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Follow-Up Test: 2001 Audi S4 Avant
Audi's Avant-Garde S4
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By Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com
Date posted: 03-27-2001
Psst! Hey, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Station wagons are in; flip-prone, gas-guzzling, vision-blocking behemoths (aka SUVs) are out!
The station wagon is making a comeback, and vehicles like the 2001 Audi S4 Avant are perfect examples of why wagons deserve to reclaim their former place in the automotive pantheon. Sure, the S4 Avant (along with the A4 Avant that it's based on) is more fuel-efficient, better-handling, quicker and easier to park than just about any SUV, but in the S4 Avant's case, it even has a good portion of the sport sedan, performance coupe, and pure sports car segments beat, as well.
Consider, if you will, this grocery-getter's 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6. At 250 horsepower, the S4 Avant has considerably more gusto than the Lexus IS 300, the all-new 2002 Subaru WRX or even the V8-powered Ford Crown Victoria. It also tops the high-strung Honda S2000's 240 horsepower, while matching the Porsche Boxster S' 250 output. The upcoming BMW M3 should eclipse the S4's horsepower with its 333 ponies, but currently no wagon version is planned.
Even more impressive, the S4 comes standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system, meaning only the WRX matches it in terms of all-weather practicality. Besides offering extra grip when the road gets slippery, Audi's all-wheel-drive system (which features electronically locking differentials) makes for superior straight-line and twisty road traction. This system contributed to the S4's zero-to-60 sprint of 5.9 seconds while the quarter-mile passed in under 14.5 seconds. That's Boxster S territory, folks, and in the S4 Avant, you still get 31.3 cubic feet of cargo space before folding down the 60/40 split rear seats (which brings the total to 63.7 cubic feet). Our vehicle was outfitted with the six-speed manual transmission, but Audi claims that even Tiptronic models with the five-speed automatic (a no-cost option) can get to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds.
If this Audi's go power doesn't win you over, its stopping power surely will. The basic four-wheel, anti-lock disc brake system is augmented with four-pad front brake calipers, meaning two separate brake pads grabbing each side of the front rotors. At the test track, we recorded three consecutive 60-to-zero braking distances of 113 feet (also better than the last Porsche Boxster we tested). Through it all, the S4's brakes showed no signs of fading, and the same binders proved super stable when we were driving our canyon test loop.
But hard numbers don't mean a thing if the car just doesn't work in the real world. It's here that Audi's engineers struck an interesting compromise between performance and comfort. Compared to most tuner cars from the likes of Mercedes' AMG group or BMW's M division, the S4 Avant has a decidedly relaxed feel. Speed bumps, broken pavement and freeway expansion joints are traversed with little drama, making it an ideal setup for 90 percent of the driving conditions that S4 Avant owners will encounter 90 percent of the time.
But it also limits the car's handling during those rare occasions when caution is thrown to the wind and pure cornering performance is requested. Under these circumstances, the S4 tilts and sways at every curve, allowing the vehicle's weight to slosh around before finally taking a set and calming down. While still a joy to pilot over twisting canyon roads, the S4 Avant doesn't display the same unshakable composure that its Teutonic rival, BMW, has adopted as its trademark. Does that make the Bimmer better? Not if you spend more time dodging potholes than strafing apexes. Under all but the most enthusiastic of driving circumstances, the S4 is capable and composed, and it never beats you up or makes you feel like you've sacrificed practicality for performance.
And if practicality is your main concern, the S4 Avant offers the type of functionality you would expect from a modern-day station wagon. That means the aforementioned fold-down second row seats with a pass-through for long items, an aluminum roof rack, electronic stability control and multiple airbags (front, side and head). Buyers will also note that xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights, a headlight washer system and foglights are all standard on the S4 Avant. Music aficionados who buy the Avant version of Audi's S4 will get the same eight-speaker, 80-watt audio system that comes with the sedan. However, a subwoofer is added to the wagon's Symphony sound system to provide maximum thump throughout the additional interior space.
Of course, we'd be lying if we said that the practical aspects of the S4 Avant are what drew us to the car. One look at its lowered stance, Onyx Blue Alcantara leather seats and 17-inch Avus wheels and we didn't care how many grocery bags it could hold. And that's really the beauty of this car. Even more than the A4 Avant, this S4 version can play the role of rational daily-driver, confident cold-weather transporter and capable canyon-carver -- all at the same time.
Like every vehicle, the S4 Avant has its weak points. Adults will find second-row legroom too tight for long trips, and our particular model had an annoying creak emanating from the sunroof area. Finally, we find it rather insulting that a $43,000 premium automobile doesn't come with any steering wheel audio controls. We'd also like to see Audi update the headlight, wiper and cruise control stalks, all of which felt clumsy and counter-intuitive to us. We do, however, applaud them for giving buyers one-touch down and one-touch up power windows.
With Subaru's WRX line hitting the market along with BMW's all-wheel-drive 3 Series wagon, buyers finally have a wide range of performance-oriented AWD wagon options. But if, in addition to your all-weather driving and cargo-hauling needs, you require ultimate performance, style and brand cachet, there's really only one choice. With an A4 redesign coming next year, we're not sure what will become of the S4 Avant. We'd like to think it will make the leap to the new platform, but Audi is providing no guarantees. Which means that the first year for this performance wagon (at least from the American car buyer's perspective) may also be its last. So if you like this vehicle as much as we do, place your order now!
And make sure you get the Nogaro Blue Pearl paint with Onyx Blue leather interior. It looks even cooler in person.
See all the Ratings: 2001 Audi S4 Avant Quattro AWD 4dr Wagon (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 5A) Road Test Scoreboard
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