Very first Drive Evaluation
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Beautiful and rewarding to drive as ever.
Audi has faced criticism about its vehicles all hunting the same in diverse sizes, like matryoshka, these Russian nesting dolls. Contemplate the A7 a counterpoint. A big hatchback sedan primarily based on the A6, it doesn’;t appear like the A6 or even the not-for-the-U.S. A5 Sportback. Each and every crease is its personal, and the general shape is informed by 1970s and 1980s sports automobiles.
The A7 is one of our favorites, making 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 initial quarter of 2015. The front end looks far more modern with a subtler grille and slimmer LED headlights. Restyled taillights present a far more horizontal and angular look above rectangular exhaust outlets.
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Audi delivers 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 tends to make 330 horsepower, up 20, though with the exact same 325 lb-ft of torque. Either one mates to Quattro all-wheel drive and a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission.
While we lament that Audi will not send its awesome 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 perfectly even though emitting small far more than a subdued growl. There is ample passing energy the added thrust of the high-overall performance diesel sold in Europe comes mostly at triple-digit autobahn speeds seldom encountered in America.
The supercharged gasoline V-6 does not really feel very as robust off the line, but once rolling, it is clearly 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 offers only the ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic in the U.S., although purchasers in other markets can decide on a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We’re told that Americans choose 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 stated, 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 prior to, and it nonetheless impresses. From the light steering to the precise turn-in and the way its suspension shrugs off uneven surfaces, few cars can match it in spirited driving. It really is comfortable, also, and quiet. For 2016, the excellent cabin is additional improved with an upgraded infotainment system and fresh décor. However, 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 method at all.
Costs will remain close to those of the current model, which begins at $ 66,825. For what the A7 provides, which includes its gorgeous looks, that is not a bad deal. But if the hatchback shape is not for you, verify out the updated A6. It can do every little thing just as effectively for thousands less.
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