Audi RS4 Avant review

Refreshingly simple, this. Just the one engine option and three trims to choose from: the entry-level and eponymous Avant, Carbon Black and the big cheese that is Vorsprung.

On-the-road prices for the base RS4 Avant start at £70,870, and it’s pretty well stocked. Matrix LED lights front and rear, Audi’s RS-specific virtual cockpit, its special exhaust system and suspension are all included. As are the Nappa leather seats and traffic sign recognition. Only the one colour - grey - is free though; the rest require you to delve increasingly deep into your pocket.

After you’ve settled for the standard 19-inch alloys or the £2,100 20s, you’re into the option packs: comfort and sound, the sport suspension with dynamic ride control, RS exhaust, red brake calipers, towbar, adaptive safety tech… you get the idea.

Yup, you know the drill with high-end German cars. Level up to the £77,270 Carbon Black edition and among other things you gain the styling package which adds 20in ‘five-arm’ alloys in anthracite black (a £2,375 option on their own) plus carbon inlays on the roof rails, mirror housings and various other elements in matching, menacing black.

The flagship £89,125 Vorsprung spec adds many things from the options list, including RS-Sport Suspension Plus with Dynamic Ride Control (definitely worth it – £2,050 on its own), panoramic glass sunroof, RS Sport exhaust (£1,250), dynamic steering (less essential), and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. The Competition model was briefly available in 2022 with stickier tyres and revised gearbox software: only 75 were deployed to the UK and they sold out in a flash.

Audi claims class-leading residuals, retaining 48 per cent of its original OTR price after 36 months or 60,000 miles (versus 35 per cent for the Mercedes C63 S 4Matic). The RS4’s emissions of 228-221g/km CO2 amount to BiK of 37 per cent; the highest levy possible. Ouch.