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With all of this talk about downsizing, increased fuel efficiency, and reducing one’s ecological footprint, could 2009 finally be the Year of the Wagon? Audi’s new A4 Avant seems to make a compelling argument for Americans to consider stepping down out of their thirsty SUVs and even their crossovers, but the execs in Ingolstadt are hedging their bets all the same.

It’s hard to blame them. The previous A4 Avant was a pretty special package as well, yet somehow it only found around 4000 U.S. garages per year. It’s not surprising, then, that out of a global range of five engines with two fuel choices, two transmissions, and two drivelines, America will only get a single order combination: the 2.0-liter gasoline TFSI four with automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive.

This isn’t the raw deal it might initially seem. The blown quad packs 211 horsepower, and more importantly, 258 pound-feet of torque—fully 15 pound-feet more than the 3.2-liter V-6 we will see in the A4 sedan. Better still, that twist is available lower in the powerband: peak torque is available from 1500 rpm, whereas the naturally aspirated 3.2-liter doesn’t reach its 243 pound-foot plateau until 3000 revs. And while EPA figures have not yet been released for this drivetrain combination, we expect it to ring up better numbers. The new 2.0 is so good, in fact, that we strongly suspect the smaller, lighter engine will provide a more entertaining steer in the sedan than the 3.2, making it the better value proposition. Sadly, we were only able to sample the four-cylinder attached to Audi’s six-speed manual and front-wheel drive, which will not be available in the U.S.

We will get Audi’s consistently excellent Quattro system, which now carries a more sporting bent thanks to a new power bias where the default setting calls for 60 percent of the engine’s power to be routed rearward. America will also receive Audi’s new “fast-shift” Tiptronic six-speed automatic, a perfectly enjoyable transmission with quick-reacting paddles and a more inspiring sport program option.

In addition to more amicable power distribution, the Avant’s new B8 platform brings with it better balance, largely because Audi’s drivetrain boffins have instructed the differential and torque converter to do the Hokey Pokey. This place-swapping exercise has allowed the front axle to be moved forward more than six inches, creating a steering setup with higher fidelity and improved feel, along with a more balanced chassis.

In our testwagen, that feel was augmented by Drive Select, a bit of electronic wizardry that lets the driver alter the active steering rate and effort. Drive Select, which also alters suspension compliance, as well as throttle and shift points in the automatic, offers three settings: dynamic, comfort, and automatic. Among the journalists we polled, opinions appear to be split on the merits of this system. Predictably, we enjoyed dynamic mode’s beefier steering effort and tightly drawn suspension the best, but over bumpy pavement there were rare occasions when the front end felt a bit darty and out of sorts. In addition to wending by some devastatingly beautiful vistas, Ibiza’s road network is blessed with what are largely very good surfaces, so we will have to wait to get an example at our home base of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to see how well DS copes with America’s pockmarked roads.

Regardless of location, there is no doubting that, like the new A4 sedan, the Avant’s interior is both state-of-the-art and exquisitely done. We sampled a range of interiors, including various colors of leather with wood and metal accents, and hope that Audi sees fit to bring over some of the warmer tones, not just the stereotypically somber Teutonic pairing of black and more black.

Thanks to a six-inch stretch in the A4’s wheelbase, there is now actual adult legroom in the rear seats, though the Avant’s dramatically plunging backlight has carved into cargo capacity in the name of high style. As you may recall, Audi is no stranger to rakish wagons. This A4 Avant is the rightful heir to the aerodynamic drama that was the 5000 Wagon of the mid-Eighties. Such as it is, Audi’s latest load-lugger offers fifty-one cubic feet of storage. At least what is available is intelligently arranged, and there is a novel flippable load floor that has a carpeted side to accommodate couture and a rubber side for wet couture, along with an available cargo organizer that is particularly nice work.

The A4 Avant is a handsome, driver-centric package for those looking for a dash of added utility. Admittedly, for anyone looking to make the transition out of a large body-on-frame SUV, this tidy wagon would be a bit of a stretch. That said, we humbly suggest that many enthusiast-minded buyers looking at the crossover segment would be better served by a package like this. Besides, if enough Americans buy it, Ingolstadt’s execs might even be moved to consider importing a tasty diesel or RS variant…right?

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Magazine Issue: Winding Road Issue 34