First Drive Review
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Stunning and rewarding to drive as ever.
Audi has faced criticism about its cars all seeking the identical in different sizes, like matryoshka, these Russian nesting dolls. Contemplate the A7 a counterpoint. A massive hatchback sedan based on the A6, it doesn’;t appear like the A6 or even the not-for-the-U.S. A5 Sportback. Every crease is its personal, and the all round shape is informed by 1970s and 1980s sports cars.
The A7 is 1 of our favorites, producing 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, accessible from the first quarter of 2015. The front end looks more contemporary with a subtler grille and slimmer LED headlights. Restyled taillights present a a lot more horizontal and angular look above rectangular exhaust outlets.
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Audi gives 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, although with the same 325 lb-ft of torque. Either one mates to Quattro all-wheel drive and a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission.
Even though 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 everything completely although emitting little much more than a subdued growl. There is ample passing energy the additional thrust of the high-overall performance diesel sold in Europe comes largely at triple-digit autobahn speeds seldom encountered in America.
The supercharged gasoline V-6 does not really feel really as powerful off the line, but as soon as rolling, it is clearly much 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 delivers only the ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic in the U.S., although buyers 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 here. That mentioned, the ZF unit is a benchmark automatic, and no direct competitor delivers a dual-clutch—you’d have to stretch the 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 ahead of, and it nevertheless impresses. From the light steering to the precise turn-in and the way its suspension shrugs off uneven surfaces, handful of vehicles can match it in spirited driving. It really is comfy, also, and quiet. For 2016, the superb cabin is additional improved with an upgraded infotainment technique 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 system at all.
Costs will stay close to these of the current model, which begins at $ 66,825. For what the A7 gives, including its spectacular appears, that is not a poor deal. But if the hatchback shape is not for you, verify out the updated A6. It can do every thing just as effectively for thousands significantly less.
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