Review - Audi A7

Audi markets the A7 as a premium sedan with the added practicality of a hatchback-style boot, that is more accommodating than a sedan’s boot for families looking to throw large items into the rear and get moving on long-distance road trips. 

In this sense, the company is looking to give buyers that don’t want to opt for its SUV lineup another option within its sedan range, with the added space and cargo potential of one of its SUVs. It’s a clever way of offering an Audi for all the different needs and requirements for growing Australian families.

The question remaining, though, is just how well does the A7 perform as a comfortable commuter and grand touring vehicle, and how well has this practicality on paper translated to the real world? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $117,900

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Audi A7 (4K MY22) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Audi A7 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Audi A7 range kicks off from $117,900 for the entry-level A7 45 TFSI Quattro, with prices rising to $135,600 for the mid-spec A7 55 TFSI Quattro. From here, the range moves to the sporty Audi S7 Quattro, which is priced at $162,500, with the flagship performance-based RS7 receiving a price tag of $229,400. 

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What Features Does the Audi A7 Have?

The Audi A7 comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, and receives a set of LED headlights, a surround view camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, a powered boot lift, leather upholstery with heated front seats, three-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging, LED ambient lighting, a head-up display, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, 8.6-inch display for the climate settings and a 10.1-inch infotainment system fitted with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, DAB+ radio which is paired with a 10-speaker sound system, and a heap of active safety features. 

Stepping up to the A7 55 TFSI adds a set of Audi’s Matrix LED headlights, an S Line exterior package that features new front and rear bumpers, a revised diffuser and air intakes, as well as Valcona leather upholstery, brushed aluminium inlays, black cloth headliner, and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. 

Opting for the S7 variant adds a significant power boost over its siblings, as well as a set of 21-inch alloys, Audi’s air suspension system, red brake calipers, progressive steering system and interior improvements over the 45 and 55 TFSI. 

Finally, the range-topping RS7 comes packaged with Audi’s flagship engine, as well as a set of RS sport seats, upgraded carbon fibre elements for the exterior and interior design, revised brakes and suspension components, and a 16-speaker sound system from Bang & Olufsen. 

Range Features:

• 20-inch alloy wheels 

• LED head and tail lights 

• Surround-view camera with parking sensors 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Keyless entry & start 

• Powered boot lift

• Leather upholstery 

• Heated front seats 

• Three-zone climate control 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• LED ambient lighting 

• Head-up display 

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display 

• 8.6-inch digital climate control display 

• 10.1-inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, DAB+ and sat-nav

• 10-speaker sound system 

• Matrix LED headlights (55 TFSI & above) 

• Valcona leather upholstery (55 TFSI & above) 

• S Line styling package (55 TFSI & above) 

• 21-inch alloy wheels (S7) 

• Air suspension system (S7) 

• Progressive steering (S7) 

• RS styling package (RS7) 

• Carbon fibre styling elements (RS7) 

• 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system (RS7) 

Audi A7 Colours

Is the Audi A7 Comfortable to Drive? 

The Audi A7 is a spectacularly comfortable car to drive, offering a silky-smooth ride quality that upholds Audi’s reputation in the marketplace for designing some of the most refined, comfortable and butter-soft vehicles you’ll find on the road today. It takes just a few moments behind the wheel of even the entry-level A7 45TFSI to realise that the A7 offers a hugely comfortable platform that offers the driver a heap of power to pick up speed and get to their destination in a flash, with barely any noise or outside disturbances entering the cabin. 

With a crowded lineup, the A7 range offers performance that ranges from impressive in the entry-level 45TFSI, rapid in the step-up to the 55 TFSI, extremely potent in the S7 and outright insane in the range-topping RS7, that receives a twin-turbo V8 engine. In reality, though, the majority of buyers are going to be looking at the 45 and 55TFSI, which offer impressive driving dynamics in their own right, while offering a heap of comfort and a whisper-quiet ride quality for you and the family.

Around town, the A7 range moves off the line in a smooth manner, with power thrown to all four-wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which offers lightning fast shifts in a silky-smooth package. The engine and transmission combination pair is outstanding, and makes for an effortless driving experience that is relaxing for both the driver and any passengers you’ll have in the rear of the car. As standard, the A7’s suspension works wonders at ironing out all the bumps and irregularities that you’ll find on Australian roads, while higher-spec variants receive an adaptive suspension platform that can stiffen up while throwing the car into some corners. 

While the A7 might have some large proportions, it retains a user-friendly driving experience thanks to the lightweight steering rack that makes low-speed maneuvers a simple task, while the lashings of technology and even assisted parking make navigating into tight carparks a simple task. All up, as a complete package, the A7 range offers a wonderfully smooth and sophisticated platform, with a huge amount of performance potential as you move up into the higher-spec variants like the S7 and RS7, which offer some hugely impressive performance credentials. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

Space, comfort and family-friendly practicality is another area that the A7 Sportback excels. Audi for quite some time now has been the figurative yardstick in terms of clever, attractive and practical interior packaging designs, and the latest generation A7 is proof that Audi still very much leads the pack in this regard. 

Stepping into the driver’s seat, you’re welcomed by a sleek and spacious cabin design that features more than a few luxury touches to remind the driver and front passenger they’re sitting in a premium vehicle. Putting aside the fact the A7 range offers a total of three digital screens, the rest of the cabin features a refined, user-friendly cabin with a heap of storage for loose items and some lovely premium touches.

Up front, you’ll find the usual set of storage in the door bins either side, as well as a set of cup holders in front of the gear lever, storage underneath the arm rest. The usual small storage area behind the gear lever, however, has been taken up by the digital climate control screen, reducing the potential storage options for loose items in the front. There’s a heap of forward visibility and adjustment within the driver’s seat in those comfortable sport seats, and there’s no issues with headroom in the front of the cabin. 

Unfortunately, though, the same can’t be said about the rear cabin of the A7, which suffers from Audi prioritising the exterior looks of that stylish sloping roofline that actually tends to eat up the potential for headroom in the rear of the A7’s cabin. It’s worth noting that this won’t prove an issue for the majority of rear passengers if you’re planning on throwing your kids in the rear seats, however, any tall adult rear passengers will notice the sloping roof design undoubtedly eats up into the space and can make you feel a bit cramped on long journeys. Other than that, though, the Audi A7’s rear cabin offers a huge amount of comfort and legroom, with a set of rear air vents for rear passenger comfort and the ability to truly stretch out and get cosy in the rear cabin. 

Let’s move to the A7’s party piece, the huge amount of practicality added be the A7 Sportback’s large boot. Officially, luggage capacity in the A7’s boot is rated at 535L, which can accommodate a host of bags or a massive run to the supermarket, while the boot space can extend to a monstrous 1,390L with the rear seats folded down. That means that the A7 offers practicality that rivals what’s on offer in a significantly larger SUV, while retaining its sportback sedan profile. 

Is it Safe?

The Audi A7 range has been awarded a five star safety rating from ANCAP, scoring 93% for adult protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 81% for vulnerable road user protection and 78% for active safety assist technology. 

As standard, every A7 variant comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, an active bonnet, driver attention alerts, pre-sense rear braking, a surround-view camera with parking sensors, adaptive cruise control system, and a host of airbags, making it a feature-packed offering in the context of safety. 

Is the Audi A7 Fuel Efficient?

The Audi A7 range features a range of four different engines, resulting in fuel economy that ranges from impressive for a vehicle of that size and weight, in the case of the base model, stretching out to less than desirable in the flagship RS7 performance variant. 

The entry-level 45 TFSI is rated at 7.3L per 100km on a combined cycle, making it an impressive offering when it comes to fuel economy for a large, heavy sedan, while the 55 TFSI is even more impressive with the same 7.3L per 100km fuel economy rating. Moving to the performance-based S7 brings the economy figure to 8.5L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the range-topping RS7 has a fuel economy figure rated at 11.7L per 100km. 

Our Verdict: Is the Audi A7 Worth it?

While Audi hasn’t made any revolutionary changes to the A7 lineup in recent years, it remains an exceptionally well-crafted, well-engineered and sublimely comfortable sedan that offers space and practicality that rivals even large premium SUVs. There are very few cars on the road today that offer the completely refined, buttery-smooth and sophisticated driving experience that the A7 range offers, so with that in mind, it’s well-deserving of a spot on your shortlist if you’re considering your options in the premium sedan segment. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. Fuel economy of 7.3L/100km in entry-level A7 variants 

3. Five star ANCAP safety rating 

4. 535L boot space 

5. 12-month/15,000km service intervals 

Pros

• Smooth and powerful engine and transmission combinations 

• Sublime and whisper-quiet ride quality 

• Beautiful interior packaging 

• Impressive fuel economy in 45 & 55 TFSI 

Cons

• Limited headroom due to sloping Sportback design 

• Expensive options list 

• Thirsty engines in S7 and RS7 performance variants 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Audi A7 Competition