What do you do when you’ve spent the recession bringing out a slew of new models while every other manufacturer has been reining in costs and tightening their belts? Why, bring out yet another new model, of course.
That’s exactly what Audi have done. The A7 is a four-door coupe that sits between the A6 and A8 range in terms of size and price. With its low-slung, handsome shape though, it looks more like a stretch-limo version of its baby brother the A5 coupe than any other member of the Audi family.
The range starts at a little over £45,000 and stretches to almost £50,000, meaning it’s far from the cheapest Audi money can buy. Although it’s available in two-wheel drive, the majority of versions come with Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system.
I spent a week with the 3.0TDI Quattro in SE trim, which costs a tenner over £48,000. Although the 3.0 litre petrol has more power, with 300hp, the diesel’s 245hp still makes it plenty fast enough and it’s much more frugal than its unleaded counterpart.
Nought to 62mph is cleared in 6.3 seconds and, as with the 3.0 petrol, top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. The other engine choices are a 204hp, 2.8 litre petrol unit and a lower power version of the 3.0 litre diesel, also with 204hp.
Considering it’s a big engine powering a big car, the diesel unit is remarkably frugal, with a combined fuel economy of just over 47mpg. The petrol versions, by contrast, only manage 34-35mpg.
Like all but one of the A7 range, my car was fitted with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, with power being split 60/40 in favour of the rear wheels under most driving conditions.
The auto box is excellent, with gear changes virtually seamless and the long seventh gear ensuring the engine is running low down the rev range at cruising speeds.
The A7 is aimed at reasonably well heeled people who want a good looking car with a lot of practicality. In spite of its low roofline, there’s plenty of room inside for four six footers to travel in comfort.
The boot is big too, at 535 litres, expanding to 1390 with the rear seats down. The electronically operated tailgate opens and closes at the touch of a button with a barely audible whoosh.
When it comes to the driving experience, the A7 doesn’t disappoint either. Incredibly nimble for such a big car, it has high levels of grip through corners thanks, in part, to the four-wheel drive system.
It’s also a very refined and comfortable cruiser, with a magic carpet ride and external noise nicely suppressed.
The A7 is a very fine car in virtually every respect. I could criticise it for its poor rear visibility, but the onboard reversing camera and parking sensors help ensure you don’t bump into anything.
Nope, just about the only valid black mark against it is the price. £45,000 for even the most basic model is quite steep. And a glance down the options list £6300 for a Bang and Olufsen stereo, £1600 for massage/ventilated front seats, two grand for air suspension, and so on shows you could conceivably double the price of the car by adding extra equipment. Indeed, Audi’s PR department loaded their press demonstrator A7 with enough kit to bump the car’s price up to £68,000.
Even factoring in its high cost, the A7 is still a cracking car. As Ferris Bueller once said: “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
Price: £48,010.0-62mph: 6.3sec.Top speed: 155mph. Economy: 47.1mpg. CO2 emissions: 156g/km.