Really interesting you mention the Superb estate, as this is the other car I’m considering that is front of mind. Do you mind me asking what version you have - SE L, Sportline, L&K? Kids are 3 and 5, and with prams on the way out I was wondering if we need all that boot space, hence the smaller A4 Avant being considered. The wife also isn’t the most confident driver, so thought this might be more managble as our only family car. However, in your view, is it too verging on too small? The Superb estate Sportline and L&K are about the same price as the A4 and A6, so lots of options to consider for us. Struggling to come down on a decision, so you’re ideally placed to guide based on experience. It seems the Superb estate in whatever version/spec has your vote...
Ours is a MY16 SE L Executive 4x4 TDI 150 Estate, which was a generous spec to start with (eg satnav, radar sensor/cruise etc, fancy multi-segment HID lights), plus we specced the following options (some of these may have been in standard spec, I can't remember now):
Crew Protection Assist & Rear Side Airbags
Rear view camera
Heated windscreen
Heated washer nozzles
Towbar (folds completely away) - use this a lot for carrying family bikes on holiday
Smart light assist
Lane Assist
Blindspot detection
Travel assist with traffic sign recognition
Sunblinds in rear doors
Net luggage partition (great if you're loading right up with gear on holiday)
Variable boot floor
Colour maxidot trip computer
Media Command
Smartgate Mobile Phone interface
Backrest release from boot
Hill hold control
Front parking sensors
Powered tailgate
Isofix on front passenger seat
18" alloys
Leather
Additional 2 years warranty (so 5 years total)
With all those options, extra warranty, on top of the good standard spec, we paid around £26k through a broker (this was very end of 2015).
If I were buying again, I would:
- opt for at least sport suspension or the DCC suspension - the standard suspension floats like a boat and is most definitely "comfort" orientated
- go for a DSG/auto model, that way the radar-guided cruise can control the car right down to standstill in traffic jams (with the manual, it can obviously only do so much before it would stall)
- consider a higher power engine. The 150 is perfectly fine for a family motor, and performs well even when fully loaded + roof box + bike carrier, but if you're more of an enthusiastic driver I'd go up a level. IIRC the car is only around 1500-1600 kg so it's not massively heavy considering its dimensions and the 150 pulls it around pretty well.
It's true that most of the time the space in unused, but when we go on holidays, we don't travel light (especially when camping) and are glad of the space!
It's my wife's daily driver 95% of the time, I tend to drive it mainly on holidays. Tends to average around 50mpg.
My car is a 2016/66 A6 C7 Allroad BiTdi, which I've had for just over a year.
Given both cars were new around the same-ish time, you can see where the Mk3 Superb is a later generation and ahead in technology compared to the C7 platform that's been around for some years.
I think if I'd been the original purchaser and spent £55-60k (with the options it has got) on the Allroad when new, then driven our Superb costing half of that, and found for example:
- Allroad headlights are non-swivelling standard HIDs with 25w D5S bulbs that aren't the brightest, yet Superb has adaptive/swivelling multi-segment headlights as standard
- Allroad has no front radar sensor, so no automatic braking or radar-controlled cruise (it was available as an option for the Audi.....but standard on the Superb and works really well)
- Allroad has no rear view camera as standard (it was an option on the Superb too, but....disappointing not to be there as standard on a £55-60k car)
- Allroad doors shut with less of a satisfying quality "thunk" than the Superb
- All the tech options like smart light assist / lane assist / blindspot detection were ticked and included on a £26k car, but not standard on a £55-60k car
- I can't fit my mountain bike through the hatch of the Allroad with its front wheel on - as the roofline is lower and floor is higher so the handlebars foul, yet it goes in the Superb OK....I only found this out when proudly demonstrating my "new" Allroad to the Mrs and showing how I could fit my bike in with ease having researched the cargo length with the rear seats down and then found it didn't go through the damn hatch!!
- I still have to scrape the ice off my unheated Allroad windscreen
....I think I'd have felt a bit short changed. Luckily I bought the Allroad at 3yo for an awful lot less than new (it had lost ~£30k in three years - more than the Superb cost to start with!)
Granted there are huge differences in powertrain and suspension tech between a 150 TDI Haldex 4x4 Superb and a 320 BiTdi Quattro Allroad, so obviously apples and oranges...but even so, with a ~£30k difference you do feel you're paying a hefty badge/image premium for the Audi when you see what you can get from another brand in the same group.
Anyway, waffling now.
If you're ditching the pushchairs, and aren't likely to be lugging masses of gear, probably the A4 or A6 would be big enough. But you can't deny the value and kit to be had elsewhere.
Sounds like I'm Audi bashing, far from it, I love my Allroad, it's ****** quick, a nice place to be, and with the suspension raised gives me decent ground clearance for Peak District snowy commutes. Just can't help that nagging feeling it's a bit lacking in tech whenever I drive the Superb!!