AUDI A7

The A7 arrives on its own terms

The 2014 Audi A7 gives elegance an edge. Its muscular lines and curves contain a performer with Audi ultra® lightweight construction, Audi quattro® all-wheel drive, and available driver assistance technologies. With fine design details including a wraparound dash and coupe-like styling, this is elegance that stands out.

Exterior & Styling

Nothing new here since the last review, just the continuation of one of the most beautiful automotive designs to come along in years. From the aggressive, sinister-looking front end to the uniquely sloping roofline and rear fenders, this is the shape that has inspired several designs, including the latest Lincoln MKZ, the Toyota Avalon, and the upcoming next-generation Hyundai Genesis. They say the true test of a good automotive design is whether it looks good in white; my test car's Glacier White metallic paint proves the A7 passes that test perfectly, turning heads wherever it went. The low roofline means headroom is a little tight in the rear, but not uncomfortably so thanks to low seats in back.

How It Drives

The standard A7, with its supercharged, 3.0-liter gasoline V-6 is already a sweet drive, with gobs of smooth, quiet power. For 2014, there's an optional turbocharged, 3.0-liter diesel V-6, a torque-monster motor that's designed to deliver all the motive force one expects from an expensive luxury car while boosting fuel economy at the same time. In typical turbodiesel fashion, the engine makes just 240 horsepower but 428 pounds-feet of torque, meaning the A7 TDI loses nothing in terms of acceleration to the gas-powered model. Zero-to-60-mph takes just 5.5 seconds, only 0.1 seconds slower than the gas-powered 3.0-liter V-6. Power is routed to all four wheels through Audi's standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system using an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Interior

Like the exterior sheet metal, not much has changed inside since the A7 was first reviewed, but I dare say nothing needs to. The design is one of the best in the automotive world right now, with materials, shapes, build quality, buttons and switches all coming together to provide a luxury car experience that sets the benchmark to which others aspire. The open-pore, matte-finish wood looks and feels very modern, and, despite a high belt line and low roof, the cabin doesn't feel cramped or claustrophobic. The seats are large, highly adjustable and all-day comfortable, as evidenced by the ease with which my 250-mile road trip went by. Rear seat room is also quite good, aside from a dearth of headroom thanks to that low roofline. Most people won't have a problem with it; only folks above 6 feet tall will take issue.