2014 Allroad vs Avant - what are the main differences?

[98_A6_28]

I never really looked into the A4 allroad but know a good bit about the A6 C5 allroad, and I'm wondering what are the main differences between the standard avant wagon and the allroad? From what I read, it doesn't seem like it has a ride height adjustment/air bag suspension like the A6 has. Is this correct? Does it have any suspension upgrades over the avant?

What are the benefits over the standard avant and are there any benefits to the avant over the allroad? I'm assuming that the engines are the same and can be tuned with the same parts/equipment/programs? Are the transmissions the same?

Just for record, I'm looking at a 2014 model year, IDK if there are other years, but those are the ones that seem to be available.

[k.sigota]

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B8.5 allroad Info & Resources Megathread

[Smac770]

Well, in the US, there's the matter that there is only the A4 avant for B8.0 (2009-2012) and only the A4 allroad for B8.5 (2013-2016). So you can't really cross shop them if you're looking at a certain model year or pre vs post facelift.

The A4 allroad is just cosmetic stuff, an extra mode in the adaptive suspension, wider track fitting the plastic wheel arches, that's about it. Nothing extensive like what the allroad conversion meant for an A6 avant.

[dualaudi]

Supposedly the allroad b8.5 doesn't have the normal a4 oil consumption issues anymore.

[Smac770]

That would depend on if you believe the CPMx engine (the flex fuel version of the CAEx engine) has superior piston rings. All US B8.0 avants had the CAEx engine; all US B8.5 allroads had the CPMx engine.

[hkdolphins]

Allroad’s ground clearance is 7.1 inches, just 1.5 inches more than the A4 Avant wagon. I guess that's the major differences.

[Smac770]

Allroad’s ground clearance is 7.1 inches, just 1.5 inches more than the A4 Avant wagon. I guess that's the major differences.

Oh yeah, and there's that. Not sure why it didn't occur to me to point that out too. And the raised roof rails, vs the flush ones on the avant.

More of a US B8.5 vs US B8.0 than an allroad vs avant, but I suspect the US B8.5 allroads lack the flippable cargo floor (flat 8K9858855, PR-3F1 vs flippable 8K9861531, PR-1G8). I've found that piece to be useful from time to time. Looks like you could convert, just need to remove the frame 5 that holds up the flat piece: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4...3/8/863-863090

[B6_Dolphin]

Supposedly the allroad b8.5 doesn't have the normal a4 oil consumption issues anymore.

My '15 AR has 48k miles. 5k mile OCIs w/Castrol 0W40 & OEM Oil Filter since new - no oil usage between changes. I get Blackstone UOAs @ every OCI, and the results remain steady for wear metals, fuel dilution, etc.

Just replaced the "white top" PCV @ 47k miles as a preventative maintenance measure. Recently installed the ECS Tuning OCC, since I found the milkshake mixture in the Helmholtz noise reduction box & piping when I replaced my stock IC & piping with the Luft-Technik IC & Charge Pipes.

[bb-tt]

Allroad’s ground clearance is 7.1 inches, just 1.5 inches more than the A4 Avant wagon. I guess that's the major differences.

According to car and driver avant sline ground clearance is 4.2 inches, having parked beside an allroad it looked like a lifted truck next to my Avant.

[Smac770]

My 1BA appears to be 6" ground clearance at curb weight (full gas tank, nearly) and no payload (people or stuff) along the left side and rear right side, but the front right side behind the front wheel knocks down to 5.5".

1BE would be 20mm lower to 4.7". Maybe C&D had the car loaded down with people or stuff.

But 5.5"+1.5"=7" for 1BP, sounds reasonable. I think for the B9, the allroad is now only +1".

[hkdolphins]

Oh yeah, and there's that. Not sure why it didn't occur to me to point that out too. And the raised roof rails, vs the flush ones on the avant.

More of a US B8.5 vs US B8.0 than an allroad vs avant, but I suspect the US B8.5 allroads lack the flippable cargo floor (flat 8K9858855, PR-3F1 vs flippable 8K9861531, PR-1G8). I've found that piece to be useful from time to time. Looks like you could convert, just need to remove the frame 5 that holds up the flat piece: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4...3/8/863-863090

Actually, Allroad roof rails look like a raised FLUSH bar, its not same as my B6 one, i saw some owners use the thule flush mount base on it.

[Smac770]

B8 avant rails are flush to the roof; B8 allroad rails are on four posts. I would have never noticed except there was a classified for load bars and it noted they would not work for an avant, only an allroad. That's the only reason I bring it up, as it might influence roof rack hardware options.

Quick look at B6 avant pics, appears their rails are likewise raised, though only on 3 contact points. If we use Thule as a test point, looking at the Thule Evo Wingbar:
- the B6/B7 avant and the B6 allroad and the B8 allroad all use the same Thule Evo Raised Rail foot 710401
- the B8 avant uses the Thule Evo Flush Rail foot 710601

If we look at the Thule AeroBlade Edge, all four vehicles use different bars, with the ends of the 76xx flush bars looking different than the ends of the 75xx raised bars:
B6/B7 avant: 7502+7501
B6 allroad: 7503+7503
B8 avant: 7602+7602
B8 allroad: 7503+7502

[hkdolphins]

B8 avant rails are flush to the roof; B8 allroad rails are on four posts. I would have never noticed except there was a classified for load bars and it noted they would not work for an avant, only an allroad. That's the only reason I bring it up, as it might influence roof rack hardware options.

Quick look at B6 avant pics, appears their rails are likewise raised, though only on 3 contact points. If we use Thule as a test point, looking at the Thule Evo Wingbar:
- the B6/B7 avant and the B6 allroad and the B8 allroad all use the same Thule Evo Raised Rail foot 710401
- the B8 avant uses the Thule Evo Flush Rail foot 710601

If we look at the Thule AeroBlade Edge, all four vehicles use different bars, with the ends of the 76xx flush bars looking different than the ends of the 75xx raised bars:
B6/B7 avant: 7502+7501
B6 allroad: 7503+7503
B8 avant: 7602+7602
B8 allroad: 7503+7502

herewith pic of my allroad rail bar, it has a track on the side like Flush one (B6 bar is straight on both sides, no track). It work with Thule Flush base(i tried) but i decided to buy a new Raised one.

[Smac770]

Ah, the B8 allroad gets the best of both worlds, a track like the flush and a gap like the raised, so it can go either way.

[hkdolphins]

Ah, the B8 allroad gets the best of both worlds, a track like the flush and a gap like the raised, so it can go either way.

No sure all new audi raised bar like this or not, as you know it was the only one for last years. Will check the new A6 Allroad if i saw one around.