2022 Audi A7 Sportback

The svelte Sportback is back for another year of glory in the US, and the Audi A7 just keeps getting better. The 2021 Audi A7 Sportback brought with it a new plug-in hybrid model that produces 362 horsepower. Even if greener living isn't your thing, you can take your pick of any one of the configurations and go home happy. The A7 offers an abundance of space and a plush interior to boot, and it doesn't just have a nice personality - it's beautiful, too. Expect loads of comfort and power from the four-ringed exec, but don't get too excited because it's up against the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class and the highly lauded Porsche Panamera, so it's safe to say that the competition is tough.

Audi stuck to its traditional recipe for the A7 Sportback, which isn't a bad thing at all. The minimalist design still manages to turn heads and the Audi exudes class from every inch of metal. The front end is home to a wide grille with slim, geometric LED headlights on either side. Following the sloped roof to the futuristic rear end culminates in LED taillights that are joined by a thin light band that stretches across the tailgate. All trims come standard with a set of 20-inch wheels but a new 21-inch five-arm V-design alloy wheel can be specified in conjunction with the S line package. All models get a panoramic sunroof. Notably, plug-in hybrid models come standard with S line bumpers, fender badges, and stainless steel door sill inlays, which differentiates them from gas models.

The Audi A7 Sportback is slightly smaller than both the Panamera, but the CLS-Class is slightly longer and narrower in terms of dimensions. It has a length of 195.6 inches and a 115.2-inch wheelbase, which means it's still quite large compared to the average car on the road. Its hunkered-down appearance is attributable to its width of 83.4 inches including mirrors and its 56-inch height - plug-in derivatives are a fraction lower at 55.9 inches. The optional sport suspension drops the height by a further 0.79 in. Standard variants have a curb weight of 4,332 pounds, while plug-in hybrids weigh 4,773 lbs.

Audi makes a host of exterior hues available for the A7, two of which are standard. Brilliant Black and Ibis White are the two colors available at no extra cost, and buyers have a choice of six additional shades on the Premium and nine on the two upper trims. Besides the standard colors, the Premium also has access to a range of metallics at $595 each; these are Firmament Blue, Florett Silver, Glacier White, Mythos Black, Manhattan Gray, and Chronos Gray, the latter two being new colors. Premium Plus and Prestige trims additionally gain access to Tango Red, Ultra Blue, and Daytona Gray pearl, the latter two being new colors. The hybrids have access to all the hues except Ibis White and Manhattan Gray. If none of these tickle your fancy, you can opt for one of Audi's many exclusive special paint colors for $3,900. Avalon Green, Carat Beige, Soho Brown, Typhoon Gray, and Triton Blue have all been dropped for 2022.

We have the 335 hp V6 to thank for a refined and continuous supply of power, though the A7 wasn't built to be a monster. Instead, it delivers those horses in a polite manner to the quattro AWD system. That being said, you'll hardly be disappointed by the brisk acceleration in day to day driving experiences thanks to the Audi A7's turbo lag being near non-existent. That's because the mild-hybrid system on regular models mitigates most of the hesitation from the turbocharger and allows for a near-seamless stop-and-go function. The A7 makes the run from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds, falling behind the comparable CLS 450 4Matic's 4.8 seconds. Audi's new plug-in hybrid model bumps up the horsepower figure to 362 hp, although it achieves a slightly slower 5.7-second zero to sixty run as a result of the extra weight from the battery pack.

The 2022 Audi A7 Sportback line makes two engines available. The standard turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 is aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and produces 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, sending power through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The CLS puts out a higher 362 horsepower, but the torque figure is the same, and the standard Panamera is slightly less powerful with 325 hp. For 2021, the A7 became available with a plug-in hybrid set-up. The greener option is made up of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot mated to an electric motor which, when working as a team, puts out 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. This set-up is backed by a 17.9-kWh battery pack (up from last year's 14.1 kWh) and shares the same transmission with its V6-powered twin. There aren't any immediate competitors for the A7 PHEV, as the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid has far more power with a twin-turbocharged V6 paired with an electric motor that produces a combined 455 horses and 516 lb-ft. For the A7, there are no other powertrain alternatives in the US, and the 3.0-liter TDI from yesteryear is no longer available. Diesel options, as the other end of the emissions spectrum to plug-ins, remain unpopular in the States.

Despite its significant dimensions, the experience behind the wheel of a 2022 Audi A7 doesn't make you feel as if you're trying to steer a yacht in the right direction. Is it a true performance car? No, but it's quick enough to mitigate boredom in traffic. It's agile enough and boasts responsive steering, but lacks a true connection to the driver. The A7 was built with comfort in mind, and it does that really well. It may not have the outright cornering ability of its sportier stablemates, but the A7 is still more than capable of tackling your favorite driving roads, when conditions allow. Its standard suspension does a good enough job of navigating twistier roads. The addition of the sport suspension from the S line package improves the A7's sport-focus slightly, but stick to the comfort-based suspension if you know you're not going to try and channel your inner F1 driver.

That brings us to what the A7 excels at. Plush ride quality is something that the sizeable cruiser delivers effortlessly. Longer journeys are blissful when your well-to-do posterior is being cushioned by premium German engineering.

The purchase cost of the Audi A7 may be high, but you're not going to be spending unnecessary money on fuel bills. The standard 3.0-liter turbo engine returns EPA estimates of 21/30/24 mpg, an improvement on the comparable Porsche Panamera 4's 18/24/20 mpg figures and close to the CLS 450 4Matic's estimates of 22/30/25 mpg. Official gas mileage estimates from the EPA for the plug-in hybrid are a 27 combined gas-only mpg rating, and 70 MPGe.The A7 PHEV allows for 26 miles of electric-only range, too. When the 19.3-gallon fuel tank is full, the A7 will allow for an average range of around 463 miles.

The interior of the 2022 A7 Sportback is one place where we genuinely couldn't find something tangible to complain about. The inside is as great as it gets, and every component is covered by something expensive, be it leather upholstery or soft-touch materials for the dash and the doors. It's spacious and offers a supreme level of comfort, thanks to excellent seating. If the thought of getting coddled from the time you get in to the time you get out isn't enough, the tech will be. The multitude of screens and buttons are expertly laid out and effortless to reach, making even the simplest of tasks easier. The inside is an 11 out of 10 - take our money.

Technically speaking, the A7 is a five-seater luxury car, but keeping to a maximum of four adults will be way more comfortable. The front of the A7 offers boundless space for even the tallest of adults, and six-footers won't struggle in the rear, either. In comparison, the CLS-Class offers more legroom in the front, but less head and legroom for back-seat occupants. Standard seating is comfortable and supportive regardless of the trim level. The lower-ranked trims get heated 12-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar adjustment for the driver, and the Prestige gets heating and ventilation for both front perches, and heated seats in the back, too. Leather upholstery is standard across the range, and massage function can be opted on for the Prestige for the front seats.

You could examine the A7's interior with a magnifying glass and you wouldn't find a stitch of discounted material used. The German automaker makes a host of upholstery and inlay options available, though certain trims and upholstery choices go hand-in-hand. All trim levels get gray/brown fine-grain Natural Ash wood inlays. The Premium and Premium Plus get three standard leather upholstery options: Black with Rock Gray stitching and a black headliner, Okapi Brown with Steel Gray stitching and a black headliner, and Pearl Beige with Agate Gray stitching and a silver headliner. The Prestige gets exclusive access to Valcona/Milano leather in Sarder Brown with Rock Gray stitching and a black headliner, but this requires adding on the $2,750 Luxury Package, which also adds extended leather on the dash, armrests, and center console.

The A7 is the most practical of its rivals in terms of cargo space, offering 24.9 cubic feet behind the second row. This is significantly better than the Panamera's 17.6 cubes, and more than double the CLS 450's 11.9 cubic feet of trunk space. On the odd occasion that you need more space, the 40/20/40 rear seats can be folded to free up some extra room in the trunk. The hybrid variants take a slight knock in cargo capacity, however, with 21.6 cubes available for your Louis Vuitton luggage set and tennis gear.

It's a good thing that hatchback-style trunk is cavernous, though, because in-cabin storage isn't the best. Four small cupholders can be found in the front and the rear and the door pockets are on the slim side. There are two storage compartments in the console, but one only allows enough space for a few credit cards. The glove compartment is a decent size, at least.

Regardless of trim level, the A7 comes loaded with luxury and convenience features. Premium models get a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free tailgate, keyless entry, push-button start, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and three-zone climate control with its own 8.6-inch touchscreen. The list goes on with a powered tilting/telescopic steering wheel, heated 12-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, leather upholstery, a power panoramic sunroof, and LED ambient interior lighting. Premium Plus models add leatherette trim on the dashboard, armrests, upper doors, and center console. The Prestige models add dual-pane acoustic side glass, four-zone climate control, soft-closing doors, ventilation for the front seats, heated rear seats, and multicolor ambient lighting

As for driver-assist tech, the Premium comes standard with lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, and a rearview camera. The Premium Plus welcomes Audi side assist, a top-view camera with a 360-degree view, adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist and turn assist, and an upgraded parking assistance. The Prestige adds a head-up display and traffic-sign recognition.

The inside of higher trims in the A7 lineup resemble fully-equipped tech hubs, although even the base Premium trim gets the basics right. Dual touchscreens are beautifully integrated into the dash, and last year's seven-inch driver-information display and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen on the Premium have been replaced with the full-size 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit gauge cluster and the 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen this year to bring the Premium in line with the upper trims. The setup is installed with Bluetooth, navigation, full smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. On the base model, ten speakers are factory-fitted, but this is upgraded to a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system from the Premium Plus, which does a much better job of playing your favorite music.

The 2022 Audi A7 hasn't been subject to any recalls yet, but the 2021 model was recalled for three issues relating to the improper deployment of the passenger airbag, a malfunctioning seat-belt locking retractor, and lock nuts on the rear axle that may fail. If reliability is a concern, the A7 comes with a four-year or 50,000-mile basic warranty as well as a drivetrain warranty that is valid for the same period. Hybrid and electric components are under warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles, and roadside assistance is included for four years.

The new Audi A7 has not yet been given a comprehensive review by the NHTSA or the IIHS, with only a single five-star rating given to the gas variants for side crash tests by the NHTSA. However, the IIHS's review of the A7 Sportback in 2021 resulted in the institution awarding it with a Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest accolade they can give. So far, the 2022 A7 has already achieved top "Good" scores in all the IIHS' crashworthiness criteria.

The A7 lineup comes well-stocked with both traditional and driver-assist features in terms of safety. All models come with a ten-airbag system inclusive of dual-front, front-side, front-knee, curtain, and rear-side airbags, the latter standard from this year on all trims. Safety features on the Premium are inclusive of a rearview camera, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, cruise control, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, and lane-departure warning. The Premium Plus gets upgraded with the addition of a top-view camera, rear cross-traffic alert by means of Audi pre sense rear, Audi side assist, and adaptive cruise control with turn assist and traffic-jam assist. The Prestige is fully loaded with a head-up display and traffic-sign recognition to boot.

Is the Audi A7 a hatchback? Is it a sedan? A coupe? No one knows. What we know is that it's an excellent luxury car that surpasses expectations by many measures. The addition of the plug-in hybrid model last year was a welcome one that will no doubt appeal to even more shoppers, it's a notable improvement for an already impressive lineup. The A7's standard engine is a well-oiled machine that rarely disappoints, though it's not truly sport-focused. The lack of connection between driver and car is a downfall that will be noticed by those who care. It does manage to return some decent fuel economy figures, though it's not the best in the segment. The plush ride quality is a plus and the gorgeous interior doesn't hurt either. It also doesn't sacrifice on trunk space and beats all of its rivals in this regard. However, the A7 is undercut by its own sibling, the A6, in terms of price and merits. Still, this Audi shows just how well the Germans can wrap power and luxury up and tie a perfect bow on the top.

The Audi A7's price is very similar to the CLS 450 in its base form, but its MSRP in any given spec is far lower than the Panamera's. The entry-level Audi A7's MSRP is $69,200, and the Premium Plus bumps the asking price up to $74,350 with the V6 engine equipped. Opting for the plug-in hybrid set-up will increase the price slightly to $75,900. For Prestige models, the price of an Audi A7 Sportback in gasoline-powered form sits at $78,350, while the plug-in hybrid version bumps the number up to $81,250. The MSRPs exclude a $1,045 delivery fee. Notably, opting for plug-in hybrid models allows for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

The 2022 Audi A7 is offered with two drivetrains and three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. The one drivetrain is the plug-in hybrid setup that uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and plug-in hybrid system with an electric motor and 17.9-kWh battery to produce a combined 362 hp. The plug-in hybrids can only be had in Premium Plus and Prestige trims. The other drivetrain can be had in all three trims and is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system producing 335 hp. In all models, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive are used.

The Premium trim is the base model and is equipped as standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a power panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, and a hands-free power tailgate. Inside, standard equipment includes leather upholstery, heated front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a powered tilting/telescoping steering column, three-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, push-button start, and LED ambient interior lighting. The infotainment touchscreen measures 10.1 inches and incorporates navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth streaming, and a ten-speaker audio system. Standard safety and driver-assistance features include ten airbags, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, cruise control, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, and lane-departure warning.

The Premium Plus trim adds to these features LED tail lights with dynamic turn signals, leatherette trim on the armrests, center console, and upper doors, wireless charging, and a premium 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Additional driver-assistance features in the form of Audi side assist, adaptive cruise control with turn assist and traffic-jam assist, and a top-view camera.

The Prestige trim additionally receives dual-pane acoustic side glass, soft-closing doors, four-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, multi-color interior ambient lighting, traffic-sign recognition, and a head-up display.

As a luxury sedan, even the base trims come fairly well-stocked. Audi has improved the standard specification of the base Premium trim and this now becomes a what-you-see-is-what-you-get trim without any additional packages offered. The only way to customize a Premium this year is by way of your exterior and interior color choices. The Premium Plus trim provides access to three packages. The first is the Executive Package, which is exclusively available on the Premium Plus for $1,750 and adds four-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, additional lumbar power adjustments for the front passenger, heating on the rear perches, and multi-color ambient lighting.

Two appearance bundles are available for both the Premium Plus and Prestige trims, with the Black Optic package adding blacked-out exterior accessories, 20-inch five-twin-arm alloy wheels, and a sport suspension with a 0.79-inch lowered ride height on the hybrid variants - it costs $750 on gas models and $1,000 on the PHEVs. The S line Package can only be had on gas-engined Premium Plus and Prestige trims as it is already fitted to hybrids, and costs $1,250 to equip S line bumpers, fender badges, illuminated door sill inlays, and the lowered ride height.

Unique to the Prestige is the Luxury Package, which adds individual contour front seats in Valcona/Milano leather with massage function and memory, and leather trim for the dash, armrests, and center console. It adds $2,750 or $2,850 to your bill, with the higher charge allocated to the hybrid variants.

The base model in the Audi A7 quattro range is not badly equipped, but it misses out on a few crucial features. It is also not available with the hybridized powertrain, so we'd simply skip over it. While the top-level trim does get the benefit of traffic-sign recognition, a head-up display, and the ultimate in opulence, it has all the same driver assists and infotainment elements as the mid-level model, so we'd recommend the Premium Plus - and, we'd have it with the hybrid powertrain for the savings in fuel used and the slight bump up in power. Throw in the Executive Package for added driver aids and ventilation to the front seats, and we'd be happy with the total of $80,790, inclusive of delivery, which still undercuts the top trim's sticker price.

The two relatives from Audi share a lot of similarities; they have similar front-end designs and both come in the same three trim levels with similar features lists, but that's where the similarities end. The A6 is smaller overall, but the sloping roofline of the Sportback results in less headroom for passengers, but this can be set off by the ample cargo space provided by the A7 over the 13.7 cubic feet of the smaller sedan. And, the A6 doesn't have the optional plug-in hybrid powertrain available. But, as far as power plants go, the A6 has a choice between a 2.0-liter turbo unit with 261 hp, or the same motor that does duty in the gas-fed A7 - a 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 335 hp and 369 lb-ft. Interestingly, the EPA rates gas mileage with this powertrain as identical on both the A6 and A7. Although there is a big difference in price (almost $10k on base models with the 3.0-liter powertrain), many shoppers opt for the more expensive of the two based purely on the suave design and opulent feel. The best choice for you depends on your budget and personal preference, however.

As the A6 is the sedan version of the A7, the A8 is a big brother to both. Emphasis on big: its dimensions are staggering, with a 123.2-inch wheelbase and a length upwards of 208 inches. The idea behind this behemoth is simple, though, boundless space and luxury for passengers inside. There is only one trim level and it's filled to the brim with specs, comforts, and conveniences most of which are found on the top-end trim of the A7, too. Once again, the base powertrain is shared by the siblings, but an optional turbocharged V8 and a plug-in hybridized motor are also available, opening up power outputs to anything from the standard 335 hp and 443 hp from the hybrid, to 453 hp from the V8. Pricing differs by a whopping $17,300 if you're just comparing base models, and the top-end PHEV in A7 guise is also $14,650 less than the Prestige A8 plug-in. Neither are designed to be sportscars, or driven like that, and instead, the focus is on lounge-like opulence. Shoppers who intend to be chauffeured around will likely choose the A8, and have the budget to afford it.