Summary
The Audi A7 is a large upmarket liftback which is based on the contemporary Audi A6 saloon. This is the original model which arrived on UK roads in 2011, before being facelifted in 2014, and then discontinued in 2018 to make way for the current second-generation model.
Available with either a petrol or diesel engine, the A7 was highly regarded by the UK press during its time on sale, often complemented for its attractive looks and premium interior fit and finish.
“The Audi A7 is a car that can appeal to both your head and your heart”, said The Telegraph‘s Chris Knapman, who was impressed by the liftback’s powerful engine options and its “spacious” and “sleek” cabin.
If you’re on the lookout for some high-octane thrills, reviewers often warned that the A7 was built to favour comfort over performance, and several outlets added that the liftback’s rear visibility was quite poor. Others took issue with the car’s price.
While the car did come with “a decent amount of equipment”, David Finlay of Car Keys reported that “typical Audi strategy means you have to pay a lot of money for a full set of toys. Exceeding the list price by £10,000 is easy, and doing so by double that is not difficult.”
Now no longer in production, the original Audi A7 holds a used car Expert Rating of 71%, based on 26 reviews published by UK media outlets since it was first launched. This score is a couple of points behind the A6 saloon on which it’s based, although it’s also a few points higher than the current A7, which has a score of 65%.
A7 highlights
- Attractive exterior styling
- Well-built and refined interior
- Powerful and frugal engines
A7 lowlights
- Pretty expensive, base price and up
- Poor rear visibility
- Rear headroom is tight
Key specifications
Body style: Large five-door liftback
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £41,045 on-road
Launched: Spring 2011
Last updated: Autumn 2014
Replaced: Spring 2018
Image gallery
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Model reviewed: (2010-17)
“Luxurious and crammed with tech, the A7 is generally reliable but running costs can be high.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2010-17)
Score: 8 / 10
“Sleek styling and hatchback practicality set the Audi A7 Sportback apart from the usual executive saloon car suspects.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 7.4 / 10
“Distinctive styling and some affordable engines make the A7 an appealing buy, but remember that it will cost a fair bit more to buy than the equivalent saloon.”
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Model reviewed: (2010-)
Score: 8 / 10
“Good looks alone are reason enough to buy the Audi A7, though it has many other talents, especially if you opt for a diesel version.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2010-17)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 Sportback is a five-door coupé that scores on style, refinement and technological sophistication.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“High P11D makes buying an Audi A7 an emotion-led decision.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI Ultra (2014)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 is an incredibly practical four-door, four-seater with a humungous hatchback boot, and in Ultra guise it’s cleaner, lighter and pretty good value.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI Quattro SE S tronic (2012)
Score: 8 / 10
“With 367 lb.ft of torque summoning 62mph in just 6.3 seconds, it goes without saying that Audi’s silky 3.0 V6 turbodiesel provides pretty much all the thrust you could ever wish for, and the 7-speed automatic transmission is slush personified.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“If you can stomach paying £10k for an opening rear hatch (Vauxhall charges the same for 4dr and 5dr Insignias), aren’t bothered about behind-the-wheel entertainment and love gadgets, you’ll enjoy the new 2010 Audi A7.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi A7 Sportback is a luxury car with the looks of a four-door coupe, but a practical hatchback and generous boot. It’s available with powerful diesel engines, blending performance and efficiency to a tee.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Audi A7 has the appearance of a low-slung coupe, but look more closely and it’s a spacious five-door executive car.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2014-17)
Score: 7 / 10
“The Audi A7 is a better-looking alternative to the A6.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re in the market for something like an Audi A8, BMW 7-series or Mercedes-Benz S-class, but you really don’t like three-box saloons, then the Audi A7 Sportback is for you.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback 3.0 TDI Ultra (2014)
“The new Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra will be capable of 60.1mpg – highly impressive for a 3-litre V6 diesel.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The bold details and crisp creases combine with the swooping roofline at the back of the Audi A7 to create some proper visual drama.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2011-18)
Score: 8 / 10
“The A7 Sportback also features Audi’s best engines, all of which offer strong performance with good economy, helped by an automatic stop/start system.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The sloping roofline and incredibly stylish interior means the A7 has plenty going for it and with the executive coupe market rather limited it can certainly make a mark.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 has huge amounts of grip, refined petrol and diesel engines, and excellent build quality.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2010-18)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 Sportback is so much better-looking than a BMW 5-series GT but still impressively practical, provided you plump for the five-seater one.”
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Model reviewed: A7
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 is a car that can appeal to both your head and your heart, with a smooth yet efficient V6 engine, lots of space and sleek styling.”
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Model reviewed:
“The Audi A7 is charming, sophisticated and damn good looking.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 6 / 10
“Great-looking and groaning with tech, if a bit stolid on the road, the A7 takes the fight to the Merc CLS and wins.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI 5dr Multitronic
Score: 6 / 10
“A7 drivers will be firmly wedged in the driver’s seat, and a thoroughly ritzy place it is too. Audi makes some of the best cabins in the business, and this is one of the best of the best.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback 3.0 TDI
“We recommend the SE model instead of the S Line Audi A7 Sportback. It’s more comfortable and quieter, and allows you to enjoy the refinement of the silky 3.0 TDI engine and gearbox.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 is a very smart and beautifully finished premium car of distinctive looks and one that contains all the usual Audi qualities.”
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Model reviewed:
“The Audi A7 luxury hatchback takes on stylish coupé-like rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, and strikes hard with superb efficiency, sharp looks and stacks of technology.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The original Audi A7 was never crash tested by Euro NCAP. Despite being based on the 2011 – 2018 A6 saloon, and sharing much of that car’s safety technology, the A7 does not share the A6’s safety score.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The first-generation Audi A7 was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life, as it pre-dated the Green NCAP programme’s creation.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 95
Average repair cost: £1118.76
Last updated: January 2023
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
The Audi A7 has a poor reliability score of just 30% as of January 2023, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both this original A7 and the current (2018 onwards) model.
As well as being considered unreliable, the average repair costs is a hefty £1,100. That’s far more than the cost of a used car warranty, which is well worth bearing in mind if you own an A7 or are considering a used one.
Around a quarter of all reported problems with the A7 relate to its engine, and repairs of this nature have an alarming average repair bill of about £1,900. Be aware of gearbox issues too – they are expensive and rather common with an average repair bill of more than £3,000.
If you’re looking at a used Audi A7, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Audi A7 has received.
2016
- Honest John Awards – Most Popular Luxury Car
2015
- Honest John Awards – Most Popular Luxury Car
2014
- Honest John Awards – Most Popular Luxury Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Audi A7, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi A6 | BMW 5 Series | BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé | BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé | DS 9 | Genesis G80 | Jaguar XF | Lexus ES | Maserati Ghibli | Mercedes-Benz CLS | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | Porsche Panamera | Tesla Model S | Volvo S90
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Audi A7 at The Car Expert
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