VIDEO: Is the B8 Audi RS 4 a Truly Underrated Performance Wagon?

It may not be quite as pure as the B7, but the B8 Audi RS 4 is a fantastic car all around, as well as the last with an N/A V8 underhood.

The Audi RS 4 is a beloved model within the automotive enthusiast world, in general, which has largely lacked performance-focused wagons for some time now. The RS 4 has been around for some time now after making its debut back in 1999, and has now existed across multiple generations. That includes the B8, which arrived back in 2012 with a variety of tweaks compared to its predecessor, the B7. However, though it’s a fantastic car in most people’s opinions, the B8 Audi RS 4 issn’t quite as celebrated by fans – and in this recent video from Driven+, we explore the topic of why that’s the case.

As our host points out, the B8 Audi RS 4 faced a tough task from the get-go – following up what was one of the greatest Audi models of all time – to begin with. Though it retained a glorious naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8, the B8 has a couple of shortcomings compared to the B7 – starting with its gearbox. Whereas the B7 came with a manual, the B8 only got a dual-clutch transmission, which is quicker, but not quite as engaging or embraced by enthusiasts.

The B8 was also a bit more refined than the B7, taking away some of that car’s edginess, which is great for daily driving purposes, but not so much for weekend jaunts. Some folks also prefer the B7’s styling a bit more, and when the B8 launched, it did so at a time when many of its rivals were already in the process of switching to turbocharged engines. Despite that, we’d be lying if we said we aren’t fans of the N/A V8 in the B8, which churned out 444 horsepower in this guise – propelling it from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds.

With great build quality and impressive driving dynamics, it’s hard to understand why folks haven’t gravitated toward the B8 Audi RS 4 nearly as much as its predecessor, or successors, for that matter. Our host doesn’t believe that folks are too far off, however – saying that he believes the B8 is slightly underrated, if nothing else. It might not be quite as good or as pure as the B7, but the B8 is the last RS 4 to feature an N/A V8 under its hood, and given current prices, it’s really quite the bargain, too.

This article was originally published by Audi World