The mere act of bringing back a car that was loved and coveted amongst the high-income suburban-family set from 2001 to 2005 is supposed to evoke fond memories. While I enjoyed my first drive in the Allroad immensely (I’m a wagon girl at heart), seeing the sleek S5 glaring at me in the rearview mirror with its new guyliner-inspired tube-optic LED daytime running lights made me a little angry. I don’t think that’s the emotion Audi’s going for.
Sure, the Allroad has those same smoldering daytime running lights, but there’s a reason Christian Grey didn’t buy Anastasia Steele an Allroad in “50 Shades of Grey.” It’s just not that sexy. It looks a little like me at the moment, dressed functionally in yoga clothes while working from my home office with kiddos hanging around in the background. Why is it that the moment you have a family your options for family cars all look like they’re wearing stretched-out velour sweats? What I need is automotive glamoflage: a car that I can jump in regardless of how hectic my morning has been and look and feel put together merely as a result of the stylized metal encasing me. Are you listening, Audi?
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Soccer-mom style notwithstanding, the Allroad offers small families some great advantages. Doing away with the A4 Avant, the Allroad increases its ground clearance by more than an inch to a total of 7.1 inches. Combined with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive and an off-road electronic stability system, the Allroad becomes what Audi refers to as an “urban-assault vehicle.”
I drove the Allroad over the Continental Divide, reaching above 12,000 feet in elevation, and was impressed with the engine’s ability to maintain its motivation. When gunning it to pass trucks on the mountain passes, the Allroad’s 211-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine responded quietly rather than moaning and groaning in an overt display of displeasure and overexertion. I appreciated the ability to switch the Allroad into manual mode and downshift to hold my speed while coming down the pass.
While steering may feel a little light for enthusiasts, the Allroad will read as easy and effortless for the average consumer. The Allroad’s 37.7-foot turning circle will contribute to ease of use in the city as well as parking lots or carpool lanes.
