Audi Allroad Quattro 2002 Review

The crossover car may not have the sharp road manners of a standard Audi or the go-anywhere ability of a LandCruiser.

But this allroad quattro sits nicely in between.

And it goes a lot further down a scrub track than some would believe. Or try.

The quattro does not mind the mud, slush and rocks. It loves a quick gravel road and is a fair highway cruiser.

As with others in this elite band of European all-roaders – the Mercedes-Benz ML, BMW's X5 and Volvo's Cross Country – the Audi is quite capable of heading into the far-flung west.

That's provided the well-heeled explorer takes along a couple of full-sized spare tyres and arranges a forward supply of premium unleaded fuel.

Whether many $100,000 wagons are bought for long, hard drives is another question.

Arguably the best-looking and best-built of the fresh crop of plush off-roaders, the Audi has adjustable suspension to give up to 208mm of clearance.

On full extension, the wagon's wheel and suspension travel is limited, but with a little care and attention, the all-road can be moved on without too much sweat.

Off-road advantages include an excellent power-to-weight ratio and sophisticated four-wheel technology to keep the allroad rolling.

The new engine is a 2.5-litre turbo diesel V6 that has 132kW of power and a healthy 370Nm of torque.

It's mated to a five-speed automatic linked to Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The Audi uses a combination of torque-sensing differentials, electronic differential locks and four suspension settings, adjustable from the dashboard, to keep the allroad forging ahead.

The wagon is loaded with leather and the like. There's a sunroof, beautiful alloy wheels, climate-control airconditioning, a trip computer, eight airbags and even a warning beeper for close parking, a device best switched off in the bush where it's likely to implode, registering rocks, trees and kangaroo grass.

On the road

The bush-grubby Audi allroad crept into the outback Queensland town of Charleville under the blanket of darkness, fellow travellers already tucked up tight at the Warrego Motel.

The all-wheel-drive wagon was humming along like a diesel sewing machine. All the whistles and bells were fine but the good-looking machine was limping on a pair of sorry and sad front tyres through south-west Queensland.

One was the Audi's spacesaver, with an 80kp/h limit to set an unplanned record run from Betoota, in the far corner country, to Brisbane's bright lights.

The other was a badly bruised 225/55R70 F1 Goodyear Wrangler, an uncommon size out this way.

The first's sidewall was sliced on a ragged rock about 170km from Birdsville, the dolt of a driver drawn to the rock like a magnet. It was out with the spacesaver, inflate it with the Audi's air compressor and move out. Steadily.

With about 100km to run to the bitumen, the other front wheel hit something nasty in blinding dust as the Audi was overtaken on the run to Windorah. The rubber bubbled into a filthy boil on the side of the tyre.

The gods of the roads had wreaked havoc.

It is not uncommon to run into tyre trouble on this 270km stretch in and out of Birdsville. But the Audi allroad was never found wanting along the track. This is no sook.

It has good ground clearance, thanks to adjustable air suspension, plenty of traction and plenty of performance from an engaging turbo-charged V6.

While this diesel may need a little prod around town to get on the boost, it is a seamless operator at road speed, aided by a smooth auto transmission.

And all the while, even at a frustrating 80kp/h cruise home, the Audi was quiet and comfortable, even serene.

The stereo system is a boomer, though FM radio reception may be stronger in other wagons.

The only rattles, even along tyre-chewing tracks, were CD cases rocking together in the door pockets.

Ride comfort, sometimes a little firm around town, was excellent over blistered bitumen, corrugated dirt roads and sandy desert straights.

The Audi sat up one suspension setting on the dirt and gravel tracks, enough for decent clearance.

The tail moved around a little on the dirt, yet was always in control.

On the roads out to the border country, when the rubber was fresh and round, the allroad ran swiftly and smartly, cruising at 110kp/h down dirt or tar.

Electric adjustments for the leather-covered front seats, decent airconditioning and a very readable set of instruments help make these long-distance hauls easier and more comfortable.

The allroad did the trip at little more than 10 litres per 100km.

The better economy was on the trip home, rolling along quietly into the long night, gently dodging the roos to save bruised rubber, trying to move over to let faster vehicles (read everyone else) through.

Two days after the nastiness on the Birdsville road, the Audi rolls smartly into Brisbane, almost 1500km since the first tyre went.

It had covered 3500km all up in what seemed as easy as A to B – Audi to Birdsville – much of this through remote territory 1700km out of Brisbane. It was always willing.

Running an Audi allroad to Birdsville and relying on the spacesaver spare tyre was foolhardy. But it showed the Audi wagon to be a safe and sure long-haul machine, quite happy to tackle a decent bit of big sky country.

And it proved a spacesaver tyre, treated nicely, could last the distance.