Audi Allroad V8 Quattro

Despite the trend towards dedicated four-wheel drives, Audi has stuck with the "converted passenger wagon" approach made famous by the Subaru Outback. The Audi Allroad Quattro first hit Australian streets in October 2000. It was based on a medium-sized A6 wagon, had higher ground clearance and adjustable suspension, and was powered by a bi-turbo 2.7lt, six-cylinder engine.

Audi saw this "hybrid" all-terrain vehicle as the best way to achieve decent levels of offroad ability without the downsides of a modern 4WD - high levels of bodyroll, heavy body, higher fuel consumption and reduced performance. What Audi didn't take into account was that the customer was prepared to overlook these failings for the privilege of a high driving position, the carrying capabilities of such a large body, and - don't underrate this one - the "mine's bigger than yours" syndrome.

Audi has since seen the light and will be introducing its own "high-riding" 4WD in 2006 to better tackle the likes of BMW's X5 and Mercedes-Benz's M-class 4WD. It's still not known whether Audi sees a spot for the Allroad wagon in its line-up beyond the launch of this new 4WD, so the carmaker continues to slot new engines under the bonnet in the hope of luring more buyers.

First addition was a 2.5lt turbodiesel engine in 2002, then in January 2004 came the one trailerboaters have been waiting for: the 4.2lt V8. It's not cheap - at the time of writing, Audi wants $108,900 for the Allroad V8 - but for our money it's the pick of the bunch.

The V8 engine is straight from the bahn-storming S4 performance sedan model, which is a slightly modified version of the same engine in the flagship A8 luxury sedan. Audi's made it nearly 6cm more compact by relocating the engine's ancillaries and switching to chain-driven camshafts instead of belt driven.

In the Allroad, the 4.2lt V8 pumps out 220kW of power at 6200rpm and 380Nm of torque from 2700rpm. That's a little shy of the Commodore V8's 460Nm of torque, but remember we're working with 1.5lt less engine capacity. The engine is hooked to a five-speed auto gearbox with tiptronic gear selector, and drives all four wheels through Audi's patented Quattro all-wheel drive system.

On-paper figures matter bugger-all in the real world, and it's here that the Audi dispels any inferiority complex. No performance anxiety from this German mill - it delivers every ounce when and where you need it. Thanks to a comparatively lightweight body - just 1860kg compared to the BMW X5's 2120kg - the Allroad makes the most of its engine.

The Allroad is capable of charging from rest to 100kmh in around 7.5 seconds if you're in a hurry, but the engine's robustness means it'll haul strongly at any speed. Drop a 2100kg trailerboat on the back and it does affect performance, but again the Audi's abundance of low-end torque makes light of a heavy problem. On test, the Allroad achieved under 20lt/100km despite a mix of city and country driving with and without trailer. Not bad.

The Allroad can't compete with the taller competition's ability to see beyond low skiboats and the like, but reversing is a breeze with light steering, manoeuvrability and a responsive (but not jerky) throttle.

Grip, too, is never a problem; Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system makes the most of any surface, though the road-biased 18in tyres are definitely happier on the blacktop than off it.

Ultimately, the Allroad is a story of compromise. If you do most of your towing on sealed surfaces, then the Audi's strong engine, relatively good fuel economy and oodles of luxury make it a good high-end alternative to tall-boy four-wheel drives.