2018 Audi RS4 Avant on sale in Australia from $152,900

Audi Australia has announced pricing for what is one of the coolest wagons on sale: the 2018 Audi RS4 Avant. Initially revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the RS4 Avant is finally on sale in Australia priced from $152,900 plus on-road costs. That’s $1,890 more than the previous model, though Audi says that an extra $20,000 of equipment is now standard.

Like the RS5 Coupe, the RS4 Avant is powered by a 331kW/600Nm 2.9-litre biturbo V6 and an eight-speed automatic matched to Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive system, the RS4 Avant is capable of a 4.1 second sprint from 0 to 100km/h – 0.6 seconds faster than before. Fuel consumption is claimed as 8.9L/100km.

Engine aside, there are several clues to the RS4’s status as the top of the A4 tree. The exterior styling has been pumped up with larger air intakes, huge exhaust pipes and flared wheelarches to give clues as to the car’s potential. 20-inch alloy wheels are standard equipment, whilst at the front the traditional Audi grille is now features honeycomb inserts and a quattro logo printed into the bottom.

The cabin of the 2018 Audi RS4 Avant is also dripping in sporting clues – bolstered sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and RS4 badges inform drivers that they’re driving one of the fastest wagons on the planet.

Standard equipment levels on the 2018 Audi RS4 Avant are also high, with almost everything included as standard equipment. Nappa leather sports seats with 18-way electric adjustment with messaging for the front seats and memory functionality for the driver, tri-zone climate control, heated front seats, Audi’s MMI Plus infotainment system with an 8.3-inch touchscreen, inbuilt satellite navigation with live traffic information, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a 755-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, DAB+ digital radio, adjustable LED ambient lighting and even a panoramic glass sunroof.

Active safety equipment is also strong, with 8 airbags with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, radar cruise control with stop and go functionality, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, a 360-degree parking camera, automatic high beam headlights, Audi’s exit warning system which warns of traffic when opening doors as well as lane assist all standard.

Options are limited to a $3,900 Technik Package, which adds Audi’s Matrix LED headlights, heated front and rear seats and a colour heads-up display, an $11,900 Carbon and Black Package with carbon fibre exterior and interior trimmings, and a $3,300 RS Design Package which adds alcantara inserts and additional stitching.