2019 Audi A7 Road Test and Review

2019 Audi A7 Gray Side Profile ・ Photo by Audi

129 mph. That’s the top speed of the 2019 Audi A7. Well, that’s its artificial top speed, a velocity dictated by a speed limiter installed by Audi’s team of lawyers. Left to the laws of physics, the principles of aerodynamics and its 335 horsepower, the four-door hatchback could actually go much faster. At 129 mph, the A7 isn’t even breaking a sweat.

Basically a hatchback version of the Audi A6, the first A7 debuted in 2012. It was an immediate hit and fast fueled the trend for luxury four-door hatchbacks, including the Tesla Model S, which went on sale in 2013. This year, Audi has completely redesigned the A7, making measurable strides in style, luxury, performance, and technology. Now in its second generation, the A7 is even more attractive, more refined, and more fun to drive than before. Although it continues to compete with the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz CLS, unlike its rivals, every A7 model comes with standard all-wheel drive.

Offered in Three Trim Levels

The 2019 Audi A7 is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Each is powered by a very smooth, all-aluminum 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine mated to a responsive seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Audi does not offer the A7 with a manual transmission, and there are no hybrid or diesel options.

The A7 Premium starts at $68,995, including a $995 destination charge. That’s less than the price of its rivals. With rear-wheel drive, the Mercedes CLS 450 starts around $70,000 and the BMW 640i Gran Coupe costs over $82,000. And adding all-wheel drive to either costs thousands of dollars extra. The A7's standard features include a power sunroof, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate controls, LED headlights, and 19-inch wheels. The top-of-the-range A7 Prestige, like our test vehicle, has a base price of $77,295, while options including 21-inch wheels with high-performance summer tires, the lowered S Line sport suspension, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel drove its price up to $83,240.

Photo by Audi

Sexy Exterior Styling

No other car company designs four-door hatchbacks as well as Audi, and the new 2019 A7 has earned a place in the Pantheon of cool looking four-doors. Like the original A7, as well as the brand’s smaller A5 Sportback, the new A7 is handsome from every angle, with sports-car proportions, a high degree of sophistication, and an air of elegance.

Audi’s design team, which is known for creating trend-setting style and timeless lines, managed to improve the look of the A7 without making the car look exaggerated. The new A7 doesn’t just look lower, longer, and wider than the A6 sedan, but it’s also more shapely than its predecessor with a few additional curves, broader shoulders, and even more intricate detailing. It’s a stunner, from the complex design of its large grille to its beautifully integrated rear spoiler, which deploys like a blade into the wind at 72 mph.

Photo by Audi

The Very Best Interior in Its Class

Audi is known for its impressive interiors, and the cockpit of the 2019 Audi A7 knocked our socks off. Comfortable, beautifully crafted, and meticulously appointed, it’s the very best interior in this class. Open the door and you’re met with the finest materials, dynamic design and near perfect build quality.

Although softer than expected, the Audi’s driver’s seat is very comfortable, and it has just enough bolstering to hold you in place during spirited driving. Audi’s designers haven’t missed a detail; even the A-pillars have been meticulously shaped to maximize your sight lines, and forward visibility is excellent as a result. Unfortunately, the A7’s interior is bit light on storage. The center console bin is small, as are the door pockets, although there is a large felt-lined bin to the left of the steering wheel. The two front cupholders are large enough and well-placed.

Photo by Audi

Packed With In-Cabin Technologically

In its base trim, the A7 has a large 8.8-inch infotainment screen, and for the first time, it’s a touchscreen. Audi has ditched its rotary controller, and we applaud the change, as the system is now more intuitive to use. Bluetooth, onboard Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard. And don’t worry, there’s still a good old-fashioned volume knob.

On Premium Plus and Prestige models, the infotainment screen grows to over 10 inches. You also get Audi’s clever Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation, which offers display options for the instrument cluster, including one with minimized gauges and a massive navigation map. Prestige models also get a full-color head-up display that projects your speed and other information on the windshield ahead of the driver. All models have a second lower 8.6-inch touchscreen for the A7’s climate controls, seat heaters, and other functions. Also standard is Audi Drive Select, which allows you to tune the driving characteristics to your liking, among Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic settings. There’s also an Individual mode to lock in your favorite settings for the response of the steering, throttle, and transmission.

Photo by Audi

Family-Friendly Hatchback

The new 2019 Audi A7 seats five and has more rear headroom than the Mercedes CLS. Three preteens will fit in the Audi’s back seat comfortably, although three full-grown adults is a tight squeeze. Younger families will appreciate the easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in its outboard rear seats. Unfortunately, the 2019 Audi A7 has not yet been crash-tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The A7's cargo space is class-leading. It has 18.9 cubic feet of luggage space, which is significantly more than the 6 Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes CLS, and the rear seat easily folds flat to expand that volume to 49.1 cubic feet. A power liftgate and 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat are standard. 

Photo by Audi

Quick, Quiet, and Fairly Fuel Efficient

From behind the wheel, this car feels special, striking just the right balance between luxury and sport. The 2019 Audi A7 is fast, responsive, and engaging to drive. Impressively powerful, its turbocharged V6 is smooth and refined, even up at its 6,800-rpm redline, and its dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission is always in the right ratio, providing slick gearchanges, quick response, and rev matching on manual downshifts.

With a 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds, the A7 is quicker than some muscle cars, and its off-the-line thrust can be addicting, especially when you use its launch control feature. The A7 is also refined, with a smooth ride and quiet interior, which was unexpected considering our test car's optional 21-inch wheels and tires and S Line sport suspension. And its fuel economy is also very good for this class with EPA ratings of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. We averaged 23 mpg in mixed driving, with liberal use of the Audi’s Start/Stop feature, which shuts off the engine at idle to save fuel.

Photo by Audi

Stable Handling in All Weather

Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system pioneered the all-weather technology in the luxury space decades ago, and in the A7 the system provides awesome handling, especially when combined with our test car's large, sticky Bridgestone summer tires. There seems to be endless amounts of traction, even on a twisty mountain road in the rain at twice the posted speed limit.

Body roll is well controlled when you’re pushing the A7 through a series of corners, and stability is impressive at all speeds. There’s also plenty of steering feel, and the massive disc brakes provide incredible stopping power. They’re responsive and easy to modulate, with a reassuring firm pedal. On the highway, this big hatchback covers miles effortlessly. This is a car you drive through three states without fatigue.

Photo by Audi

Many Advanced Safety Systems

Advanced technology is also found in the new A7’s many active safety systems. Audi Pre Sense Basic is standard on every A7. If the system determines an impending collision, it prepares the car for impact by closing the windows and sunroof to better protect the car’s occupants. It also cinches the front seat belts and readies the brake system for quicker response. Audi’s Pre Sense Front system is also standard. When it detects a potential collision with a car, pedestrian, or other obstacle, it can initiate full braking for you.

Premium Plus and Prestige models also get Audi Pre Sense Rear, which monitors the traffic following the vehicle and takes similar actions as Pre Sense Basic if a rear-end collision is impending. Also standard on the upper trim levels are Audi Side Assist and rear cross traffic, which informs the driver of a car approaching from the side when backing out of a parking space, and a Top View Camera System that gives you a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the sedan.

Photo by Audi

Final Thoughts

Overall, we’re extremely impressed by the second-generation 2019 Audi A7. Luxurious, fast, and fun to drive, this new Audi is a standout in the competitive sport luxury sedan segment, delivering extremely high levels of comfort, features, and technology. Plus, it’s one of the best looking cars on the road today.

Although the base Premium model is extremely well-equipped and priced aggressively, we recommend stepping up to the Premium Plus model for the additional $4,400 if you can. It’s a good value, adding important safety systems, the larger infotainment screen, the configurable gauge cluster, a 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system, LED taillights, and other features.

Photo by Audi