Audi has faced criticism about its cars all looking the same in different sizes, like matryoshka, those Russian nesting dolls. Consider the A7 a counterpoint. A large hatchback sedan based on the A6, it doesn't look like the A6 or even the not-for-the-U.S. A5 Sportback. Every crease is its own, and the overall shape is informed by 1970s and 1980s sports cars.
The A7 is one of our favorites, making three 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, available from the first quarter of 2015. The front end looks more contemporary with a subtler grille and slimmer LED headlights. Restyled taillights present a more horizontal and angular look above rectangular exhaust outlets.
Audi offers two engines for the U.S. The 3.0-liter V-6 TDI diesel with an output of 240 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque carries over unchanged; the 3.0-liter V-6 TFSI supercharged gasoline engine now makes 330 horsepower, up 20, though with the same 325 lb-ft of torque. Either one mates to Quattro all-wheel drive and a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission.
While we lament that Audi won’t 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 everything perfectly while emitting little more than a subdued growl. There is ample passing power; the extra thrust of the high-performance diesel sold in Europe comes mostly at triple-digit autobahn speeds rarely encountered in America.
The supercharged gasoline V-6 doesn't feel quite as strong 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.
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