/ (min cost $ 0 ) or signup to continue reading is sending its performance wagon off with a bang. There's a hot package now available, which brings a range of mechanical tweaks (but no extra power). Only around 75 examples in total of the and related are coming here.
It's a final hurrah for Audi's rival, which is based on the tamer A4 Avant. That vehicle's replacement – the new – has already been revealed, as has the 'mid-strength' S5 Avant. Both are due here in 2025.
It's only a matter of time before an RS5 Avant comes, and it's rumoured to be adopting plug-in hybrid six-cylinder power. Before then, Audi has launched this swansong edition of the RS4 with coilover suspension, a louder exhaust, fixed-ratio steering, and retuned differential and transmission software, among other changes. Power and torque are unchanged, not that the RS4 Avant was really wanting for either, but because of some of these other enhancements the 0-100km/h time has been reduced by two-tenths of a second.
This is one of the few examples in Australia where a wagon outsells his sedan or hatchback counterpart, with Audi claiming it sells twice as many RS4s as it does . The Competition Plus package adds an extra $13,990 to the RS4 Avant's price tag, or $15,290 if you get the package with the optional RS bucket seats. That makes the vehicle roughly the same price as its only direct rival in Australia, the BMW M3 Touring.
Our tester included the Competition Plus package with the optional RS bucket seats, as well as the RS design package in red ($3400), matte carbon exterior styling package ($6300), and matte carbon twill inlays ($1400), bringing the as-tested price to $191,405 before on-road costs. It's clear the RS4 is at the end of its life cycle as its interior is a generation or two behind newer models in the Audi lineup. However, Audi has long been known for its excellent interiors, and just because the RS4 is a little bit old doesn't mean it's not authentically Audi inside.
The Competition Plus sits lower than the regular RS4 Avant but you don't necessarily feel like you sit lower, even with the racy optional bucket seats which, by the way, hug you in nicely and prove surprisingly comfortable. If you spring for the optional buckets, be warned: seat heating remains, but you lose massaging and memory functions as well as power adjustment. Audi stripped out the rotary dial for the infotainment system a few years ago, leaving a tiny storage cubby in its place big enough for the key – or, I don't know, a chapstick and some coins.
We miss the rotary dial of old, but we don't miss the lack of functionality that came with it. The RS4's infotainment system has haptic feedback, attractive graphics and an intuitive menu structure. The digital instrument cluster is excellent, as we expect from Audi.
There are multiple views to choose from, including a map view. The RS4 has all the highs of a typical Audi interior including satisfying physical switchgear on the dash, such as tactile climate control knobs, and excellent material quality. The tops of the dash and doors are finished in soft-touch trim, the doors have suede inserts, and some areas where you might find hard, scratchy plastic in other luxury vehicles are finished in slightly rubberised trim here.
The large panoramic sunroof bathes the cabin in light, the Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel feels great, and there's a brilliant Bang & Olufsen sound system...
which I didn't listen to much because I was too busy enjoying the sound the car makes. Lows include plasticky steering wheel switchgear, too much gloss black trim, a touchscreen that sticks awkwardly up out of the dash, clunky 'drive select' buttons, and (optional) carbon-fibre trim that won't be to everyone's tastes. The overall look is a bit monochromatic and dated, though the optional red accents add some life.
Step into the back and you'll find the centre console intrudes a bit too much into the centre-seat occupant's space, but there's otherwise a good amount of room here. Amenities include temperature controls, a pair of USB outlets, and a 12V outlet. Open the power tailgate and there's 495 litres of space, not far off an .
This expands to 1495L with the rear seats folded. The Competition Plus package doesn't bring any more power or torque. Pinning your foot to the floor and hitting the red line, the RS4 Competition Plus sounds great, the engine singing up to 7000rpm and making every highway on-ramp an absolute thrill – and this twin-turbo V6 pulls! This isn't just some point-and-shoot drag race champion, though.
It's a car with an impressive breadth of talent. On paper, the Competition Plus package sounds like it would make the RS4 Avant a less liveable proposition. And while we weren't able to drive this back-to-back with a regular RS4, it's likely you'll find a firmer feel in comparison thanks to the coilover suspension and lower ride height.
This is the first Audi with coilover suspension, and it sits 10mm lower than the regular RS4...
and you can adjust it yourself to sit another 10mm lower still. There's a higher spring rate and stiffer stabilisers, along with three-way adjustable dampers. It therefore sounds like this is a more hardcore, track-focused model, but if you have a sceptical spouse who doesn't believe you when you say this could still be a good hauler for your family, we have some good news.
The RS4 Avant Competition Plus is still a comfortable vehicle to drive in addition to being an extremely capable one. Puttering around town in comfort mode the ride reveals itself to be firm, but not inhospitable. Flicking it to Dynamic mode firms up the dampers, but even on some truly horrible patchwork payment in rural New South Wales the RS4 felt composed and comfortable, and didn't crash over bumps or feel too busy.
You're reminded of the lower ride height not only when you have to negotiate steeper driveways and kerbs, but also when you're on these rough roads. But while you may feel surface changes in the RS4, it never reaches the point of being uncomfortable. Body roll is essentially non-existent and grip is high, and it has the unshakable, planted feeling that's a hallmark of high-performance Audis with quattro all-wheel drive.
The fixed-ratio steering is direct, well-weighted and is possessed of a good amount of road feel, and even in the heaviest of its three settings it's not burdensomely hefty. There's quite a bit of adjustment on offer. You have two customisable RS modes that you can activate using a steering wheel button, and you can toggle between different levels for the drive system, steering and quattro sport differential.
We appreciate Audi making RS modes accessible via a steering wheel button, instead of forcing you to use the plasticky, awkwardly located drive mode select buttons on the centre stack. Audi stripped away some insulation from between the engine bay and the cabin, and yet the RS4 doesn't get obnoxiously loud inside. Perhaps it's different for those sitting in the back as the load bay is behind them, but up front it's not too noisy.
We love the growl of the V6 as you accelerate, and when you let off the throttle you get pops from the exhaust reminiscent of a heartbeat. You can toggle between three different settings for the active exhaust, and in Comfort mode it's actually quite quiet. There's a bit of tyre noise on coarse-chip roads, but at highway speeds there's little in the way of wind noise.
And on the highway, the adaptive cruise and lane-assist systems work well. You can option Pirelli P Zero tyres and carbon-ceramic brakes, but the RS4 scarcely needs them. The same package, but with Dinamica and leather sport bucket seats without massaging, memory and power adjustment, costs $15,290.
There are various other option packages available too: the RS design package in red costs $3400 and adds red stitching for the steering wheel, shifter and centre console, as well as red accents for the seat belts. The matte carbon exterior styling package on our tester features the material on the front spoiler and side blades, exterior mirror housings, and rear diffuser for $6300. The Audi RS4 doesn't have a safety rating from ANCAP – the A4 it's based on did have one, but it expired in 2021.
Production of the current A4 began back in 2015, after all. The RS4 Avant is covered by the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the wider Audi lineup. We're sure whatever Audi comes up with next for its high-performance mid-sized wagon, it's going to be a riot.
The RS4 has gone from V6 to V8 power and then back again, and has always been entertaining. We're curious about the prospect of an electrified successor. But while plug-in hybrids can bring serious power, they also add complexity.
There's something to be said for the relative simplicity of the current powertrain. That's not to say this is by any stretch a basic or outdated car. And the Competition Plus package turns up the wick, making this hot wagon even more enjoyable.
Should this be Audi's last mid-sized wagon with an un-electrified powertrain, it's a fitting sendoff. The mechanical enhancements made with this package make this an even more exhilarating drive without dramatically affecting liveability. The Audi RS4 is the most exciting member of the A4 and S4 range, although it's not necessarily the most practical option unless outright performance is your goal.
With a handful coming to Australia, the Competition Plus won't be a best-seller. There's also a new A4 range coming Down Under, although it'll be . If you're keen to buy or test drive an yourself before the current model runs out, you can connect with an Audi dealer quickly and easily through CarExpert.
Our expert team is on hand for independent support at no cost to you via our concierge. Alternatively, the has recently been updated and offers a hot wagon rival to the RS4 in the form of the M3 Touring, while the is a sedan alternative headlined by the wild . Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.
We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement.
