The A7 Sportback was Audi’s answer to the Mercedes CLS when it launched in 2010, offering stunning, rakish coupe lines, with plenty of practicality too. Based on its more staid sibling, the A6, and sharing the same wheelbase, it’s the sexier of the two, with five doors and bundles of boot space. Up against the Merc and the BMW 5 Series GT (although slightly different in concept), we tested the range-topping iteration, which offers some impressive performance figures. Performance 4.5/5 Our top-of-the-range 3.0-litre Bi TDI with 309bhp and Quattro four-wheel-drive hits 62mph in 5.3 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Considering its size, that’s a speedy motor, which is also found in the A6 and A6 Allroad. The winning combination of low-down torque and top-end power makes this a pacey option, with a great roar emanating when your foot goes down. The eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox is near effortless too; there’s the standard slight hesitation when moving off, but the ratios are well-judged to use the whole force of this joyous engine. The equivalent CLS, the 400 AMG Line, has identical performance figures, but one less gear in its auto ‘box. Ride and handling 4/5 Weight reduction in the A7 is helped by plenty of aluminium, improving handling and making the car feel incredibly agile for its size, and indeed, over and above many smaller cars. There’s an impressive balance into corners, although Audi’s typically vague steering comes into play here making it feel less sporty than it otherwise suggests, and robbing it off some of its overall driving appeal. The CLS has better feedback, but we’d probably still opt for the A7. There’s no doubt this is a comfortable cruiser, but the ride veered on the firm side, no doubt aided by our 19-inch alloys. Still, refinement is excellent, with little noise filtering into the cabin, aside from a touch of turbo. Interior 4/5 The A7 is the crème de la crème of Audi interiors, with a beautiful quality finish and comfort. WE had the mid-range SE trim which includes cruise control, rear parking sensors and sat nav as standard. But then there were also a ridiculous amount of options, including BOSE surround sound (£1,000), adaptive cruise control plus active lane assist (£2,130) and digital TV reception (£870), surmounting to around £15k worth of extras. There’s plenty of leg room for passengers, but that coupe rear line means headroom loses out in the back. We witnessed a six-footer trying to sit in here, and he was hunched over. There’s also a cavernous boot, which may well involve climbing in to reach the back of. It has 535 litres of space, notably more than the CLS with 475 litres. Costs 4 4/5 Our test car, pre-options, cost £51,725, a fair chunk less than the CLS at £55,850. Running costs are never going to be cheap for this sort of executive car, but they just trump the CLS. The A7 emits 166g/km CO2 with fuel consumption of 44.8mpg, while the Merc delivers 170g/km and 38.7mpg. Verdict 4.5/5 The A7 is an incredibly desirable car, offering luxury and comfort for plenty of motorway mileage. There are still some minor issues to address, and you’ll need to be careful with that option list, but anyone that opts for this model will be thrilled with their purchase.
Our Rating
