2009 Audi A4 Avant Long-Term Road Tests Archives

Below are the fuel economy numbers for December 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy: December 2009.

Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD

Ah, vacation is over but we put a bunch of miles on the A4 Avant, 1,467 to be precise. Over those miles, the A4 (EPA rated at 21 mpg City / 27 Hwy / 23 Comb) earned 25.1 mpg average. The worst tank was 20.0 mpg and the best tank returned 28.3 mpg. Seems the "new" method the EPA uses to predict fuel economy is far more applicable than the pre-2008 way.

By the way, we found a terrific highway between Hwy 1 in Cambira and Hwy 101 in Paso Robles. It's called Green Valley road (or Hwy 46) and it bends and rises from sea level up to about 1,000 feet and the views as the terrain changes from rolling hills dotted with small ranches to arid wine country is stunning.

 Chief Road Test Editor, Chris Walton @ 22,060 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

We're all packed up and ready to head North to Avila Beach/Port San Luis for the Holidays. The A4 Avant proved quite a pack horse, holding a kiddie bike, extra booster seat, games, and luggage for a week away. Follow the jump to see photos from Hwy 101 along the coast and the A4's impressive fuel economy. 

Continue reading 2009 Audi A4 Avant: Holiday Drive Begins.

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Scott's getting old and soft. The ride quality in our longterm 2009 Audi A4 Avant is fine. It's firm, but never harsh and definitely doesn't have bump sensitivity. I'd rock this thing across the country without thinking twice.

Then again, I drove our old Audi R8 from LA to Seattle and back in the span of three days.

With that said, Scott does make a valid point. This autobox-equipped, indifferent steering-havin' A4 otherwise doesn't have the sporting chops to fully realize the promise of the ride's taut control. Ah, to have a manual gearbox...

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

I just spent the better part of a week (except for the few day detour to Abu Dhabi) driving our long-term 2009 Audi A4 Avant, which is equipped with the optional Sport Package, although I wish it wasn't.

This little wagon just rides too firmly for me. Fact is, I think it's sprung stiffer than our S5, yet it doesn't really have the engine or the high-performance vibe that makes such a sacrifice in ride acceptable. Instead it just feels like a wagon with a small engine that is sprung too stiffly and insists on crashing over even the smallest road imperfection. No point except discomfort, which is no point at all. 

But there's an easy fix for this. Don't pay for the Sport Package. I've driven 2.0T-powered A4's without it and they ride wonderfully.

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief 

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

A rainy night in the heart of Beverly Hills. I park our long-term 2009 Audi A4 just west of Rodeo Drive, the world's richest street and pop into my favorite pizza joint for a slice.

This is where money comes to breed. In this neighborhood millionaire doesn't mean much. In this neighborhood the maids drive BMW 3 Series convertibles, high school kids cruise around in M5s and a Bentley Continental GT ain't nothing if it ain't a Speed. In this neighborhood a stock Ferrari is no big deal. 

In this neighborhood our A4 Avant is a hit, proving once again that this is one of the world's best looking wagons.

On this night our little German wagon gets a thumbs up from a guy driving a Rolls Royce Phantom and an "I like your car" from a women driving a Aston Martin V8 Vantage convertible. Then, just when I thought it can't get any weider, I'm pretty sure I spot Gene Simmons from KISS driving by in a black Escalade on very large chrome wheels. He doesn't acknowledge our A4 Avant, but it's a cool celebrity sighting anyway. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe.  

Merry KISSmas Gene. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 20,402 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

We bought our long-term 2009 Audi A4 Avant 13 months ago. In that time it has been driven over 20,000 miles. I thought you might like to see how its 18-inch Bridgestone Potenza summer tires (Remember our car is equipped with the optional Sport Package.) are holding up. I think the answer is remarkable well.

In fact, I drove the car in the rain this week and it's as sure footed as you'd expect an all-wheel drive Audi with massive perfomance tires to be.

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 20,309 miles 

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Gassing up our long-term 2009 Audi A4 Avant this afternoon I decided to take a minute and check the oil. So a pushed a few buttons and sure enough the display on the screen told me the A4's 2.0-liter could use some oil. Nearly an entire quart.

Being at a Mobil station at the time I figured I'd save myself the run to the auto parts store and just buy a quart in the little mart. Which I did. I bought a quart of Mobil 1 5W-30, which is acceptable according to the A4's owner's manual. Then I poured 75% of it into the engine; until the computer told me enough was enough.

Cost? $7.99 plus tax.

That's right. $8.77 for one quart. Ouch.

By the way, the computer also told me the A4 isn't due for an oil service for 4,000 miles.

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 20,234 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Recently, our long-term Audi A4 Avant crossed the 20,000-mile mark. I was surprised to discover that it's already been here for more than a year (we introduced it back in November 2008). Maybe it's because I've only driven it a few times, but I still think of the A4 as one of the newer cars in the fleet.

Happy Birthday, Triple A.

Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 20,099 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

When leaving a signal or a stop sign in our long-term 2009 Audi A4, things don't happen instantaneously.

First, the intial tip-in response of the throttle is too soft. Then the revs climb high and hold as the torque converter tries to let the engine build boost. It makes for dignified, though not particularly hasty, departures.

Once you're underway and the torque converter is fully locked up, there's ample sauce underfoot.

This throttle lag/softness has me two-pedaling the Audi as I approach empty four-way stop intersections. Left foot brake as a stop sign approaches, and apply throttle just before it reaches a standstill.

I suppose a partial solution to this minor irritation is the 'Dynamic' mode of the Drive Select system found on our longterm S5.

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Below are the fuel economy numbers for November 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy: November 2009.

Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD

Below are the fuel economy numbers for October 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy: October 2009 .

Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD

I was rummaging through our box of long-term car spares and found the set to our 2009 Audi A4 Avant. Not only is there a spare key fob (left) but also a plastic emergency key fob (right). Both plug into the dash and operate like the standard fob.

The emergency key separates into two pieces, a holster and key. Both must be fit together for it to work. There is a specialized sleeve in the glovebox to store the holster, and ideally, the key portion is stored elsewhere. It's fancy. But is this a good idea? Is it spare key overkill?

Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 18,700 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

Below are the fuel economy numbers for September 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As always, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy: September 2009.

Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX

OK, maybe I'm missing something but does Audi really expect you to be able to drive and scroll around the map on the nav screen at the same time? See the above picture of our 2009 Audi A4 Avant's nav screen? Well the function to scroll around the map requires that you click on that arrow icon on the lower right. Horizontal arrows mean you want to scroll on the map sideways and vertical means scrolling up or down. But you have to first move the line to where you want to look and then click the button again to move that box where you want to go on the map. Huh? Try keeping your eyes on the road at the same time you're trying to see where the next major street is on the map.

Of course, the nav guidance itself is nice, as editor Chris Walton has already said. The nav lady gives clear instructions, sometimes multiple times and you get plenty of heads-up before your next turn. But if you just want to see where the freeway is or something, better pull over first.

Also, it took some figuring out how to exit the above function since there's no "back" or "return" option on the screen. I just resigned myself to not using the map function. But when I eventually looked down at the button I was using to click the screen, I saw the return button. Heh, oops. It's not a very intuitive place for it. Naturally this is a nonissue to Audi owners.

Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 18,532 miles

Categories: 2009 Audi A4 Avant