2021 Audi A7

The 2021 Audi A7 offers a mesmerizing design not just on the outside but on the inside too. The car is loaded with all the specialties and indulgence to give the opposition a big hit. The turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI motor along with the legendary Quattro system makes it pretty competent whether on city roads or an intense drive in the countryside.

The 2021 Audi A7 is available in a total of three trims. The engine on duty is on all the trims is a supercharged V6 mated to an 8-speed tip Tronic auto transmission. Power is routed to all the wheels using the signature Audi Quattro system. The base model is called Premium plus and can be yours for a price of $70,000.

The standard list of features includes advanced keyless entry, 14 speaker Bose system, and handwriting recognition amongst other features. Then, there is the Prestige variant that sports a price of $74,600. The standard list of features includes, ventilated front seats, heads-up display, ambient interior lights amongst other things. 

At the top is the Competition Prestige trim which comes with a price tag of $79,990. The features list include bespoke 5-double spoke design wheels, night vision assistant, and Bang and Olufsen advanced sound system amongst other features.

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The Premium trim on the Audi A7 is probably the most value for money options. The standard list of features includes a lot of advanced creature comfort features and safety features. Since the engine and performance on all variants is identical, the base trim is the one that makes the most sense to us.

As expected, the 2021 A7 model will be equipped with the same powertrain that we find in the outgoing models today. The 2021 A7 will sport a twin-turbocharged V6 that can be found across all the trims, which prove to be compelling enough to back up its aggressive looks. This twin-turbocharged engine generates a whopping 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. For a car with all that glory, this engine adds to the drama.

All that power and torque is sent through the quick-shifting 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission that helps in sprinting the car to 60mph in 4.5 seconds. Its infamous Quattro all-wheel-drive system does most of the magic by sending the power to the tires with the most grip, thus avoiding any traction loss.

Although it may not be as powerful as the rest, especially the CLS 450 with its 30 bhp advantage, the 335 bhp is enough to power a sedan of this size. If you are looking for more oomph, you won’t find that along with the A7 lineup, the stepped-up sport version, S7, will hopefully satisfy your needs with its generously stuffed 444 horses under the hood. Nevertheless, this base engine in the A7 packs more than enough punch for daily driving and a little weekend run around the canyons.

Acceleration

The Audi A7 takes 5.2 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill, you will see it squats from the back and then springs ahead like a wild cougar. With its 48-volt battery pack, the Audi A7 is lively and eager to impress. 

This feeling is further emphasized by the low-end torque that always holds the Audi A7 in the crux of its rev band and ever-ready for flat-out runs. 

The S7 uses a 444-hp twin-turbo V-6 (shared with Porsche) matched to an 8-speed automatic. The union takes the S7 up to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. Quattro is great at stabilizing the sedan around the corners, which lets you go through flat out by the way. To add to it, the suspensions do a fantastic job of soaking up bad roads and gliding over them with finesse. This is expressed more with the optional adaptive suspension.

Braking Performance 

The Audi A7 comes with 14.0 inches diameter front brakes and 13.0 inches rear brakes which are fairly large for a vehicle and are clearly better than the rest of the competition. 

 The 60-0 mph distance is 109 ft. which is simply better than most of the rivals in this segment.

The 2021 Audi A7, despite being a heavier car is still quicker to stop from 60-0 mph which makes the Audi an underdog when it comes to braking. Overall, the Audi does not overwhelm us with unusual numbers but functions ordinarily.

Driving the Audi A7 

The ride and handling on the Audi A7 are composed and relaxed most of the time. The considerable weight of the car does make it feel as if it is floating on the road but it always manages to be under the driver’s control. Potholes and rough patches of road feel non-existent due to the superior quality air suspension.

However, a little sporty element is what should’ve been imbibed in the car. The car has very synthetic feedback which compromises the overall precision of the car especially while cornering.

In the event you desire to go out for a drive with the family, the Audi A7 doesn’t miss to overwhelm in that regard. It might not be as spacious as the A8L, but it mimics its behavior on road pretty efficiently.

The air suspension system restricts the abruptions of the road and the noise levels have also been contained pretty well.

The 2021 Audi A7 hasn’t been rated by EPA for obvious reasons. However, we shouldn’t be expecting any difference at all with the fuel economy for the upcoming model as it remains mostly unchanged in the powertrain and drivetrain department.

The twin-turbocharged V6 gets a respectable combined fuel economy of 24mpg. Considering the size and power of this great sedan, that number sure is astounding. The Merc CLS 450, with its extra overdrive gear, helps it get a better fuel economy than the already impressive A7. 

Audi has done an astounding job with the design of the interior for this second-generation model. 2021 carries on the beautiful looks of flowing lines across the dashboard and high-quality materials around the cabin. The refinement and craftsmanship are top-notch to make sure you know that you are in an expensive car.

The best place to sit in the A7 is in the front, especially the driver seat. The excellent outward visibility, coupled with its standard 8-way power-adjustable seat, provides one of the best driving positions in the class. It can further be upgraded to a 12-way or 16-way power seat along with heated and cooling with in-seat massagers.

While cargo space is plentiful, it’s sad that the same does not carry over to the inside of the cabin. The glove box is decently sized and the center armrest houses a shallow cubby. The side door bins get narrow storage pockets that are decent for your magazine only. Fitting a large plastic bottle can be annoying with all that plastic crackling noise. 

Whichever seats you opt for, they provide great comfort for long trips or just sitting in traffic and even keep you snugged while attacking the corners flat out. The rear seats are comfortable as expected; however, due to the prominent sloping roofline, the second row lacks in the headroom. It comes packed with an ample amount of driver-aid features and v center stack is flushed with two enormous screens dominating the cabin.

Some of such exorbitant features of the Audi A7 are:

• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Heated, three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Power tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column with memory
• Frameless auto-dimming interior rearview mirror with digital compass
• Panoramic sunroof
• Ambient LED interior lighting package—multicolor
• Dual-pane acoustic glass
• Leather seating surfaces
• Heated and ventilated twelve-way power front seats including four-way power lumbar adjustment for driver and front passenger
• Split-folding 40/20/40 rear seatbacks
• Heated rear seats

Infotainment System

An 8.8-inch touchscreen sits on top for infotainment and slightly smaller, 8.6-inch touchscreen sits below it from which you can operate essential vehicle functions like the air con. If you think you those aren’t dominating the cabin enough for you, then you have the privilege to upgrade it to an enormous 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. And yes, the instrument cluster gets in the screen club with its 12.3-inch digital display. Still, it doesn’t come with that TV-sized screen you’d find in a Tesla.

Some outstanding features associated with the infotainment system are:

• Audi virtual cockpit plus (12.3-inch high definition driver’s console display)
• Head-up display with navigation information
• MMI touch response system with dual center displays (10.1" upper and 8.6" lower) with haptic feedback
• Voice Control System
• Amazon Alexa integration
• Audi smartphone interface with wireless Apple Carplay and wired Google Android Auto
• Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System with 16 speakers, 15-channel amplifier and 705 watts
• SiriusXM with a 90-day trial subscription
• Bluetooth wireless technology with audio streaming for compatible devices

Cargo Capacity

2021 Audi A7's fastback outline and additional cargo space make it both more visually distinguished and more efficient. Under the hatch, the A7 holds nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo—it makes the reasons for practicality for you. It can also be ballooned up using the 60/40 folding split-seats. 

The cargo space in the A7 is abundant. This is obviously due to its stretched-out hatchback character this car offers. The opening on the trunk is big enough for you to load a cycle for your extra-curricular activities.

With the seats up, the A7 will be your best friend for monthly grocery shopping, yes monthly and not weekly because the space on offer is heaps. Audi even went the extra mile and added hooks along the sides to hold your grocery bags in place in case you are in a hurry to get home.

This unique slopping roofline of the Audi A7 was introduced with its first-gen model back in 2011. Since then, many automakers around the world have taken a shot at this silhouette but just simply could not match the exquisiteness this A7 carries along with it.

The 2021 Audi A7 sits on a set of 20-inches alloy with optional 21-inches that give it an aggressive sporty stance. Their design is very similar to the earlier version but with a few more edges and curves around the profile of the car.

A blacked-out grille dominates the front fascia with chrome accents surrounding it, taking up the whole front between the signature Audi LED headlights. Creases and grooves extend along with the hood to the sloping roofline that charmingly slopes down to the rear in a classic fastback manner, meeting a solid LED taillight strip with the A7’s mesmerizing extendable adaptive spoiler.

Sitting at the bottom of this gorgeous tail is a set of oval quad pipes that plays the sound of music when you hit the pedal to the metal. 

Some of the exterior highlights of the A7 include:

• 19" 10-Y-spoke design wheels
• Audi Singleframe hexagonal grille
• HD Matrix-design LED headlights with Audi laser light and high-beam assist
• LED taillights with animation
• LED turn signals integrated into the exterior side mirrors
• Auto-dimming, power-folding, heated exterior side mirrors with memory
• Adaptive rear spoiler
• Headlight washers
• Power soft-closing doors

Although the IIHS and NHTSA crash tests are yet to be done on 2021 Audi A7, you can expect no compromise on safety. Audi has packed a lot of life-saving techs such as automatic emergency braking both on the rear and front, a set of 8 airbags, and much more as standard on all A7s.

Some of these advanced driver-assist features are:

• Advanced Airbag Protection System with 6 airbags
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) in rear seats
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with secondary collision brake assist and traction control (ASR)
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
• Tire-pressure monitoring system
• Electromechanical parking brake
• Rearview camera with guidelines

2021 Audi A7 VS 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450

The CLS 450 is amongst the best cars in this segment which can also be credited to its German lineage. The Mercedes is the most trustworthy car in the division in terms of performance but is a bit costly than others. It also doesn' t show miracles when it comes to other characters like spaciousness, fuel economy, or trunk volume.

Mercedes is also a stunning car to look at, thanks to its classic curvy lines and descending roofline just like the Audi. It isn't easy to judge which one looks better, and that decision can be left to the individual.  Given the power difference, the A7 still manages to match the Mercedes CLS450 4MATIC.

2021 Audi A7 VS 2021 Maserati Ghibli

The Ghibli carries Maserati extravagance at a cheaper price in a sleek sedan with a snug back seat and prompt turbocharged V-6 power. The 2021 Audi A7’s blend of exciting exterior style and interior practicality makes for a grand touring luxury sedan par excellence.

The Maserati Ghibli excels in its interior refinement, offering available accents like a carbon-fiber steering wheel, shift paddles, door sills, and interior trim to give the interior a cool aura of sophistication. By comparison, the walnut interior trim of the Audi A7 looks rather pedestrian.

The A7 is one of the most beautiful luxury sedans out there, period. It will always be known for its jaw-dropping looks and its iconic fastback design. Others in this segment do not offer a package like the A7 in terms of looks, performance, practicality, and, once again, looks. Though it may be down on power, you can always opt for the S7, which would be the best-recommended variant.

Nevertheless, besides the lack of storage space inside the cabin, it’s hard to point out any flaw with the Audi A7 other than the fact that it’s often overlooked for the three-spook fighter on the other side of the ring.

FAQ's

Is the 2021 Audi A7 a good car?

Yes. The A7 is an exceptional alternative to an executive sedan thanks to its alluring design, extended cargo space, and its liftback design.

How much is a 2021 Audi A7?

The Audi A7 starts at $70,200, plus destination fees. That price can multiply by tens of thousands as you ascend trims and add alternatives.

Is the Audi A7 fast?

Yes. The standard A7 with its 335-horsepower turbo V6 does 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Even faster and more powerful models are available in the S7 and RS 7.