Massively quick cross-country, but has a firm ride and that lovely V8 engine needs hitting very hard to make it work

• Comfort

  Essentially, the RS4 feels quite firm when pottering - even in Comfort mode - but the 'box slips between ratios without a murmur, the engine mumbles away happily and you could be forgiven for thinking you're in a more humble S line variant.

  

• Performance

  Up front is a naturally aspirated, FSI direct-injected 4.2-litre petrol V8 that produces 444bhp at 8,250rpm, a red line at 8,500rpm, and with maximum torque of 317lb ft available from 4,000 to 6,000rpm. Basically, the same engine as the RS5, plus a few tweaks, it drives through the only transmission option: Audi's 7spd S tronic dual-clutch 'box. Which is interesting. An estate car with a super-high-revving V8 and slick-quick DSG? Sounds like a TG kind of car.

  

• Cool

  Audi does estate car cool like no other.

  

• Quality

  As close to Audi perfection as it gets.

  

• Handling

  It's not until you really get going that the RS4 starts to make an impression. Grip is phenomenal - especially in long, loaded-up corners - with the kind of burly, slightly understeer-prone attitude that gives lots of confidence in the wet. Poke in a bit more throttle smoothly, and you can even make the whole thing oversteer (there's a self-locking crown-gear centre diff that helps with the feeling), though it's not rear-wheel drive and never really feels like it.

  

• Practicality

  You'll get 490-litres with the seats up and 1430 with the back folded down, so there's plenty to play with as long as you're not into HGV-style loads.

  

• Running costs

  Supercar-style insurance and a claimed 26.4mpg - less if you drive it hard. A lot less. If you can swing one on a company car scheme, we'd like to work there too.

  

The same price as a Q5 with pretty much all of the ability. Foot. Shoot. In. The.

• Comfort

  The Allroad has 37mm inserted into the ride height, so it actually rides better than any of the saloon variants - even when you put the adaptive suspension into ‘dynamic' mode. It doesn't even get soggy when in ‘comfort'. Plus there are decent seats, plenty of room (even though this is the little brother to the A6 Allroad) and good all-round vision. That 37mm makes a big difference to the driving position.

  

• Performance

  There's a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine with 208bhp and 258lb ft of torque, a 2.0-litre TDI with 174bhp (returning 46.3mpg) and a 3.0-litre with 240bhp, a whopping 348lb ft of torque and a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. It also returns 45.6mpg and emits 161g/km of CO2.

  

• Cool

  It won't pull members of the opposite sex, but there's something neat and trendy about an Allroad. It's slightly more butch than the stock car, can do things that most SUVs struggle with and still remains reasonably efficient - meaning that it won't get targeted by environmentals. 

  

• Quality

  Really very good. The cars we tested were full-spec, but felt tight and solid. Even pushed to the limit off-road, the general feeling was that if Audi builds something, then it stays built. Right through eight inches of water, six inches of mud, a couple of mild jumps and a small tree. 

  

• Handling

  Again a nice surprise. The A4 Allroad feels very much like a stock A4 - except slightly nicer-riding. Yes, there is an element of body roll if you go mental in comfort mode, but it still hangs together very nicely. Stick it in dynamic mode and you'll be able to tag along to a saloon A4 without any problem at all - even though the ride gets a tad harsh over really bad bumps. 

  

• Practicality

  Smaller than the A6 Allroad (obviously), the A4 still maintains that estate capacity that makes it a doddle to ferry about a small family. Loading heights are more genial, and smashing through urban potholes is fine when you have the beef to cope. It's no bigger than an A4 Avant, it just feels more useable. 

  

• Running costs

  The mpg figures are very reasonable if not startling, and you can get into one for just over £30k. Insurance is relatively good, though main dealer servicing can be pricey. Not bad though.