finish

CONS Pricing