We've been driving Audi's mid-size family wagon, the A4 Avant. Find out how we got on here.

What does Audi bring to mind? Build quality? Style? Performance? Bang for your upmarket buck? With so many models available, it’s hard to choose what might suit you, the consumer.

Me, I’d like an R8, but it’s not really one for the school run, dog walk or supermarket, never mind my budget. I need an affordable allrounder, and Audi have that in one of their bestsellers, the A4. It hasn’t changed a great deal in the last year, but why fix it if it ain’t broke? Let’s have a closer look.

Manufacturers tend to send reviewers their fully upgraded model to better demonstrate everything they have to offer. Our A4 Avant, however, was the lowest configuration other than the MT model, starting at only £36,950. No hard feelings, eh? Let’s get on with it.

So. The 35 TFSI comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine tuned towards lower power output. It looks a lot like the 1.4-litre turbocharged engine in an A3 on paper, however, the engine does have higher power output and maximum torque output range. It’s decent but not as punchy as, say, the rival BMW 3 Series. If bhp isn’t your thing, then don’t worry. Economically, we averaged around 42-45mpg during the test which is about bang on with what Audi thinks it should do.

The engine is more than competent for urban streets, commuting, school runs, you name it. The A4 feels reactive, put your foot down and it’s a relatively quick and crisp response. Gear shifting is average yet subtle. You hardly sense any throttle delay after shifting, though it may feel a tad clunky in traffic jams.

If add-ons and details are your thing, let’s have run through the optional extras. According to Audi’s website, the A4 Avant has four available exterior trims – Basic, Advanced, S line, and Edition One. They are more or less the same, save for different colours in a few areas. Our model comes with the Advanced trim.

This new A4 Avant offers 3 headlights options – the standard full LED, the adaptive full LED head and dynamic rear lights that cost £860 more, as seen on our model, and the £1,385 matrix LED upgrade. There are also over a dozen wheel options, the most costly being at £1,900. Our model comes with a £220 wheel upgrade and to be fair, it looked decent enough.

Being a revised model, this A4 Avant does not have too many radical changes in the interior, only a few feature upgrades. It looks much like an its predecessor on the inside. Futuristic, clean, luxurious to a point. It looks like an Audi should, and I like it.

The style of the steering wheel is pretty standard as steering wheels come, but it does offer a good grip and feels comfortable while driving. All models come with a multifunctional steering wheel, though you’ll have to pay another £130 for their vehicle operating system control.

There are tons of upgrades available to this vehicle, all at pretty reasonable prices. One thing that surprised me was that Audi ships its adaptive cruise control and active lane assist in all models by default. Your motorway cruises are now made much easier, safer, not to mention cheaper. Good work Audi.

The 7-inch LCD dashboard on our model, which is a £215 upgrade, is nowhere near as futuristic as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which will set you back £520. The standard-shipping 5-inch monochrome screen is probably made for those who are still playing Snake on their Nokia 8210 and using dial-up internet.

Finally, and this was needed badly, a touchscreen has been thrown in. Using the it feels a little less special when comparing to the spinning dials on its predecessor, but it is more convenient and usable, and Audi has at least made decent touch feedback for the driver. Unless you hate fingerprints. For those who like their screens clean, the touchscreen is a fingerprint magnet, but you can’t have it all. Lastly, the infotainment system does not come with Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto.

Our model has the basic seat option, with a number of selected trims – a £110 4-way adjustable headrest, a £240 4-way adjustable lumbar support, a £665 electrical adjustment for front seats, a £330 front seat heating option. The seat may look a bit basic, but these upgrades should be more than enough for your daily ride.

Its boot is smaller than the serving model, with a 495-litres capacity, drop the seats and you add 1,000 litres to the boot. It's compact compared to some of its rivals.

The ride is tuned more towards comfort but you can feel the chassis jittering after major bumps or twisting around corners at high speed. The handling is just a bit sluggish, a bit weak. Braking feels..lack lusterat best. You feel like you need to push the brake pedal down harder, but it slightly overdoes it towards the end. It does take some time getting used to, I’d say it’s more competent than consistent.

Estates have gradually taken the stage as customers are getting younger. Our A4 Avant’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine should be more than enough for daily use. It does surprise me with its competent power, responsive throttle, and an optimised fuel economy. Audi’s new design language and vehicle operating system have made this A4 Avant more attractive. It is not a complete remake, but why change things too radically? Audi will sell an absolute ton of these and I would certainly consider adding it to my shortlist.

Model tested: Audi A4 Avant 35 TFSI

Price: £32,160

Engine: 2.0-litre petrol

Power: 150bhp

0-62mph: 8.9 seconds

Max speed: 136mph

MPG: 42mpg

CO2: 115g/km

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