2013 Audi A7

With three trim options to pick from, the 2013 Audi A7 has an initial price of $60,100. Across all the trims, we get that high-traction standard Quattro AWD system. Moreover, the base Premium trim of the A7 is heavily equipped with features and creature comfort. The A7 also has that road appearance just like its other siblings. It has its rivalry with the Mercedes-Benz E 350, BMW 535i, and the Jaguar XF and it is going to be a real close call among them. 

The 2013 Audi A7 has three formats and the trim lineup starts with the Premium which is generously packed with features like the tri-zone climate control, heated seats, and leatherette trimming. The technology tends to be more satisfied with the HomeLink garage door transmitter, Anti-theft alarm system, and Auto-dimming rearview mirror. 

As the superiority increases so do the features as the Premium Plus goes on to include 19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels instead of the primitive 18-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels and Audi Connect online with Google Earth. It even adds an Adaptive rear spoiler which changes its angle as per speeding maneuvering.

The highest of all is the Prestige and it fulfills every whim of yours be it your listening perspective or exterior outfits. The Tri-zone climate control is replaced by the better 4-zone climate control. It does get the S Line exterior package and Bose surround sound speakers as well. The SiriusXM traffic and Audi MMI navigation are also enclosed in its realm. Being the highest among all, it is favored in some segments as it has been privileged with the Audi advanced key and selective unlocking. On the whole, the Audi A7 is nicely packed machinery and would satiate all you need.  

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The Premium Plus trim has a great value with its $63,800 price tag as it has a melange of both performance dynamics and creature comfort. The technology is also sufficient to keep you engaged throughout the journey. The sporty dynamics are assisted by a dedicated adaptive spoiler and adaptive dynamics. One does not let visibility go as well in this trim. The exterior appeal is also in parallel to the Prestige trim. Thus, the Audi A7 Premium Plus is the best choice.

The 2013 Audi A7 is powered by a supercharged V6 engine. The V6 powertrain pumps out 310 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. To give it a drag, we have an 8-Speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The power is delivered to all the wheels via the Quattro AWD system. The supercharged A7 sprints from 0-60 MPH in a matter of 5.7 seconds. To complete a quarter mile, the A7 takes 14.2 seconds at the most. The A7 doesn't settle for less as it can do a top speed of 130 MPH which is impressive for a luxury sedan that weighs 4,167 pounds.

The Audi A7 competes with a lineup of cheap yet capable rivals. We have the Jaguar XF with a boosted version of the similar supercharged V6 from the A7, but this one outputs greater than 340hp and makes the XF the fastest among other cars. Then we have the BMW 535i that outputs 4hp less from its I-6, still outruns the A7. It is the closest rival to the Audi A7. The third on the list is the Mercedes E 350 with its 302 hp which is outshined by the rest. Moreover, the A7 is the only premium sedan that comes with a standard AWD which can be a plus point to its imagery.

The V6 on the 2013 Audi A7 is quite capable in its performance curve but that affects its fuel economy. With the supercharger, it delivers 18 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and a combined 21 MPG. To make up for that, the A7 has a huge 19.8-gallon tank that pushes its range coverage up to 554 miles on the highways and 416 miles on the daily basis. Hence, it is reliable enough to keep refueling status out of the scope during intercity travels or real long haulings. 

The Audi A7 has an average fuel economy when compared with the rivals like the Mercedes-Benz E 350 and BMW 535i as the latter returns 20 mpg and 30 mpg in the city and on the highway. The Mercedes-Benz E 350 is further a step ahead of others as it has a range of more than 630 miles while others hardly hit 550 miles to the best of their abilities. The most underwhelming among all is the Jaguar XF which is short on both mileage and range.

The Audi never misses an opportunity to mesmerize you with its interior and the same applies to the charm of the Audi A7 as well. Right from the lower-tier to the top-notch, all are perfectly armed with ease and comfort. The leather upholstery has a premium touch which is further elaborated by the ash grain wood accents. The multi-flexing and that too with electric actuation and power-heating in the seats keep you cozy during the cold weather. The heat recirculation gets transformed to a ventilation format in the Prestige trim with an additional 2-position driver seat memory. It even gets a heads-up display in conjunction with the 4-zone climate control.  

The price of the Audi A7 is at par with its quality. An opulent cabin focused on driving and comfort with luxury-cum-basic amenities and technology makes it one of the most equipped luxury sedans against its rivals. All these without any compromise in the spacing in either of the rows and cargo capacity put it in the lead. The closest to the former can be the BMW 535i yet it has small voids that are needed to be filled up. The most cramped and disappointing with respect to cargo volume and rear freedom is the Mercedes-Benz E 350 while the Jaguar XF measures in the middle of all. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Power heated seats
• Four-spoke leather steering
• Tri-zone climate control
•  2-position driver seat memory

How intuitive is the 2013 Audi A7's Infotainment system?

The Audi A7 is tech-laden and is very much superior to its counterparts. It gets the standard 6.5-inch screen along with a SiriusXM radio subscription. The Premium Plus, as the name suggests, adds other features at the user’s disposal like the Audi Connect online Services and SiriusXM traffic. The Prestige gets even better as it holds a host of high-end of every possible unit inside the cabin which includes the 10 speakers with a 6-channel amplifier which can further be upgraded into a Bose 13 speaker surround sound system with a subwoofer. The other standard features entail Bluetooth wireless connectivity, Audi music interface with iPod cable, CD player, and dual SD card slots. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• Audi MMI radio system plus
• SiriusXM radio subscription
• Audi Connect online services
• Audi MMI touch and Jukebox
• Bose premium speakers

Not just sporty from the inside but also from the outside, the A7 stays true to its nature. The front has that aggressive persona with its Xenon Plus headlamps which surround the chrome-accented grille. The design language is appealing as well as functional as it gets a diffuser for better airflow management. Either it is an 18-inch 7-spoke alloy wheel or a 19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheel, any one of them looks just fine without being out of proportion. The gradient from the top to the rear trunk and front bonnet is also continuous. The last finish to its complete silhouette is given by the adaptable rear spoiler and dual chrome tip exhausts on either side.  

Audi is the heaviest and lengthiest luxury saloon in the class due to which the importance of advanced handling features like Electronic stability control and Anti-slip regulation increases drastically. The rivals are also not that impressive in their weight category and boundary limit but are at least decent with ground clearance in excess of 5.5 inches. 

The Audi A7 may be sporty but its weight transfer would affect both acceleration and braking one after another. Therefore, it won’t be illogical to state that whatever the numbers it has achieved it could be improved with little reduction in this department. Meanwhile, others measure on the same scale without much of a difference. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• Xenon Plus headlamps
• Frameless doors
• Adaptive rear spoiler
• 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels

The 2013 Audi A7 is a perfect blend of an ultra-high-strength steel structure with cast aluminum members which allows it to absorb maximum energy wherever those steel panels are and break the crash energy chain wherever the aluminum panels are. Well, the chassis is not yet tested by the NHTSA and IIHS because of the cost sheet but one could expect it to be quite tough to take on the tackles. As far as active and passive features are concerned, it is surrounded by 10 standard airbags along with the electronic brake-force distribution, Audi PreSense basic, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a crash sensor system. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Engine Immobilizer
• Dusk-sensing Headlamps
• Audi parking system plus
• Audi adaptive cruise control
• Audi lane assist
• Audi side assist

The A7 is one of the first Sportback luxury sedans by Audi, after the launch of its A5. It is a full package deal with a supercharged V6 and a standard Quattro AWD. As compared to the rivals, the Audi A7 has the best driving experience with its performance dynamics, comfy seats, and advanced driver assistance features. The robust structure will keep you safe inside where the advanced safety features help you to avoid trouble. Thus, one could give it a preference in the first place.