By on 2024-08-05 -
Audi A7 - Used Car
Review
IN these days of the SUV takeover, where so many cars are square and high, it's refreshing to come across a sleek and luxurious five door that stands proudly out from the crowd.
Such a car is the excellent Audi A7 Sportback - a moniker that incidentally denotes it's a hatchback in Audi speak.
It's a car that exudes luxury throughout, and although based around the big A6 saloon, it incorporates much of the high end equipment and technology of the larger A8.
The raison d'etre of the A7 is that it gives the practicality of a five-door with the stylish lines of a coupe.
And those body lines stunning - from absolutely every angle.
But so is the practicality, and with the two back seats folded down, there is a massive 1390 litres of loadspace - not quite big enough for a bowling alley but enough for most people!
The technology mentioned above includes a wide array of safety systems - from autonomous emergency braking to lane departure warning.
Top models also have all-round radar sensors and cameras plus a laser scanner to help keep occupants as safe as possible every day on the road or in an accident.
There's a wide range of engines and power outputs so when you're buying, make sure you get the one you want.
Diesels start with the well-known VW Group 2.0-litre, which is this guise comes with 204bhp. That's enough for a zero to 60 miles an hour sprint of eight seconds and economy of 48 miles per gallon. This engine was dropped from the range fairly recently.
Next up is the brilliant Audi 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 245bhp, and it gets to 60 in 6.2 seconds while managing 42mpg.
The most powerful diesel is a mild hybrid model with 286bhp that brings the sprint down to 5.4 seconds with economy of 39mpg.
Petrol engines are all 2.0-litre TFSi turbos, with or without electric assistance.
The standard model comes with 265 bhp, giving a best time to 60 of 6 seconds and economy of 33mpg.
Then there are two versions of the same plug-in hybrid called Petrol Parallel. These open with a 299bhp version that covers the sprint in 6.3 seconds and is rated at 202mpg.
And finally comes the range topper with 362bhp, which brings the sprint down to 5.7 seconds and is rated at 166mpg.
There were a number of other engine outputs available at different times, but I have listed the ones buyers are more likely to come across on the secondhand market.
Looking at those figures, performance is there for the asking in most A7s. They all drive through an eight speed automatic gearbox with paddles behind the steering wheel to make the changes manually should you so wish.
And most models also come with Audi's quattro four wheel drive system as standard too, giving the best of traction in poor conditions and also helping towards excellent handling and roadholding.
Audi's steering used to be rather inert, without much feedback for an enthusiastic driver. But this has been improved tremendously in recent years and it's now much more pleasant to use.
The level of standard equipment is excellent, but almost every buyer when the car was new will have added specification from the massive extras list.
This includes such little luxuries as laser technology, night vison system, self parking, a Bang and Olufsen sound system, air suspension and rear wheel steering are all available.
Pay around £22,350 for a '19 19-reg S-Line 40 TDI 204bhp diesel, or £28,550 for a '21 21-reg Sport 45 TFSI 245bhp quattro.
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