Audi A7 3.0 V6 TDI BiTurbo 313 CV, test drive (Engine, performance, handling and consumption)

The Audi A7 is a model that has been around for several years, yet the engine we are testing today is a novelty in the German saloon. Furthermore, taking advantage of the fact that we had the chance to test the Mercedes CLS 350 CDI, what better opportunity to analyse the competition from the brand of the four rings.

The star of our test features a powerful three-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel engine that pushes power up to 313 hp. With these figures and after testing the car, we are clear on one thing: who said diesels were boring?

Engine and performance

Until recently the V6 diesel delivered 240 hp, and now, thanks to downsizing, it has reached 313 hp, a feat that is still a challenge even today. To produce so much power, the engine has been fitted with two water-cooled turbochargers of different sizes (that is, one more turbo compared with the 240 hp engine).

At low revs the smaller turbo works first, providing a response from very low revs, while once we pass 2,500 rpm the large turbo kicks in and works up to 4,000 rpm, although it pulls cleanly all the way to 5,500 rpm, right where the red zone begins. This gives us a brutal torque of 650 Nm from 1,500 rpm, an engine with strong pull across the entire rev range that means we don’t miss a petrol engine at all.

Add to this the 8-speed Triptronic automatic gearbox and quattro four-wheel drive, and the end result is one that leaves nobody indifferent. In other words, as soon as we press the accelerator, the Audi A7 responds aggressively without losing a bit of traction thanks to the quattro system, with a very progressive and linear surge.

Another example of the traction and power is the 0 to 100 km/h sprint, which the Audi A7 with this powertrain completes in just 5.3 seconds. The sound accompanies this, which, while it reminds you it is a diesel, is not unpleasant and becomes quite raw when we select Dynamic mode, making us forget we are running on diesel.

Handling

In terms of handling, the standout is the ability to adapt to all kinds of use and driving styles, the secret lying in its adaptive suspension and five programmes that alter the A7’s response, allowing it to be driven very comfortably or in a more radical, sporty fashion.

The A7 has five modes: Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual. All of them modify the throttle response, the gearbox, the engine sound, the steering and the stiffness of the suspension.

In Comfort mode the car pampers its passengers, although the 35-profile 20-inch wheels do not contribute much to interior comfort over potholed roads. On well-paved roads, however, the level of interior comfort is high.

If we want to break the routine, we select Dynamic mode, and this Audi becomes more radical and starts to surprise with its agility, responsiveness and, above all, stability. On twisty roads it is hard to pull it off the line set by the steering, it is neutral in its reactions and the diesel engine pushes hard, making it great fun. To this we must add the all-wheel drive, which at all times propels the car without any loss of traction.

The braking system impressed us greatly, because it manages to stop the 313 hp with confidence, and always performs effectively, even resisting fade after intense use.

Consumption

This is the section that makes this diesel engine sensible, since we get 313 hp and at the same time moderate consumption, with which covering long distances is no problem. On the motorway it hovered around 6.6 litres per 100 km, while on country roads it normally sat at around 7 litres per 100 km.

In town is where it proves most thirsty, with 10 litres per 100 km, but this is to be expected since the lack of traffic flow does not do the consumption of the 313 hp any favours.

One thing has become clear after testing it: why would we need a more thirsty petrol engine when this diesel gives us sporty performance and at the same time reasonable consumption, with a response worthy of a high-performance sports car.

In the second part of the test we will talk about the exterior design: years after its launch it still remains the centre of all eyes, while the interior welcomes us into an atmosphere of quality and sportiness in equal measure.

Photos | Test team, Rubén R., Sergio R. and Diego G. Moreira