Very first Drive Review
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Beautiful and rewarding to drive as ever.
Audi has faced criticism about its vehicles all looking the identical in diverse sizes, like matryoshka, those Russian nesting dolls. Consider the A7 a counterpoint. A big hatchback sedan primarily based on the A6, it does not look like the A6 or even the not-for-the-U.S. A5 Sportback. Every single crease is its personal, and the all round shape is informed by 1970s and 1980s sports vehicles.
The A7 is one of our favorites, generating 3 appearances on our 10Best list and winning separate comparison tests against the BMW 640i Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz CLS550. As with the A6 and S6, Audi has upgraded the 2016 model, obtainable from the very first quarter of 2015. The front finish looks far more contemporary with a subtler grille and slimmer LED headlights. Restyled taillights present a far more horizontal and angular appear above rectangular exhaust outlets.
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Audi offers 2 engines for the U.S. The 3.-liter V-6 TDI diesel with an output of 240 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque carries more than unchanged the 3.-liter V-6 TFSI supercharged gasoline engine now makes 330 horsepower, up 20, even though with the very same 325 lb-ft of torque. Either 1 mates to Quattro all-wheel drive and a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission.
Although we lament that Audi will not send its amazing 320-hp twin-turbo BiTDI to the U.S., the 240-hp diesel launches the A7 on a wave of torque and builds speed with reassuring force. It does just about almost everything completely even though emitting little more than a subdued growl. There is ample passing power the further thrust of the higher-efficiency diesel sold in Europe comes largely at triple-digit autobahn speeds seldom encountered in America.
The supercharged gasoline V-6 does not feel quite as powerful off the line, but once rolling, it is clearly a lot more responsive than its TDI sibling—or most any turbocharged model in its segment. The soundtrack is silky-smooth, not menacing. The trade-off for its supreme manners is fuel consumption far thirstier than that of the TDI that recorded 30 mpg in our 2014 test.
Audi provides only the ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic in the U.S., although buyers in other markets can select a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We’re told that Americans prefer the torque overload at step-off. The automatic is fine for the diesel, but the eager supercharged gasoline engine pairs nicely with the dual-clutch gearbox Audi reserves for the sportier S6/S7 models right here. That mentioned, the ZF unit is a benchmark automatic, and no direct competitor provides a dual-clutch—you’d have to stretch the spending budget at least $ 10,000 to nab the DCT in the base Porsche Panamera.
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We’ve praised the A7′s competent chassis before, and it still impresses. From the light steering to the precise turn-in and the way its suspension shrugs off uneven surfaces, handful of automobiles can match it in spirited driving. It’;s comfortable, too, and quiet. For 2016, the exceptional cabin is further enhanced with an upgraded infotainment program and fresh décor. Sadly, Audi hasn’;t fixed the poor integration of the head-up show the enormous box atop the dashboard is impossible to overlook and so obtrusive that we’;d rather not have the technique at all.
Costs will stay close to these of the current model, which begins at $ 66,825. For what the A7 offers, such as its stunning looks, that’;s not a undesirable deal. But if the hatchback shape isn’t for you, check out the updated A6. It can do every thing just as properly for thousands much less.
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