ROAD TEST REPRINT ISSUE 300 July 2012 PEUGEOT GOES A4 ALLROAD HUNTING

Transcription

1 THE UK S LEADING MAGAZINE FOR DIESEL & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES ROAD TEST REPRINT ISSUE 300 July 2012 PEUGEOT GOES A4 ALLROAD HUNTING

2 vs GETTING A GRIP 2.0 TDI quattro Price 31,380 Built Ingolstadt, Germany Layout 5-door estate, 5-seats, all-wheel-drive Engine 1968cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, turbodiesel with stop-start Transmission 6-speed manual Power output 175bhp at 4,200rpm Maximum torque 280lb ft at 1,750 to 2,500rpm Top speed 134mph Acceleration 0-62mph 8.2secs CO 2 emissions (tax band) 153g/km (G) Economy (Urban/Extra Urban/Combined) 40.9/53.3/48.7mpg Fuel tank size/range 61 litres/654 miles Benefit in kind tax liability 24% Insurance group 27 Size (length/width with mirrors) 4,721/2,006mm Boot space (minimum/maximum) 490/1,430 litres Kerb/max towing weight 1,630/1,700kg EuroNCAP safety rating (pre-facelift saloon tested) rating So you want sure-footed family transport capable of keeping you moving all year round, all wrapped up in a smart-looking package? Either of these might fi t the bill very well. Are you wooed by a smart German or a friendly Frenchie? HYbrid4 Price 33,695 Built Rennes, France Layout 5-door estate, 5-seats, all-wheel-drive Engine 1997cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, turbodiesel with electric motor and stop-start Transmission 6-speed automated manual Power output (Engine) 161bhp at 3,850rpm Power output (Electric motor) 36bhp Maximum torque (Engine) 221lb ft at 1,750rpm Maximum torque (Electric motor) 148lb ft Top speed 132mph Acceleration 0-62mph 9.5secs CO 2 emissions (tax band) 107g/km (B) Economy (Urban/Extra Urban/Combined) 70.6/67.3/68.9mpg Fuel tank size/range 72 litres/1,091 miles Benefit in kind tax liability 12% Insurance group 33 Size (length/width with mirrors) 4,823/2,068mm Boot space (minimum/maximum) 423/1,439 litres Kerb/max towing weight 1,910/1,100kg EuroNCAP safety rating (saloon tested) rating What a summer. No sooner had the hosepipe ban been imposed across much of the country, than it started raining. And raining. And then some more. Not quite the weather we all hoped to see in a year of Jubilympics. But it has been enough to make anyone whose car has power delivery to all four corners feel grateful for that extra bit of traction, even at this distance from winter. Audi was the first manufacturer to employ all-wheel-drive as a road-going driving aid rather than an off-road mud-shrugger, and it has caught on. Other car makers have come to recognise what a good idea it is especially so when the going can be as soggy and slippery year round, as it has been recently. So here we have an opposing pair of smart looking, family orientated, cargo-carrying cars with all-wheels power delivery, going head-to-head to decide which one merits our approval. These two take different routes to deliver a similar result. In the Audi we have a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine driving both front and rear wheels, although it is front-biased most of the time. In the hybrid Peugeot there is also a 2.0- litre turbodiesel, but it drives only the front wheels, while electric motor power is delivered to the rear wheels, thus achieving the unusual, split form of four-wheel-drive that Peugeot has pioneered. Refinement is pretty good in both cars, there is little to choose between them on the noise front. But if towing matters to you, take note that the A4 allroad s towing capacity is considerably superior to that of the RXH, by a stonking 600kg Peugeot only recommends that 508 RXH owners tow 1,100kg, which rules out anyone that owns a caravan. The two cars are quite similar for performance, close together for top speed and both brisk accelerating cars, although the Audi is the quicker sprinter from 0-62 mph by more than a second. The ride and handling resolution of the two cars is just a little different. The allroad s handling feels just a touch the more distinguished of the two, with a tauter, sportier stance through the bends, but ride quality is in the Peugeot s favour it is a little more serene over back-road bumps than its German rival. Neither car completely pleases us from a gearbox viewpoint. The Audi s manual gearbox is a little notchier than we d ideally like, it doesn t cream through the ratios quite as smoothly as it should. Even so, we prefer it to the Peugeot s automated manual gearbox, although it seems to suit this car better than some other Peugeot-Citroën models, it can feel more laborious in action that it ought to. It needs to be driven in a certain way to achieve smooth passage, although owners will no doubt get the knack quite soon. How do you like your car interior to be, cool and classic or perky and busy? That is the choice here. Audi does cabins particularly well in an elegant, upper-crust way. The A4 allroad s quality of materials, fit and finish is exemplary and the décor is classily restrained, maybe even a little staid for some tastes. It definitely has a more premium feel, one that the s cabin can t quite match. There is a busier, more-going-on ambience in the RXH, with a more congested fascia and a less classic, more family-friendly serviceable air. It has the advantage of a more straightforward driving position compared with that of its German opponent. The Audi s pedals sit out of alignment with the steering wheel and driving seat and therefore can be tiring on a long distance journey

3 vs Standard Equipment 18-inch alloy wheels with space saver spare wheel Anti-lock brakes Auto-dimming rear view mirror Automatic headlights Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity Cruise control Driver, passenger, side and head airbags with passenger deactivation Driver alertness system Electric and heated mirrors Electric park brake Electric windows front and rear Electronic stability programme with traction control Front fog lights Headlight washers Isofix child safety seat fasteners for all seats Leather steering wheel Loadbay rails and fixings Radio/CD with auxiliary socket and steering wheel controls Rain sensor Rear parking sensors Remote central locking Roof rails Thatcham category one alarm system Tri-zone climate control Voice control What s hot What s not Costs less to buy, better performance, larger boot. Good looking with classier cabin. Not so well equipped, harsher ride, driving position offset. The A4 allroad s handling feels just a touch the more distinguished of the two, with a tauter, sportier stance through the bends Boot space favours the Audi. It has more room at the back than its rival, with an extra 67 litres of carrying capacity when all the seats are in place. Fold the back seats in each car, and the advantage swings over to the Peugeot, but only just. With both cars set in two-seat mode for maximum cargo space, the 508 RXH can squeeze in nine litres more than its German rival. Both cars come equipped with standard roof rails, which give the versatility of roof stowage if extra carrying capacity is called for. They also enhance the two cars exterior aesthetics, giving them a bit more of a rugged look. You get more standard kit for your money in the Peugeot, as the Audi is not quite as well equipped. That balances out the fact that the A4 allroad has a list price of more than 2,000 below that of the 508 RXH, though if you add an automatic gearbox to the Audi, that price gap narrows to just 835. There are some notable differences in their standard kit The Audi has tri-zone climate control, with separate controls for rear seat passengers, whereas the Peugeot s climate control is dual-zone. But you get the very useful feature of head-up display in the 508 RXH. Significantly, satellite navigation is standard in the Peugeot, whereas it's not in the Audi. Running costs put the Peugeot well out in front. Its average fuel economy figure on the official claimed EU-mandated scale is over 20mpg better, which means much less frequent visits to the filling station. With a CO 2 figure 44g/km below that of its rival, the 508 RXH is in band B for road tax, while the A4 allroad is up in band G. It also means that the Peugeot incurs a much lower level of company car taxation, with a big advantage from a benefit-in-kind viewpoint. Cost of ownership is lower, and for a business user, significantly so. Against that must be balanced the Audi s higher residual value and lower insurance group, but the overall fiscal equation comes out significantly in the RXH s favour. What s hot What s not Better equipped, lower running costs, less CO 2 much better for company car taxation, extremely long range per tankful of diesel, comfortable seats, attractive dashboard. Can t carry quite as much luggage, automated manual gearbox has shortcomings, bulky B pillars, towing weight rules out caravan owners. Standard Equipment 18-inch alloy wheels with tyre repair kit Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist Auto-dimming rear view mirror Automatic headlights Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity Cruise control Driver, passenger, side and head airbags Dual-zone climate control Electric and heated mirrors with power folding Electric park brake Electric windows front and rear Electronic stability programme with traction control Half leather upholstery Head-up display Heated front seats Laminated side windows Leather steering wheel Panoramic glass roof Parking sensors front and rear Radio/CD with auxiliary and USB sockets and steering wheel controls Rain sensor Rear privacy glass Remote central locking Roof rails Satellite navigation Thatcham category one alarm system ride quality is in the Peugeot s favour it is a little more serene over back-road bumps than its German rival. VERDICT First place The has a lot going for it, and fiscally it is a clear winner, especially as a company car choice. It is an impressive package, good to drive and versatile with its split system four-wheel-drive. Overall it scores a narrow victory, as the Audi has it licked in a few key areas that will be important to some buyers. Second place The A4 allroad comes so close to winning this one. It is a fine car with sophisticated good manners and stylish good looks. It also has a classier cabin and greater cachet with a premium brand badge on its nose. But running costs and higher CO 2 stack up against it. Keen drivers may prefer it though

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