Car and Driver
Audi calls it an “allroad” vehicle, but this jacked-up station wagon is not intended for off-road use. Along with some exterior cladding suited only for well-groomed gravel drives, it does, however, offer many high-end features—a luxurious interior, Audi’s competent 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, plus handling that is just “a few notches below sporty.”
TheTruthAboutCars.com
It remains to be seen whether the Allroad is “more than just a fancy name.” The car “feels like a compact” inside, and the otherwise energetic, fuel-efficient 211-hp engine gets “a little winded passing on an uphill.” The rest is “tasteful Audi fare,” with options that include Google Earth navigation and adaptive cruise control. The Allroad is a good car, “but not a special one.”
Albany, N.Y., Times Union
The Allroad isn’t easily categorized, so we’ll just call it a “classy crossover.” It’s obviously designed for navigating well-kept roads, but with all-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and performance settings that recalibrate the suspension, transmission, steering, and engine responsiveness to suit prevailing pavement conditions, “light off-roading is well within the car’s range.” If you’re looking for a “refined, interesting alternative” to the SUVs and sedans that fill today’s roads, this semitough wagon is “luxurious enough to make you forget that it’s practical.”