In-depth reviews

Audi A7 Sportback review

The Audi A7 Sportback blends style with substance, and takes a big leap forward in terms of technology

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£57,250 to £94,300
  • Svelte styling
  • Hi-tech cabin
  • Cruising ability
  • Unsettled low-speed ride
  • Not much fun to drive
  • Options bump up price
Find your Audi A7
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The Audi A7 Sportback adapts the formula of the original car to make a more resolved and desirable package. Not only is the design more cohesive and appealing, but the car is also lighter and better to drive. The interior also moves the game on in terms of design and technology, with a range of clever autonomous features and slick displays that help to justify the A7’s high-end market position.

The A7’s petrol and diesel engines are strong performers, and thanks to new mild hybrid tech, the official economy figures are impressive. The drive majors on maturity, refinement and composure, although that does mean the A7 isn’t as engaging to drive as a Porsche Panamera. The ride on air suspension is a bit inconsistent, too – you’ll have to test drive the A7 both on springs and air to find your preference. Despite these foibles, there’s no doubting that the A7 is a more appealing prospect than the previous model.

The Audi A7 Sportback lines up for sale alongside the A6 saloon as a premium model with a more practical hatchback body. It has a sporty look courtesy of its wide, long and low dimensions, while a price range starting from around £48,000 emphasises its premium status.

That price puts it at the top end of the premium executive car class, and its most direct rivals come from Audi's German peers, in the shape of the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes CLS and BMW 6 Series GT. At one end of the price spectrum you could save a bit of cash and forego the sporty looks of the A7 by choosing the A6 or any of its saloon car rivals. Meanwhile, buyers at the top end of the A7 price spectrum might even consider a Tesla Model S as an alternative, especially if it's a company car.

Best executive cars on sale

Compare the A7 Sportback to the Audi A6 saloon, and the Sportback carries a premium of around £8,000 when looking at like-for-like models. Like the A6, there are Sport and S line trims, followed by Black Edition and the high-spec Vorsprung models.

Sport models get 19-inch wheels and plenty of standard kit, including leather, LED headlights, Audi's MMI infotainment system with Virtual Cockpit digital dials and twin touchscreens for navigation and climate controls and a rear camera.

Move to S line, and the wheels are 20-inchers, there's a sportier looking bodykit and sport suspension, Matrix LED headlights with the trick looking sweeping indicators, while the seats are upgraded to part-Alcantara trim.

Black Edition cars include a styling pack in the aforementioned colour, unique 20-inch wheels and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

The Vorsprung version starts from around £76,000, and the extra outlay pays for kit such as piano black exterior trim, 21-inch diamond-cut alloys, Valcona leather seats, adaptive air suspension and a Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Power for the A7 Sportback comes from 2.0 and 3.0 TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines that use mild hybrid technology to boost efficiency. Under Audi's engine naming structure, these are badged 45 TFSI (242bhp 4cyl), 55 TFSI (335bhp V6), 40 TDI (201bhp 4cyl) 45 TDI (228bhp V6) and 50 TDI (282bhp V6). All cars are automatic, with twin-clutch S tronic offered on all engines bar the V6 diesels, which use a Tiptronic auto. Quattro four-wheel drive is standard on all cars bar the 40 TDI, which is front-wheel drive with quattro offered as an option.

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

2019 saw the arrival of the rapid S7 Sportback, with a switch from petrol to diesel power and an electrically powered supercharger to make 344bhp and give it a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds. The range-topping RS 7 Sportback uses a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, producing 592bhp and 800Nm of torque. The five-door coupe will trouble most supercars in a straight line, reaching 62mph in 3.6 seconds.

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    40 TDI Sport 5dr S Tronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £47,935

Most Economical

  • Name
    40 TDI Sport Edition 5dr S Tronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £48,835

Fastest

  • Name
    S7 TDI 344 Quattro 5dr Tip Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £69,940

More on A7

Show me:
2025 Audi A7 Avant spied for the first time
Audi A7 Avant - front tracking
News
13 Dec 2023

2025 Audi A7 Avant spied for the first time

The A6 Avant is about to become an A7 as Audi’s next generation of ICE cars prepare for launch
New Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSIe 2019 review
Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI e - front
Road tests
4 Oct 2019

New Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSIe 2019 review

The new plug-in hybrid Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSIe promises 149mpg and 362bhp, but does it deliver on the road?
Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid launched
Audi A7 Sportback Hybrid - front
News
9 Sep 2019

Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid launched

Audi’s new flagship plug-in hybrid 4-door has an all-electric range of 25 miles and a claimed economy figure of 134mpg
Used Audi A7 Sportback review
Used Audi A7 Sportback - front
Used car tests
21 Feb 2019

Used Audi A7 Sportback review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Audi A7 Sportback covering the A7 Sportback Mk1 (2010-2017)
Long-term test review: Audi A7 Sportback
audi a7 sportback long-termer static
Long-term tests
31 Oct 2018

Long-term test review: Audi A7 Sportback

Final report: Audi A7 Sportback has all the tools of the executive trade, so we'll be sad to see it go
New Audi Q5 e-tron and A7 e-tron hybrids spied on charge
New Audi Q5 e-tron and A7 e-tron
News
7 Sep 2018

New Audi Q5 e-tron and A7 e-tron hybrids spied on charge

Our spy snappers have caught a pair of plug-in Audis in the act. The new Audi A7 e-tron and Q5 e-tron are due to debut on September 17th
Audi A6 Saloon, Avant and A7 Sportback get new 40 TDI engine
News
16 Aug 2018

Audi A6 Saloon, Avant and A7 Sportback get new 40 TDI engine

New mild-hybrid 40 TDI diesel marks the first time the Audi A7 has used a four-cylinder engine
Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback
Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback - header
Car group tests
4 Jul 2018

Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback

The latest Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 Sportback four-door coupes lock horns in a battle for premium honours
New entry-level Audi A7 Sportback 45 TDI engine arrives
News
26 Jun 2018

New entry-level Audi A7 Sportback 45 TDI engine arrives

New Audi A7 base unit to be called 45 TDI, and it features fuel-saving mild hybrid tech
Audi A7 Sportback (2010-2017) review
Audi A7 - front cornering
In-depth reviews
20 Mar 2018

Audi A7 Sportback (2010-2017) review

Sleek styling and hatchback practicality set the Audi A7 Sportback apart from the usual executive saloon car suspects
New Audi A7 Sportback 2018 review
Audi A7 Sportback - front
Road tests
16 Mar 2018

New Audi A7 Sportback 2018 review

We give our verdict on the new Audi A7 Sportback, as the luxury four-door coupe hits British roads for the first time
New Audi A7 Sportback debuts with hybrid tech
Audi A7 Sportback - reveal front
News
20 Oct 2017

New Audi A7 Sportback debuts with hybrid tech

The all-new Audi A7 Sportback has been officially revealed ahead of its 2018 arrival, taking styling cues from the latest A8
Audi "on the brink" of showing a fuel cell vehicle
News
10 Nov 2015

Audi "on the brink" of showing a fuel cell vehicle

German car maker poised to go into production with a new dynamic & efficient hydrogen-powered car
Audi A7 drives itself (and us) on public roads
News
15 May 2015

Audi A7 drives itself (and us) on public roads

Audi's A7 Sportback piloted driving concept is a real self-driving car and we've tested it on public roads
Audi A7 vs Porsche Panamera
Car group tests
1 Dec 2014

Audi A7 vs Porsche Panamera

Facelifted Audi A7 adds more style to luxurious, powerful package as it takes fight to Porsche Panamera
Audi A7 h-tron concept review
Road tests
21 Nov 2014

Audi A7 h-tron concept review

Hydrogen-powered Audi A7 h-tron concept manages to maintain its Audi characteristics
Audi A7 Sportback facelift prices announced
Audi A7 Sportback front
News
14 Aug 2014

Audi A7 Sportback facelift prices announced

Facelifted Audi A7 range is now on sale priced from £45,875 ahead of arriving in showrooms later in 2014
Audi A7 Ultra review
Audi A7 Ultra tracking
Road tests
19 Jul 2014

Audi A7 Ultra review

Efficient Audi A7 Ultra gets power boost and impressive fuel economy gains
Sporty Audi A7 Competition special edition model revealed
Audi A7 Competition
News
14 Jul 2014

Sporty Audi A7 Competition special edition model revealed

Ultimate diesel A7 revealed with 322bhp 3.0 TDI, promises 62mph in 5.1 seconds and 46.3mpg
Audi A7 Sportback facelift revealed
News
22 May 2014

Audi A7 Sportback facelift revealed

Audi unveils facelift for A7 and S7 Sportback models, including new styling features, tweaked powertrains and updated tech
Audi A7 Sportback
Audi A7 Sportback front
Best cars & vans
10 Oct 2013

Audi A7 Sportback

£449 per month with a £6,567.62 deposit (6.3 per cent APR)
Audi S7 Sportback
Audi S7 Sportback
Road tests
13 Apr 2012

Audi S7 Sportback

Audi's answer to the Mercedes CLS gets a 414bhp 4.0-litre V8, stylish bodywork and a big boot
Audi A7 3.0 TFSI SE
Audi A7 3.0 TFSI SE
Road tests
26 Nov 2010

Audi A7 3.0 TFSI SE

Flagship model makes a great grand tourer