2001 Audi allroad Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The allroad has a distinct presence. It quietly demands to be looked at with its discreet bright work tracing the window area, the roof rails and smart five-spoke wheel with a unique dimensional design (optional). The allroad appears wind-shaped with its sleek lines, but the darker toned front bumper and wheel flares hint at another life than the highway. Even in repose this appears to be a machine not easily dissuaded from its purpose.

Interior Features

Audi takes second to no one when it comes to interior design. The allroad shows its Audi A6 base with the handsome tone-on-tone interior and the wrap-around wood trim running from the dash across the front and rear doors. The wood is a slightly lighter, more modern shade of walnut. Aluminum accents (the gear lever surround on the console for instance) are symbolic of Audi's advanced technology applied in elegant surroundings.

The two-tone seats (a light gray and a darker gray in the test car) are unique to the allroad and offer bolstering for comfort and lateral support. Legroom is ample both front and back without requiring drastic adjustment of the front seats to accommodate rear-seat passengers. The allroad is designated as a five-passenger vehicle but, truth be told, the fifth is a stepchild with a drive-train bump to straddle. It's best for just two to lounge in the back seat with the wide armrest pulled down between them. You'd expect to be offered champagne or orange juice before take off.

The interior is a flexible space-long items (like skis or fishing rods too precious for the roof) can come in from the back and stretch out at the passengers' elbows. Seats can be folded in a variety of patterns to swallow a few people and lots of stuff or vice versa. Load height, thanks to the variable ground clearance, is kind to even bad backs.