If you want to buy a small-to-medium estate car you’ll find a wide choice. For a combination of great value, good looks and peerless longevity I reckon that the Audi A4 Avant takes some beating.

Launched in March 1996, a year after the saloon, the Avant was unique in offering drivers the choice of front-wheel drive or the quattro four-wheel drive. Despite a hefty premium of £2,000 for the quattro system many buyers chose it, and on the road the four-wheel drive creates a feeling of sure-footed stability, particularly in the wet.

On the downside, the quattro system’s extra weight and friction dent performance a little and can reduce fuel economy by up to 5mpg.

If you want to get the best fuel economy choose the combination of front-wheel drive and a diesel engine. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of engines from 1.9 litres and 90bhp, up to 2.5 litres and 150bhp. All units are turbo-charged, Audi managing to produce 90, 110 and 115bhp from the same 1.9 litre unit through the use of different engine fuelling maps. But for real grunt the 2.5 V6 is unbeatable — it even sounds good and is one of the best diesel engines available in any car.

The entry level 1.6 litre petrol engine works hard to move the 1200kg kerb weight with its meagre 101bhp, and if you add a family and luggage to the equation it’s fair to say that it’s not up to the job. Buyers are better off spending an extra £800 and finding a used 1.8 with 125bhp.

Audi also offers this engine with a turbocharger in the 1.8T. It’s no rocket but the turbo adds plenty of low-down torque and gives owners the potential for further power from after-market tuning companies. Topping the range are a couple of V6 engines of 2.6 and 2.8 litre capacity, the larger one being superb for towing.

Despite compact dimensions (it’s shorter than a Ford Mondeo hatchback) the Avant offers reasonable luggage space, with a split folding rear seat on all models. The factory-fitted roof bars also accept a range of luggage-carrying systems, including bike racks and top boxes.

Under the skin the A4 Avant is superbly built, the galvanised body should keep its looks and the dashboard and seats take high miles and hard work with ease.

The five-speed manual gearbox is precise and the clutch is nicely weighted. If your preference is for an automatic the optional tiptronic transmission will not disappoint. Leave it in auto mode and you can drive all day effortlessly, or slip it into tiptronic and you can instead enjoy fast clutchless changes controlled by a nudge of the gearlever.

The most popular used buys are the quattro and SE models, both of which come with climate control and alloy wheels. In September 1997 Audi added passenger and side airbags to the entire range and the SE models gained a useful on-board computer.

A general softening of used A4 Avant values in the past six months now makes these cars great value, and with further depreciation and running costs likely to be reasonable, now is a great time to buy one.

On the forecourt

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI
Engine: V6, 2496cc
Power: 150bhp
Transmission: five-speed tiptronic auto
Fuel: 41.5mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0 to 60mph: 9.2sec
Top speed: 135mph

Roof rails: These come as standard on all cars

Split fold rear seat: A standard fitting on all cars

Quattro: Permanent 4x4 quattro versions are incredibly sure-footed and worth about £500 more

Catalytic converter: If it rattles it needs replacing; some models have two, which cost £600 each

Colours: Avoid cars in bright colours unless priced particularly competitively

Airbags: Twin front and side airbags are standard since September 1997

Engine: 1.8T is a favourite with engine tuners who can squeeze 250bhp from it. Avoid under-powered 1.6 litre petrol

Climate control: Simple to use with digital read-out, standard on SE and quattro models

Front suspension wishbones: If they groan they need replacing at an approximate cost of £600 apiece

Alloy wheels: Standard on SE and quattro models

THE ONE TO BUY

Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI SE tiptronic 2000 W-reg with 40,000 miles and full Audi service history. Pay £13,750 at a dealer or £12,750 privately.

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2001 51-reg Saab 3.0 V6 TiD estate
2001 51-reg Volvo V40 1.9D Sport Lux
2001 51-reg Rover 75 2.0 CDT estate
1999 V-reg BMW 320d SE Touring
1999 T-reg Mercedes-Benz C250 TD

VALUES: Audi A4 Avant 2.5TDI SE tiptronic



Cars with manual gearbox worth £400-600 less than automatics. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer