Overview
There’s always a cooler kid, and compared to the plenty-practical A7 Sportback, this 444-hp Audi S7 is that kid. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged and supercharged V-6 bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Throwing the proverbial axe down from a stop gets it to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, which opens plenty of opportunities for maneuvering around the traffic’s pokey dullards. To support its lateral efforts, the S7 uses a sportier suspension than the normal A7 it’s based on to enact its aggression as quickly as it does smoothly. Against its most like-minded competitors, the Mercedes-AMG GT53 and BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe, the S7’s volume knob isn’t turned quite as high. Which is potentially a net plus for those looking for peacefulness over violent power. For outright performance, the 591-hp RS7 reviewed separately, is the coolest kid on this block.
What’s New for 2024?
Audi refreshes the S7 for 2024. The updates include revised front and rear bumper covers and new wheels.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Upgrading to the Prestige model costs more but it unlocks a lot of features, including a hands-free driving mode, a head-up display, matrix-design LED headlamps, automatic high-beams, soft-close doors, a power-operated trunk lid, a leather-wrapped dashboard and center console, an in-cabin fragrance diffuser, and heated rear seats. We’d add the 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system and the cool night vision feature that helps identify animals and pedestrians in the dark.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Audi axed the S7’s 450-hp twin-turbo V-8 a few years ago, replacing it with a twin-turbo V-6 that makes 444 ponies. You won’t notice the small dip in power, though, as Audi ramped up the torque by 37 pound-feet, to 443. The V-6 routes that torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 48-volt motor-generator smooths auto stop-start operation while an electric supercharger rouses throttle response at lower rpms. Unfortunately, the electric components add weight. Tipping the scales at 4640 pounds, the new S7 is 132 pounds heavier than its predecessor. The eight-speed automatic shifts smartly but can’t snap off gear changes quite as quickly as the seven-speed dual-clutch it replaces. As a result, the S7 falls a few tenths of a second behind its predecessor to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile, managing a 4.1-second sprint to the former and a 12.5-second dash to the latter. Despite that, this luxury four-door remains eager to hustle and feels much smaller than it is. It has no problem stopping either. Massive front brake rotors clamped by six-piston calipers bring the S7 to a halt from 70 mph in a short 151 feet.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2024 S7 achieves better mileage than even its top rival, the BMW M850i Gran Coupe earning an estimated 19 city and 26 mpg highway fuel economy rating from the EPA. The Mercedes-AMG CLS53 has the S7 beat in the city, though, scoring 21 mpg. During our 200-mile highway fuel economy test, the Audi achieved 28 mpg, besting its EPA rating. In the same test, the BMW also earned 28 mpg, and the Merc returned an impressive 30 mpg. For more information about the S7’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the S7 features everything you’d expect from a luxury performance sedan: natural wood trim, quilted leather with contrast stitching, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, shift paddles, four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and more. Plus, Audi offers luxury touches such as dual-pane acoustic glass and soft-close doors, and who doesn’t like those? The S7’s fastback shape is a boon for cargo volume. Under the hatch, you have 25 cubic feet of room to play with. That’s double what the CLS53 has to offer and 11 cubes more than what the S6 sedan can boast.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits in front of the driver. In the center console, Audi divides the infotainment functions between two haptic-feedback screens, a 10.1-incher on top and an 8.6-inch display down low. The screens are rendered with crisp graphics and, with a little familiarity, are easy to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces come standard, as do SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth audio, and a wireless charging pad. Audi provides a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system on both trims, and you can upgrade to a 19-speaker unit from B&O on Prestige models.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Audi provides S7 buyers with some driver-assistance technology. For more information about the S7’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
When it comes to warranty coverage, Audi matches what the other luxury German brands have to offer. Its four-year roadside assistance program isn’t novel either.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Audi S7
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED
$101,340 (base price: $84,895)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged, supercharged, and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
177 in3, 2894 cm3
Power
444 hp @ 6700 rpm
Torque
443 lb-ft @ 1900 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 15.7-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4, 255/35R-21 98Y AO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 115.3 in
Length: 196.0 in
Width: 75.1 in
Height: 55.8 in
Passenger volume: 95 ft3
Cargo volume: 25 ft3
Curb weight: 464 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.2 sec
60 mph: 4.1 sec
100 mph: 9.9 sec
130 mph: 17.6 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.8 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.5 sec
¼-mile: 12.5 sec @ 112 mph
Top speed (mfr’s claim): 155 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 151 ft
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 28 mpg
Highway range: 540 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 22/18/28 mpg
