Audi A7 Sportback

Audi A7 Sportback

General information
Look at it, marvel at its technical specifications, and breathe in a deep sigh of love. That’s what happened to us with the Audi A7 Sportback. The Quattro all-wheel drive system combined with the awe inspiring luxury interior is definitely something worth beholding.
Made to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the A7 Sportback definitely gives the car a run for its money. Available in 2 versions – the 180 kW/ 500 Nm 3.0 litre turbo-diesel and the 220 kW/ 440 Nm supercharged 3.0 litre V6 petrol, we take the latter up for review.
With a seven speed transmission, this four-door coupe is a great all round car. Big on interior space, generous with luxury, great looks, and a high performer – the perfect combination!


Interior
It almost seems like Audi is trying to show off with the interior quality it provides in the A7 Sportback.  The trim is in Valcona or Milano leather, with highlights available in a choice of walnut, aluminium or fine grain ash. Now that is what you should get when you shell out your cash for a luxury ride.
The sleek sloping shape of the A7’s roof is deceiving in how much head space the rear passengers would have. Plenty of head space for most people, you’d only a face a problem if you’re among the giants (or heading to the football matches with your headgear on)! The boot space too is huge at 535 litres at its least, expanding up to 1390 litres when the rear seats are collapsed.
If you’re going to be driving the A7 Sportback, you will definitely have nothing to complain about. The steering wheel has a well-designed rake/reach adjustment while your seat has a 20-way (yes, 20!) electronic and pneumatic adjustments.
Adding to the luxury are options like the 6.5 inch fold-away color navigation monitor, the default audio system with 14 Bose speakers (upgradeable to Bang & Olufsen), park assist, adaptive cruise control, the conventional instrument layout, and an optional head-up display.

Specifications
The A7 Sportback features the 180 kW/ 500 Nm, 3.0 litre, V6 turbo-diesel engine. It’s a common-rail direct injection design with four valves per cylinder. The 180 kW max power is attained at 3800 – 4400 RPM and the 500 Nm peak torque between 1500 & 3250 RPM.
The seven speed S-tronic transmission with the Quattro all-wheel drive system makes this drive a well-balanced act. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 6.5 seconds and gives 6.5l/100kms.

Driving experience
There really is not much to be said about the driving dynamics of this car. The engine and the drive system are perfectly paired, the ESP calibration is on the mark, and the chassis balance is excellent offering exact turn-in and great mid-turn stability. All of this without the optional package of the sports suspension.
The one potential issue of reduced rear visibility is tackled with a standard reverse camera. Its 11.9 metre turning circle needs some attention when tackling those tight city corners.



Ups and Downs
There is a minor miss with the feel of the steering wheel, but apart from that there isn’t anything that you can pick on. Great on performance, brilliant in its luxury, and a spot-on match for all other requirements, the A7 is unequivocally a brilliant car.