Once again there are contrasting plastic wheelarch extensions and stainless steel over-riders peeking from under the front and rear bumpers, but where on the old car these merged into oversized, prominent matching bumpers, the second-generation Allroad gets a different front-end treatment.
Gone is the menacing broad black swathe of plastic. It is replaced by a jazzed-up chrome-effect version of the Audi family's trapezoidal grille. Equally, the steel underbody protectors look less about off-road protection and more like jewel accessories. Small differences, but ones that eloquently define the car's new role in Audi's model range.
With the Q7 taking the position as premier off-roader, the Allroad is free to assume a more road-biased position. With quattro, adjustable air suspension and off-road ESP (don't doubt the Allroad retains these) the newcomer appeals to those who like to have their car's off-road credentials in place yet in all probability are very unlikely to ever use them.
For the moment, Allroad buyers get just two engine choices, both diesel and either 2.7 or 3.0-litre V6s. We're testing the smaller unit. Its 178bhp and 280lb ft are enough to haul the car from 0-60mph in 9.2sec and on to a maximum 131mph.
Despite giving away 52bhp to the larger engine, and with it 1.5sec on the sprint to 60mph, in real-world driving the perceptible performance difference is slim, and the 2.7 is smoother revving, lighter and £1500 less. Petrol Allroads follow early next year with a 3.2 V6 and 4.2 V8.
Mated to the 2.7 comes a standard six-speed tiptronic automatic. A six- speed manual is available for the 3.0 TDi, but why burden yourself with the extra labour when the auto is so well sorted? It works slickly within the engine's torque curve to deliver thrust on demand and goes on to slip unnoticeably through the gears for a relaxed, quiet cruise.