Gorgeous looks; impressive handling; finely crafted interior; high level of standard equipment; practical hatchback trunk
Limited rear headroom compared with the A6 sedan; more expensive than the A6
The equipment from the discontinued Competition trim has become an options bundle for the Premium Plus and Prestige levels. And that erstwhile trim's power boost to 340 horsepower is now standard.See the 2018 Audi A7 models for sale near you
The Premium Plus comes with a ton of great equipment straight from the factory, but anyone fortunate enough to consider buying an A7 can probably afford the Prestige anyway. Test-drive the normal suspension against the sport suspension and 19-in wheels against 20-in wheels, and think about the ride quality you'll want to have for the next few years. Opt for the Driver Assistance package as well; there's no point skimping on safety features. But keep in mind a new generation is coming along for 2019.
The 2018 Audi A7 comes in Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels.
The Premium Plus ($70,675) brings 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlamps with LED running lights and taillights, a sunroof, a powered hands-free tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, rain-sensing wipers, blind spot monitoring, collision mitigation, keyless entry/ignition, the Drive Select system (which provides electronic adjustments for steering, transmission and throttle calibrations), quad-zone automatic climate control (including separate rear controls), leather upholstery, heated/8-way power adjustable front seats with driver's-side lumbar and memory functions, a powered tilt-telescopic steering wheel, ambient LED cabin lighting, heated windshield-washer nozzles, an adaptive rear spoiler, Bluetooth, a 14-speaker/630-watt Bose Surround Sound system, an 8-in high-resolution touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite radio, two USB ports, two SD card slots, navigation with Google Earth compatibility, voice/handwriting recognition and Audi Connect with online services (including Wi-Fi).
The Prestige ($73,375) adds a head-up display, cooled front seats with passenger lumbar adjustment, power-closing doors and a corner-view camera system.
The Competition package brings a sport rear differential, stiffer suspension tuning, sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, 20-in alloy wheels, red-painted brake calipers, upgraded leather and a 4-seat configuration.
Other options include an S-line sport package (a black cloth headliner, 20-in wheels and a sport-tuned suspension); the Cold Weather package (heated steering wheel and rear seats); the Black Optic package (gloss black trim plus special 20-in wheels); and a Driver Assistance package (automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, an upgraded collision-mitigation system and an advanced lane-departure warning system).
| Hatchback | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A7 3.0 TFSI Premium Plus | $69,700 / $64,822 | 6 Cylinder Supercharged | 340 | 20 / 29 | 8-Speed Shiftable Automatic | AWD4WD |
| A7 3.0 TFSI Prestige | $69,700 / $64,822 | 6 Cylinder Supercharged | 340 | 20 / 29 | 8-Speed Shiftable Automatic | AWD4WD |
The A7 comes with stability control and 4-wheel antilock ventilated disc brakes, along with eight airbags as standard (front, front side, front knee and full-length side curtain); rear side airbags are optional.
Many safety features are offered, including active lane assist (with automatic steering correction if the car wanders from its lane in the absence of an active turn signal) and a corner-view camera system (which notifies the driver of oncoming vehicles and other obstacles hidden from view while turning).
There are also two different collision-mitigation systems: The standard system offers pre-crash driver alert, rear brake-light warning flashes and accessory preparation (including seat belt pre-tensioning and window closing), while the upgraded Driver Assistance package adds automatic emergency braking.
The A7 has not been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States.
| Basic | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
| Drivetrain | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
| Corrosion | 12 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Maintenance | 1 Years/10,000 Miles |
2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class -- Not a hatchback like the A7, but does offer more muscle if required, thanks to an excellent turbocharged V8. A new generation debuts for 2019.
2018 Tesla Model S -- More expensive, but there's a ton of money to be saved in fuel bills. On top of that, it's a joy to drive and look at.
Used Porsche Panamera -- Similar in concept to the A7, the Panamera also has a beautiful cabin, plus a choice of excellent engines to exploit a brilliant chassis.
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