Audi RS4 Avant 4.2 V8 FSI 450 CV Quattro S-tronic, test drive (Engine, handling and consumption)

This test is very special. Taking advantage of the website’s new design, we want to bring you the test of a car that is a species on the verge of extinction, I mean the Audi RS4 Avant equipped with one of the last naturally aspirated petrol V8 engines, just as other RS or performance models from other brands are opting for turbocharging.

As you know, in this generation of the Audi RS4 only the estate body style is available, but we assure you that the fun is guaranteed. There are few vehicles with which, besides taking the kids to school, we can get lost on a rally stage and enjoy the driving and its spectacular 4.2 V8 FSI engine producing 450 CV. Space, an elegant yet sporty design and radicalness under the bonnet: that is the Audi RS4 Avant we are testing today.

Engine and performance

This powerful V8 is shared with the Audi R8

The powerplant that drives the RS4 Avant is a 4.2 FSI with eight cylinders in a V configuration, capable of delivering 450 CV. The R8 also uses it, and it is an engine on the verge of extinction, since other brands such as Mercedes have opted for turbo, and BMW in its M models too, but even Audi in the RS6 and higher models of the RS range already uses turbocharging.

450 CV V8 engine that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 secondsAmong the engine’s performance figures, we highlight the 430 Nm of torque, available at 4,000 rpm, while it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h. It delivers the 450 CV almost at the red line of the rev counter, specifically at 8,250 rpm, and is very progressive in its power delivery. Another detail is the specific output of 108 horsepower per litre of displacement, a figure with few rivals.

The engine’s response is simply sublime. When pulling away, the smoothness is noticeable, very progressive in power delivery, and normally, if we drive calmly, the gearbox always keeps the longest gear possible and we cruise below 2,000 rpm (at 50 km/h it is in 6th gear at 1,200 rpm).

That said, that smoothness turns into sportiness as soon as we press the accelerator pedal down or select Dynamic mode. The instrument cluster goes up to 9,000 rpm, and we can attest that it pulls almost up to 8,500 revolutions, being most intense between 6,000 and 8,000 rpm (both in terms of the sensation of thrust and the sound of the engine at that moment).

Going from cruising at 1,200 rpm in sixth gear to using the engine’s full potential is as simple as using the paddles or the S-Tronic dual-clutch gear lever (7 speeds) and downshifting (it is very quick), making the revs climb and the RS4 become wilder.

The S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox has seven speeds

One addition that is noticeable when driving is Quattro all-wheel drive, which literally prevents any loss of grip in almost any situation. It also makes driving in tricky areas very easy and makes the most of each of those 450 CV. The secret to its good performance lies in its two differentials (crown-wheel type), one on the front axle and one on the rear, which under normal conditions distribute power 40/60 (front-rear). Optionally, an active rear differential can be fitted, which varies the power split between the two rear wheels.

To top it off, our test unit was fitted with “Dynamic Ride Control” suspension, that is, adaptive suspension with hydraulic damper control depending on the driving mode selected. This equipment is optional.

Handling

On roads with good tarmac it is a very comfortable car

Now we know in depth the engine hidden under the bonnet of the Audi RS4, but we still need to talk about how it behaves in practice, what sensations it conveys through the steering wheel, and what it is like for daily use.

Can an estate car be sporty? Without a doubt, yesEstate and 450 CV, a curious combination that many will surely think is whimsical. Until now the RS4 was sold as a saloon or even a convertible, but now it is only available as an estate. Can an estate be sporty? Yes, of course it can, and the RS4 is a good example.

As soon as we start it, we notice a slight purr, nothing exaggerated, nothing out of place. We move off for the first few metres and the RS4 feels very smooth; the beast seems to be sleeping. In the first few metres at the wheel we see a straight and cannot resist pressing the pedal to see what happens. The gearbox downshifts quickly and the beast wakes up with a surge that literally presses us back into the seat.

From Drive Select we can change the response of the engine/gearbox, steering, sound and suspension

Our first test is in everyday conditions: city, country roads and even motorway, in Comfort mode (it offers Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes). The car is always smooth, low on revs and even very calm for such a powerful engine.

The suspension is firm if the road surface is not in good condition, even in Comfort mode. That said, on the motorway with good tarmac it is a comfortable car with good interior soundproofing. On the motorway the sensation is one of stability and control at all times.

The real test was on the road, not just any road but a fun one with bends and quick changes of direction, and there it surprised us. The RS4 weighs approximately 1,800 kg; its estate dimensions might lead us to think it will not measure up, that the engine sits ahead and the body will fall short, but that is not the case.

As we start to tackle the first bends in Dynamic mode (with the active differentials and the suspension in sport setting, that is, even firmer), we find it hard to knock it off line, there is hardly any inertia, and it exits every bend with surprising stability (though be careful not to accelerate too hard on exit or you will notice it pushing wide).

Overall, the response is sporty despite its weight and dimensionsOn the other hand, weight and size affect certain aspects of driving if we are not aware of it, you must enter bends with good judgement or you will get understeer, which is perfectly understandable since we are not at the wheel of a Audi TT, but of an estate with considerable weight. Still, overall the response is very refined and the level of dynamism is higher than one might expect from a family car. As for traction, it is simply sublime: we exit bends using every horse without ever losing grip.

Stretch, stretch and stretch again, the engine climbs in revs up to 8,500 rpm while pressing you into the seat, and the sound becomes heavenly music produced by the fabulous V8 under the bonnet. Moreover, in Dynamic mode the engine sound becomes more sporty.

These are the standard brakes; optionally there are carbon-ceramic ones

That said, there is barely any sensation of speed, and the standard brakes do their job but also fatigue, so you must keep a close eye on that, because the Audi RS4 gains speed easily without the driver noticing. If we want brakes that never tire, carbon-ceramic ones are available as an option, but they cost €7,910.

The steering has variable firmness, fairly direct, and we can adjust that firmness thanks to Audi Drive Select. From there, as we already mentioned, we have Comfort, Auto, Dynamic or Individual modes (in this last mode we can configure each parameter: steering, engine/gearbox, sound and suspension).

Consumption

If you have enjoyed the Audi RS4 so far, you are better off skipping this section, forgive me for saying so, but it is clear that we cannot have a V8 sports car that is also frugal.

The lowest figure I saw on the on-board computer was on the motorway, when at 120 km/h it showed 10 litres per 100 km. On country roads it normally sits between 11 and 13 litres per 100 km, and that is with calm driving.

If we switch to sport mode, do not be alarmed if consumption hovers around 20–30 litres per 100 km; it is a figure that is quite understandable considering it is a 4.2 V8 with 450 CV. In town it usually sits around 15 litres per 100 km.

In summary, consumption is high, but not excessive when we consider the performance, size, engine and weight.

Photos | R. Rodriguez, Diego G. Moreira and the test team