First Drive: 2015 Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Since its debut four years ago, the success of Audi’s stylish Audi A7 Sportback proves that even luxury car buyers will buy hatchbacks. So far in 2014, A7 Sportback sales in Canada are up 57%, with total sales nearing that of the more established and traditional A6 sedan the five-passenger four-door hatchback is based upon.
From the compact A3 and European-market only A4 to the mid-size A7, in Audi parlance, Sportback translates to “hatchback”. It’s a term that can be anathema to some luxury car buyers. But forward-thinking Canadians — who like the practicality of a large rear aperture that can handle anything from smelly hockey bags to smelly sheep manure — have always been fond of hatches. And upgrades to the 2015 A7 Sportback’s exterior and interior only strengthen that appeal.
Without upsetting the A7 Sportback’s long engine hood, flowing C-pillars and sharply dropping rear end that creates its dynamic profile, the 2015 model’s most visible exterior styling changes are found at the car’s front. A tweaked single-frame grille, bumpers, and standard LED lighting are all-new.
Unfortunately, the A7’s newly optional Matrix LED headlights fitted to my European-spec Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro tester — a rack of 19 light-emitting diodes per headlight mated to four reflectors that light the road optimally without blinding other road users — are not coming to Canada.
Inside, Audi has only made minor updates to what was already one of the most high-tech and well-designed driving environments in its class. You’ll find a few new material choices (like the aluminum/Beaufort walnut inlay and Valcona leather found in my car) and a redesigned colour palette, including five colour options for the seats. Other new options include ventilation and massage function for the front seats, a so-called “super sport seat” with an integrated head restraint and a head-up display. Like we’ve come to expect from the German brand, the A7 Sportback’s interior is a finely crafted, rattle-free place to be.
What hasn’t changed for 2015 is the A7 Sportback’s sporty and refined driving personality.
Sitting between the cramped CLS-Class and the taller 5 Series Gran Turismo, the A7 Sportback offers plenty of room for its up-front occupants, even if headroom is somewhat limited by its sloping rear roofline. As in the A6 sedan, the middle seat in the A7 Sportback’s back is strictly for children or occasional use for adults. Power up its large rear hatch, though, and the benefits of Audi’s body style become apparent. You’ll find 694 litres of cargo room, 1,390 when you fold down its rear seats.
With its 2004 E-Class sedan-based CLS, Mercedes-Benz may have created the oxymoronic “four-door coupe” segment. And the bulkier BMW 5 Gran Turismo is more crossover-like. But the low-roofed Audi hatch continues to be the most sophisticated offering among this Teutonic trio arguably.
As per 2014, the 2015 Canadian A7 Sportback range continues to offer a menu of three gas and one diesel engines. The base, 3.0T model, employs a supercharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder gasoline engine, making 310 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. For more oomph, there’s the 420 hp and 406 lb.-ft. S7, with its turbocharged 4.0L V8 gas engine. Then there’s the topline RS 7, which adds a turbo to the S7’s eight-cylinder to create a not-unsubstantial 560 hp and 516 lb.-ft.
All A7 Sportbacks come standard with Audi’s Quattro-branded all-wheel-drive system. And except for the S7 (which uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic), an eight-speed auto box is employed.
While European buyers have a choice of three diesel engines, Canadian A7 Sportback buyers make do with a single unit. It’s a turbocharged, 3.0L V6 diesel engine that generates 240 hp and 428 lb.-ft., and makes the Audi unique, as neither BMW or Mercedes-Benz offer diesel power in their own 5 Series Gran Turismo or CLS-Class models.
Within the A7 Sportback engine family, the 3.0 TDI may be the most logical pick. The run from rest to 100 kilometres per hour takes only 5.7 seconds. Top speed is 209 km/hr. All the while, the A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro’s fuel estimates are a parsimonious 8.5 L/100 km in the city and 5.3 on the highway.
We don’t have 2015 A7 Sportback pricing yet for Canada. But I don’t expect to see much of a change from the 2014 range that starts at $72,895 (all prices include freight and pre-delivery inspection fees) for the A7 3.0T and ends up at $115,000 for the RS 7.
After 25 years of selling its turbocharged and direct-injected TDI diesel engines, Audi continues to push forward the notion that diesel and sporty cars are not mutually exclusive. So while the 2015 Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI is the only vehicle in its class that offers a diesel motor in Canada, that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun car to drive.
Beyond its practical body style, luxurious interior, stylish exterior, and class-exclusive diesel power, perhaps the best part of the diesel A7 Sportback’s personality is its stable ride and handling characteristics.
With the A7 3.0 TDI Sportback’s available air suspension, you can dial-up Comfort for a cushy ride when you have a load of passengers, Auto for most day-to-day driving, or Dynamic, which adds more steering feel, stiffness to the chassis and tighter body control. Whatever setting you choose, the big Audi hatch is never flummoxed by what the road throws at it.
Of course, if you’re looking for something even sportier, there’s the high-performance S7 and RS 7 Sportbacks.
There’s little to complain about with the chameleon-like 2015 Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro. It can quickly switch between its family hauler/limousine/sports sedan roles, all the while delivering a luxurious and stylish driving experience with the added advantage of its torque-rich and economical diesel engine. The updates for 2015 only enhance that opinion.