2015 Audi A7 has an Unfair Advantage in the Hatchback World

When the word hatchback is brought up most people think of small, versatile vehicles that don’t offer much personal space or luxury features. Not to mention the fact most hatchbacks are not considered being high end vehicles but rather great starter vehicles. The Audi A7 certainly dispels any thoughts when this car is classified as a hatchback. What the Audi A7 really is, is a four door coupe that doesn’t have a solid trunk, but instead a cargo area behind the rear seats to make it one of the most dynamic and exciting hatchbacks on the market today.

For 2015, the A7 offers side assist and pre-sense rear as well as four-zone automatic climate control on all the 3.0T and TDI models. The Prestige model adds a standard S line package that includes LED headlights and the RS 7 model adds a performance enhancing Dynamic package as well as a Carbon package to add more intrigue to the exterior of the car. All of these great additions for 2015 makes the A7 in almost any model one that will be sought after by a large crowd of luxury lovers.

Driving the A7 can be best described as controlled power. This awesome car offers a great deal of power under the hood as well as an amazing amount of control which is gained from the highly professional and optimized suspension package as well as the almost intuitive responsiveness of the steering system. This combination of control and power makes the A7 a lot of fun to drive on a canyon run and on any open road that offers plenty of space to stretch out and flex muscles.

With four engine choices for Audi shoppers to choose from there is certainly a power option that will fit any bill. All four models are equipped with the standard Quattro AWD system adding to the great control this car can experience. The standard engine offered is a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that offers 310 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. When matched with the eight-speed automatic transmission this car offers a fuel efficiency of 18 city/28 hwy mpg and can reach 60 mph is just 5.4 seconds, not bad at all for the base offering.

The diesel option of the A7 comes in as a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that shows 240 horsepower and 428 lb.-ft. of torque. This gives the car a similar overall power ranking as the base engine but shows up much more fuel efficient at 24 city/38 hwy mpg for owners who need some fuel efficiency.

The S7 model comes in with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that shows off with 420 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. When mated to the same transmission this car offers a fuel mileage of 17 city/27 hwy mpg and can reach 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. That is really not much of a drop off at all to gain a significant amount of increased power.

The top model for the A7 lineup is the RS 7 which is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that makes 560 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. This model can reach 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and offers a fuel efficiency of 16 city/27 hwy mpg. With such a slight drop from the base engine to this one, anyone who can afford the RS 7 should take advantage of this awesome vehicle and all it has to offer.

The interior of the A7 is top of the line and has become the design other manufacturers are trying very hard to emulate. The controls are placed well and easy to find; instead of having so many control knobs to confuse and clutter the console, Audi has minimized the number needed offering a cleaner and more appealing look to the inside. The materials and seating are comfortable and enjoyable on all models making this lineup one that is enjoyable and luxurious.

On the outside, the A7 shows an imposing and sophisticated style that is unmistakable. With great lines and the coupe slope to the roof the car offers a sporty look as well as one that makes a statement of high-end luxury and design.

As expected from Audi, the A7 offers a great deal of standard features to enjoy and take full advantage of. This list includes leather seats, power heated front seats, push button starting, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth connectivity, Audi Connect, a power sunroof, a navigation system, 19-inch wheels, front and rear parking systems and four-zone automatic climate control. The Prestige model adds keyless entry, power door closers, a Bose audio system and ventilated front seats. All models include traction control, stability control and six airbags.

With so many luxury features included as standard features, the list of optional features wouldn’t seem to have much left to offer, but that is simply not the case at all. The optional features are bundled into packages for the most part and start with the Driver Assistance Plus Package which adds adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, a corner view camera and a collision warning system. The Innovation Package adds a night-vision system as well as LED headlights and a Head Up display. The Sport Package adds 19 or 20-inch wheels, a sport suspension, and a three-spoke steering wheel. Other options include the Bang and Olufsen audio system, a carbon-fiber appearance package for the RS 7, and a Dynamic Package that adds dynamic steering and a dynamic ride control suspension system.

The pricing for the A7 lineup comes in at expected luxury prices that begin at just below $67,000 for the base model. The TDI model that offers the great fuel efficiency of the diesel engine shows up around $69,300 and the S7 comes in around $83,500. The top of the line, RS 7 shows up breaking the six figures at $107,500 making it an expensive but high performing choice. Adding option packages will increase any of the different model prices allowing the base model to reach over $83,000 just by adding package options. At any price the A7 lineup shows off as a great luxury family.