Another area where the Allroad bleeds over solidly into SUV territory is the steering, with even the sportiest Dynamic setting yielding light, loose yet predictable steering; Normal and Comfort are even slower and lighter. Parking and low-speed maneuvers are a cinch, but it doesn’t ever seem to firm up enough at speed for that classic Germanic sense of control and security.

The Allroad starts at $47,300 and our Progressiv tester tacked a $1500 Sport Package and paint charge onto its $51,300 base price, coming to almost $56K with Freight & PDI accounted for. The base Komfort model features most of the modern amenities you expect in a luxury car at $50K, like alloy wheels (18 inches), bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, panoramic sunroof, heated power seats in front, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, leather seats and steering wheel, power mirrors and windows (one-touch up/down for all), power tailgate, trip computer, Bluetooth and a fine sound system, but this generation still does not have the USB ports for charging and device connection.


The Progressiv trim adds a unique design for the 18-inch alloys, nav system, three-zone climate control, back-up camera with rear parking sensors, voice recognition, proximity key with push-button start, two memory positions for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass and auto-dimming/power-folding exterior mirrors. The Sport Package we mentioned adds a few perks we really like: Sport Seats with Driver/Passenger Lumbar Support, 3-spoke multifunction flat-bottomed steering wheel and 19-inch wheels with 245/40 R19 performance tires (the black headliner we don’t really care about…). Unfortunately, the performance tires were swapped out for seasonally appropriate Michelin X-Ice winter tires that would have been useful if winter would ever start…

Still, better safe than sorry, and we were ready and hoping for some snow to put Audi’s unflappable Quattro and these snowshoes to the test, but the worst we saw was single-digit temps and some rain (and fog, as you can see in the pictures).

Finally, the Technik is another couple thousand and adds integrated garage door opener, blind-spot monitoring, heated rear seats, adaptive headlights with cornering function and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen stereo for $53,700. It’s nowhere near the level of technology is packing into even the top-trim A3 these days because it is an aging platform, but when experienced from behind the wheel, nothing truly feels missing, except perhaps a heated steering wheel and cooled seats. I do love me some cooled seats, and Jacob reminds me at every opportunity how important a heated steering wheel is for winter survival.

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 4 years/80,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/unlimited distance roadside assistance

Competitors:
BMW 3 Series Touring
Volvo V60

Overall, the Allroad acquits itself well even considering the age of its platform and the high price of entry. The abundance of crossovers in very size imaginable mean there are certainly greater values to be had, and likely with greater reliability than this platform, but buying a premium wagon is not usually a value-first proposition. The A4 Allroad continues to deliver subtle good looks with some crossover flair, an impeccable interior and Audi’s typically excellent ergonomics, driving dynamics on par with most sedans short of the sporting set and cargo and passenger practicality that splits the difference between the stodgy sedan and the frumpy crossover. The wagon isn’t ever likely to make a comeback, and I confess that I’d rather Audi sent us the nutso RSQ3 crossover than another version of the Allroad (or an S4 Avant, of course…), but the A4 Allroad still stands as an ideal compact premium wagon that would better serve than many a compact crossover.

Pricing: 2015 Audi A4 Allroad Quattro
Base Price: $51,300
Options: $2,390 (Sport Package: – $,1500; Monsoon grey metallic – $890)
Freight & PDI: $2,095
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $55,985

Connect with Autos.ca