Audi RS4 Avant 4.2 quattro 5dr Car Review - December 2012

Under the bonnet you get the same 4.2-litre V8 engine fitted to the old RS 4, except now it develops an impressive 444bhp and 317lb-ft of torque. Put simply, this means that this big heavy estate car will hit 62mph in under five seconds and keep going right up to an electronically limited 155mph. On top of this, if you select the Sports pack, the RS 4 will carry on accelerating right up to 174mph.

The power is fed to all four wheels via a seven-speed flappy-paddle gearbox which provides smooth, slick and lightning-fast gear changes.

Audi's Driver Select package allows the driver to set the RS 4 Avant up for his own needs. There are three options to choose from: Comfort, Automatic and Dynamic. In Comfort and Automatic modes, the RS 4 is a cosseting long distance cruiser but in Dynamic mode, the suspension stiffens up, the throttle response quickens and the gear changes become more aggressive. This makes the RS 4 a joy to drive, with crisp steering and a quick turn in. Although not quite as involving as a BMW M3 or a Merc C 63, the Audi nevertheless offers an enjoyable and poised drive.

Glance at the exterior of the RS 4 and you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a humble A4 Avant. While some might argue that a car as powerful as this should shout it from the rooftops, there will be those who like the RS 4's understated looks. After all, it is a handsome car and the Audi badge is a prestigious one, mainly thanks to cars like this raising the manufacturer's profile.

On the inside, you get a flat-bottomed steering wheel and leather sports seats, and the whole thing feels impeccably put together. There's also a good amount of standard equipment thrown in for the price including alloys, climate control, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control, rear parking sensors, sat-nav and Bluetooth/iPod connectivity. Optional extras include a sports exhaust, ceramic brakes, sports suspension, bucket seats and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Practicality is where the RS 4 Avant really starts to shine -- no car offers the same blend of interior space and performance as the RS 4. With the rear seats up, there's 490-litres of boot space on offer, and folding the rear seats down increases this to 1,430-litres. However, the rear seats are not as roomy as they are in other cars and, although two adults will sit comfortably in the back, a third may find it a bit cramped.

Reliability should not be an issue as Audi has always had a reputation for building quality cars and the RS 4 feels as if it was hewn from a single lump of granite. You also get a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty and will benefit from Audi's excellent after-care programme.

The A4 on which the RS 4 Avant is based scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests and, as such, the RS 4 should be a very safe place to be. The RS 4 also comes with a host of driver aids to keep the engine's mighty power in check and, hopefully, keep you facing in the right direction.

At £54,935, the RS 4 Avant is certainly not cheap but, when you consider that it can outperform supercars costing twice as much, it could be considered excellent value.

Again, as you'd expect, the running costs will be pretty hefty too. Audi claims that the RS 4 will manage 26mpg on the combined cycle, which is actually pretty good for a car this fast which weighs nearly two tonnes. Tax will also be pricey as the RS 4 belches out 249g of CO2 every kilometre, putting it under VED band L.

However, if you're concerned about running costs, an RS 4 is unlikely to be on your shopping list of potential cars. The truth is that, considering its performance credentials and practicality, the RS 4 offers superb value for money and -- compared to a supercar -- relatively low running costs.