Audi RS4 2018: Is This Performance Estate Still a Top Dog?

Back in the day, I famously panned the Ford Escort on TV, calling it uninspired. It became a bestseller. Then I likened the Toyota Corolla to a fridge-freezer. World’s top seller. And when I raved about the Renault A610? They sold six. So, you can see my endorsements aren’t always a recipe for sales success.

Fast forward to more recently, and I was singing the praises of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, proclaiming it automotive perfection. Yet, they’re rarer than hen’s teeth on the roads. People should want one. Ferrari engine, Ferrari engineered, glorious sound, and blistering pace. But when it comes down to it, most buyers go elsewhere. Often to something German, something… Audi.

Last month, the latest hot Audi landed at my door: the RS 4 Avant. On the surface, it’s undeniably handsome. But the question lingered: why this over the Alfa? It’s like choosing Dortmund over Tuscany for your holiday – practical, maybe, but where’s the passion? Okay, Alfas had reliability issues. Owning an old Alfa GTV 6 was like embracing a collection of potential faults. But judging modern Alfa on past sins is like boycotting Volkswagen for wartime history. Time to move on, right? Give Alfa another chance? Maybe. But let’s get back to the Audi RS 4 2018.

The RS 4 hasn’t always been a home run. The 2006 version was a beast, a V8-powered marvel with bulging arches. But its successor? A bit of a letdown, frankly. Bloated and lacking the original’s spark. Audi recognized this and put the RS 4 on a diet. This 2018 model has been to the weight-loss clinic and then forced to sprint home. They’ve trimmed kilograms everywhere: body, axles, steering, four-wheel-drive, even the rear diff.

And then there’s the engine. Lighter, yes – by 31kg. But to achieve this, they swapped out two cylinders for a pair of centrally mounted turbochargers. The glorious, naturally aspirated V8 is gone, along with its soundtrack. In its place, a more efficient, turbocharged V6. Progress? Debatable for purists. Good for polar bears, perhaps. But objectively, it’s a powerhouse. The mid-range punch is ferocious, genuinely hair-raising. And because of the weight shedding, the resulting speed is almost comical.

Some of Audi’s optional extras pricing is baffling. Charging extra to raise the top speed, for a sports exhaust, for better steering? It feels like they’re admitting shortcomings and then charging you to fix them. However, “halfway decent” is a massive understatement for how the RS 4 2018 drives. It goes, stops, and corners brilliantly. Some testers have criticized the steering for being numb, claiming to feel the electronics at work. Perhaps they’re superhuman. I found nothing to fault. Steering, handling – all felt fantastic in any driving mode. And crucially, no squeaky brakes, a common Audi niggle of the past.

The sheer absurdity of it all was amplified by the fact I was driving a five-door estate. This family wagon could deliver fighter-jet levels of G-force. Though my dog might not have appreciated it. The boot, however, isn’t cavernous. Relocating fire pits from my Golf, where they fit easily, to the RS 4 proved… snug. Let’s just say the roof lining suffered minor casualties.

Inside, typical Audi – impeccably built and tech-laden. You can turn the entire instrument cluster into a sat-nav map, which is clever. The downside of such tech is the inevitable button-pushing and knob-twiddling frustration when it doesn’t do what you want.

Ride comfort? In full-attack “race” mode, forget about it. It’s brutally stiff. But in the everyday setting, it’s acceptable. Though rear passengers might find it jiggly enough to make texting impossible.

But these are minor complaints. The RS 4 2018 is genuinely difficult to fault. I expected to miss the V8’s character, but the V6 is arguably superior in performance. And with that quattro four-wheel-drive system, you can drift it, then drive it through a blizzard to a ski resort. It’s immensely capable.

It’s certainly better than the current BMW M3, which isn’t BMW’s finest moment. But is it better than the Alfa? No. The Giulia Quadrifoglio has that intangible charisma. It’s a car with soul, the kind you’d forgive for minor flaws, like a beloved pet.

But soul isn’t always what people want in a car. And that’s why you’ll probably buy the Audi instead. And you know what? You won’t regret it. Because, crikey, it is exceptionally good. Really, really good.

Rivals: Audi RS 4 Avant vs Mercedes-AMG C 63 Estate