Test drive Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 BiTDI Competition, 326 CV to make us forget about petrol

Audi has launched a very special version of its 3.0 TDI BiTurbo engine to commemorate 25 years of TDI engines. This version, called BiTDI Competition, is available on the Audi A6 and Audi A7 Sportback, producing 326 CV and paired with Quattro all-wheel drive. We have been able to test the Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 BiTDI Quattro Competition, which with its 326 CV… who needs a petrol engine?

Exterior design

The elegant line of the A7 is joined by sportiness in the imposing exterior look of this Audi A7 TDI Competition, which has little to envy from an S7 or even an RS7, thanks to the S-Line sport package and the elements specific to this Competition version, including a suspension lowered by 20 millimetres, gloss black details, 20-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers, among others.

At the sharp front of the A7 you can see the large gloss black grille and the LED headlights for all lighting functions, in our unit Matrix LED headlights. The front bumper also features sporty lines, as does the rear, with its twin rectangular black exhaust outlets. Another element that stands out at the rear is the typical Audi A7 spoiler, which deploys automatically from 130 km/h on the motorway, and an unmistakable detail of the A7 is the third brake light that runs along the full width of the rear window.

On the side line there are once again more sporty details that tell us this is not a conventional model, from the huge 20-inch wheels with red brake calipers to the V6T badge, which this time refers to a diesel engine and not a petrol one (although nobody misses it). The wheels are not the typical Competition ones with W-shaped spokes, but they remain very sporty and eye-catching, fitted with Pirelli PZero tyres in 265/35 R20 sizes, with a low profile that clearly points to a sporty orientation.

Interior design

The S-Line finish also carries over to the interior, with sporty leather seats (1,265 euros) that hold the body perfectly and even include an extendable thigh support in the front seats. The driving position is very low, with the centre tunnel raised. The seats are comfortable and electrically adjustable (though microperforated would have been preferable), and visibility is good, except to the rear, where the sharply sloping rear line reduces it.

The interior design is purely Audi, with sober lines but top-notch quality. Proof of this is the wood finish (Beaufort wood/aluminium as standard) on our unit, a different detail that, both to the eye and to the touch, reminds us of the premium segment this Audi A7 belongs to.

The retractable central screen is the star, with the MMI controls on the centre console (typically Audi), although it is worth noting that the navigation system is standard on this Competition trim. The instrument cluster has a full-colour central display showing various information from the on-board computer, the multimedia system or even maps and navigation directions.

In the rear seats there is more than enough legroom, although once again the sloping exterior line takes its toll, and headroom is tight if you are over 1.75 metres tall. Even so, two people will travel like true heads of state in the rear seats of this Audi A7, which have their own climate control, door ashtrays and a 12V socket for charging devices and smartphones. Although it is homologated for five occupants, a third passenger in the rear will not travel comfortably, since the centre tunnel is very high and the central seat is narrow (as befits a coupé designed for two rear passengers).

In terms of storage, the front door pockets are small, but the main glovebox and the centre compartment, which are large enough, make up for them. It is noteworthy that there are small cutouts in the doors that serve as ashtrays.

Finally, in this tour of the interior we should mention the boot, which is large but shallow, with a total capacity of 535 litres. That said, be careful when opening the tailgate (especially in low garages), and one detail we feel could be improved is access to the far end of the boot: if a small object such as an umbrella or a shoebox falls towards the rear seats, it will be hard to reach given the length of the boot.

Engine and performance: a wolf in sheep’s clothing

Surely the idea of having an Audi S7 with 450 CV does not displease anyone, but for a moment think of a car with sportiness that at the same time lets you make a journey averaging 7 litres per 100 km on the motorway, a car with 326 CV and a powerful 650 Nm of torque that literally pins you to your seat and has a sporty look that leaves nobody indifferent. Basically, that is what Audi offers us with this A7 TDI Competition, a more than rational option to combine sportiness with practicality and efficiency.

Under the bonnet, this A7 Competition hides a 3.0-litre V6 clean diesel twin-turbo engine which, thanks to a series of improvements, has had its power raised to 326 CV (compared with the 320 CV offered until now). The tuning of the powerplant comes very close to perfection in terms of what we can demand from a good diesel engine: its 650 Nm of torque are available from just 1,400 rpm and push relentlessly up to 5,000 rpm, pressing you back into your seat as soon as the rev counter climbs past 3,500 rpm.

In practice, all of the above translates into an engine that sounds quiet and feels very smooth as soon as you press the start button, the six cylinders can be felt as it rolls along, and if we need more power we only have to press the accelerator pedal and it will push forward and gain speed outstandingly, always without sacrificing an ounce of comfort. As a curiosity, it has a boost mode which, when you floor the accelerator, gives you 20 extra CV for a short period.

The transmission that sends all this power from the engine to the wheels is an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which works properly (Tiptronic) and contributes a great deal of comfort to the whole, with relatively quick gear changes. Finally, we cannot forget the Quattro all-wheel drive, which ensures that no horsepower is wasted when sending power to all four wheels; when pulling away from a standstill or cornering, the operation of the drivetrain is decisive, delivering good handling.

Handling

The performance of the Audi A7 TDI Competition leaves no doubt about its sportiness and in particular its acceleration: from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 5.1 seconds. In terms of handling, it is worth highlighting the different driving modes – Auto, Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual, which affect the steering, throttle response, suspension and gearbox. Our unit was fitted with a recommended extra, adaptive air suspension (1,980 euros), which adjusts the firmness, allowing you to switch between maximum comfort and a firm, sporty setting.

Thanks precisely to the air suspension, the Audi A7 becomes a very versatile car: it can cruise with great comfort on the road and at the same time respond firmly through tighter bends or at high speeds on the motorway. Its agility, however, is limited by its dimensions and size, especially on fast bends, while its acceleration capability is outstanding.

Looking at its behaviour on the motorway, the A7 stands out for its comfort and excellent interior soundproofing, while on country roads it is a comfortable car with a good response from the engine, achieving consumption close to 7.5 litres per 100 km. In the city it is a large car, but technology makes it easy to handle; it has features such as the four-camera surround view system and various assistants that make parking effortless.

Consumption

One of the strong points of this engine is its fuel consumption. On our usual motorway route between Madrid, Vigo and back to Madrid, average consumption was 7 litres per 100 km, driving normally and at legal speeds. On country roads the figure ranges from 6.5 litres per 100 km if we are careful with the accelerator to 7.5 litres per 100 km in relaxed, normal driving. The city is not the best environment for this 326 CV diesel; even so, the urban consumption we recorded was around 10 litres per 100 km during our fuel test in Vigo.

Equipment

We always begin the review of the equipment by looking at the safety equipment available on the Audi A7. Standard safety features include front, side, curtain and rear side airbags, stability control, all-wheel drive, automatic emergency braking (Pre Sense Basic) and other elements. It has not been submitted for EuroNCAP testing, so we have no data, but the results of an Audi A6 or A8 could be indicative, and given the safety equipment and assistance systems available, it would surely earn five stars.

As for the rest of the equipment, it is worth noting that LED lights are standard, although the Matrix LED headlights (1,050 euros) fitted to our unit are an option. These headlights are made up of 21 LED diodes that switch on or off according to lighting conditions and other vehicles on the road, always creating a non-dazzling zone for other drivers while illuminating as wide an area as possible. In addition, thanks to the GPS, they have special junction lighting, providing extra illumination at road junctions marked on the GPS mapping, always without dazzling other drivers.

Continuing with the optional safety equipment, our test unit included two elements that are truly recommended (1,335 euros): the Audi Side Assist (blind-spot warning for the mirror) and Audi Active Lane Assist (active control against unintentional lane departure, which warns and even gently turns the steering wheel if you drift out of your lane). It also has rear traffic alert, ideal for reversing out of a parking space with total safety, as sensors detect approaching vehicles.

The sat nav is standard, although it can be supplemented with Audi Connect (635 euros), which, simply by inserting a SIM card, gives the entertainment system access to: online map updates, points-of-interest search (POI), traffic information, Google Earth, Google Street View, flight and train information, Picture Book, fuel prices, parking information, weather information, online streaming, news, city events and travel information, among others.

A recommended extra for audio enthusiasts who also demand perfection is the sound system by Bang & Olufsen, which costs 7,620 euros, with 15 speakers, a subwoofer and an individual amplifier channel for each, giving a total output of more than 1,200 W. It may be considered expensive, but given the sound quality it offers and the price bracket of the car, it is an extra that meets the highest expectations.

Price of the Audi A7 3.0 BiTDI Competition 326 CV

The base price of the Audi A7 starts at 61,850 euros, while the Audi A7 Competition starts at 88,620 euros. Our unit, with all the options described, had a final price of 105,245 euros.

Opinion and Personal Assessment

I began the test by saying that with this Audi A7 BiTDI Competition with 326 CV we do not need a petrol engine, and after more than 2,000 kilometres at the wheel of this A7 I stand by it. Driving a very sporty car usually penalises consumption or makes it impractical for everyday use, but that is not the case with our protagonist, which can cruise smoothly and cover kilometres tirelessly, yet also press you into your seat and deliver adrenaline, refuelling with diesel, of course.

An average motorway consumption of 7 litres per 100 km is genuinely modest for a saloon like this, especially considering the 326 CV available with just a press of the accelerator. We liked the smoothness of the powerplant and the quiet ride, although its dimensions and size take away some of the agility that a more radical vehicle would have. Nor does it neglect an eye-catching, sporty exterior design, or an interior with quality materials.

Finally, the equipment can be as complete as the extras we choose to add. In terms of safety, it offers a whole range of highly recommended assistants and features, such as the Matrix LED headlights, which provide outstanding illumination, and the blind-spot and unintentional lane-change assistants.

In short, this Audi A7 BiTDI Competition with 326 CV is very rational and practical for those who enjoy covering distance and at the same time do not want to give up a sporty touch that is genuinely effective both behind the wheel and in its exterior design.

Photos | Test team