RS 4 Avant Well-Balanced Daily Against the Competition
Facelifted for 2021, RS 4 Avant continues tradition of high-performance luxury wagons, may be better than the RS 6 Avant for daily life.
In the United States, the highest-performing Audi wagon is the RS 6 Avant. It’s the first such RS 6 in the market since the first-gen RS 6 Avant left production in 2004. It’s quite the wagon, too, with nearly 600 horses and lb-ft of torque going to the corners. However, it might be too much wagon for some. Alas, the only alternative, the RS 4 Avant, hasn’t been in the U.S. since 2008.
Thus, we can only imagine what driving an RS 4 would be like. Luckily, Raz Roken Rehan of Remove Before Race can help us all live vicariously with his take on the newest RS 4 Avant.
“In terms of what’s changed, not a lot,” said Rehan. “It’s a bit more of a nip-tuck, just like what AMG and M did with their facelifts of their car[s], and, indeed, Alfa [Romeo] with the Quadrifoglio, if you want to compare it. The main news is a revised gearbox software to make the torque converter even snappier, and even more weight-shedding, getting rid of the sound-deadening within the car.”
The RS 4 Avant also includes refreshed infotainment, plus RS-specific TFT gauge clusters, and new front and rear LED lights to go with a revised grille. Overall, it’s a handsome package. But what sort of world did this Audi enter into?
“It’s a weird place for the RS 4 to exist,” said Rehan, “but perhaps it’ll be advantageous for this car. The M3 is coming with a wagon and with all-wheel drive to take the fight to the RS 4. Which is going to make life a bit difficult for this car. Of course, it’s got a really weird-looking face. On the other side, we’ve got the C63, which probably doesn’t deserve to be called such anymore with a four-cylinder hybrid. Though this time, with four-wheel drive, drift mode, and potentially over 550 brake horsepower.”
As for where the RS 4 Avant sits, it currently has the engine and looks it should have, Rehan says. It certainly hits “the sweet spot” as far as weight and dynamics go. The next version, Rehan believes, may either be an e-tron or a hybrid to defend its position.
“I wouldn’t call the RS 6 as a good a daily as the RS 4,” said Rehan. “It’s that much more horsepower, not as good on consumption. This will give me kind of 18 in and around town. On a longer journey, I’ve gotten well above 30 mpg. It’s decent in terms of economy, as well. You’re not going to be chucking all of your money into fuel costs.”
Despite having 450 horses, though, the RS 4 Avant still rocks, matching up with the likes of the Alfa Romeo Giulia, as well as the RS 6 Avant. Rehan says the key is its engine, Tiptronic trans, and the Quattro system. Overall, the RS 4 Avant can do no wrong.
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