Test drive Audi A7 Sportback 50 TDI 286 CV, luxury with ECO label

The Highmotor test team got behind the wheel this time of a very distinctive executive saloon. It’s true that the Audi A7 Sportback is not just another saloon; it never has been, thanks to its unique lines. But now it has been completely redesigned, offering a look that literally turns heads wherever it goes, while also becoming one of the greenest vehicles in its segment, earning the ECO label despite hiding under the bonnet a 3.0 V6 TDI diesel engine producing 286 CV.

Can you be sporty, diesel and ECO? Clearly yes, and I think this Audi A7 has achieved what many premium saloons have tried and failed to do. Don’t miss our test of the Audi A7 Sportback 50 TDI 286 CV, and we’ll tell you all the details.

Exterior design: elegant aggression with a sporty edge

The title of this section sounds like a play on words, but it is anything but, as it perfectly describes the exterior lines of this Audi A7. Broadly speaking, the coupe-style design is very elegant, with imposing proportions, yet with details that give it character and sportiness.

The first thing that stands out is its front, with a large grille and slit-shaped headlights featuring LED technology for all lighting functions (which greet us at night when we unlock the car). The large grille also houses the sensors that drive the adaptive cruise control system.

Its dimensions are most noticeable from the side, since its 4.96 metres make it far from a small car. The side profile has also changed, sharpening the coupe lines, with the windows tapering as they approach the rear, and frameless windows, as is typical of a coupe. The huge 20-inch alloy wheels add the finishing sporty touch.

At the rear the design really takes off, and it’s my favourite part, since the new LED lights extend across the entire tail, creating a fluid and elegant effect that is unique. This is where the Audi A7 2018 has gained the most over previous generations (at least in my opinion). However, it dispenses with the exhaust outlets, which are very discreetly hidden under the bumper. The tailgate is electric and can be opened by passing your foot under the rear bumper, though be careful, as it closes the same way.

Interior design: quality, elegance and a premium finish worthy of an A8

As soon as you step into the A7, the feeling that floods over you is one of quality and design, the centre console has been completely reworked and its lines are now much more avant-garde. The two large screens (positioned in a very harmonious way) give the impression that this is a car with cutting-edge technology.

The rest of the design is built around straight lines that define the dashboard, with the instrumentation featuring the “Virtual Cockpit” standing out. Apart from the areas of glossy black plastic, the rest of the finishes and materials are high quality, with the door trim being a highlight.

The driving position is comfortable, low yet with good visibility and space. Our unit’s seats had multiple electric adjustments, as well as heating and ventilation, a welcome touch, and even a massage function with several programmes. This makes the driving position very good and keeps the comfort up over the miles.

The rear seats are spacious, although headroom is limited by the coupe-style design. A person over 1.75 m may find it a bit tight overhead, but there is more than enough legroom. The central seat is not especially comfortable, because the transmission tunnel is high and rather wide, which reduces comfort and foot space for whoever sits in the middle. To complete the comfort of rear passengers, the A7 has air vents with individual zone control (four-zone climate control) and USB chargers for our devices. The boot has a capacity of 535 litres, very generous, but it is hard to reach the back because the space is very elongated.

Engine and performance: V6 diesel with ECO label

This powerful A7 Sportback hides under its bonnet an engine that impresses both in performance and consumption. It is a six-cylinder 3.0 diesel engine producing 286 CV, although the powerplant has been adapted to the new emissions and low-consumption requirements with the addition of mild-hybrid technology with a 48-volt electrical system, which earns it the coveted ECO label. This mild-hybrid technology also allows energy to be recovered during braking.

Despite the ECO label, the engine is extremely performance-oriented, with outstanding pulling power from as low as 1,800 rpm, delivering a forceful push, and as it approaches 3,000 rpm it literally presses you back into the seat, helped by the generous 620 Nm of torque, something you feel the moment you press the accelerator.

On the other hand, acceleration is very smooth, with the revs climbing progressively and without jerkiness. It’s worth noting the engine sound as we accelerate, which is very well judged and makes you forget you are behind the wheel of a diesel.

Paired with the engine is an eight-speed automatic gearbox (Tiptronic), which is very smooth in operation but lacks the quickness that an engine like this calls for. Even though it has a sport mode, compared with a dual-clutch unit the difference is noticeable.

Does the mild-hybrid system save fuel? This Audi A7 is designed with a very efficient approach, always seeking the lowest consumption, by decoupling the gearbox when we are not accelerating (the so-called “sailing mode”) or with this new system that switches the engine off completely in low-acceleration conditions. When cruising without accelerating (even on the motorway) the engine can shut off completely and coast for several kilometres with it switched off, although when the gradient of the descent increases, the engine restarts immediately.

Handling: comfortable and effective in equal measure

The first thing that stands out about how this Audi A7 Sportback drives is its ride comfort and smoothness, with the air suspension playing a key role, since we can choose between different response settings. From the “Drive Select” system we can choose between: efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic and individual.

If we select a more comfortable suspension setting, in corners or at high speeds it is not as precise and effective as it should be, and its dimensions become noticeable. But this behaviour changes radically if we select “dynamic” mode, which lowers the suspension and firms it up, with outstanding cornering and no fear of a mountain pass. Add to this the Quattro all-wheel drive, which helps provide outstanding stability and quickness when entering and exiting bends, always without losing any of the 286 CV hidden under the bonnet.

On the motorway or open road, it stands out for its comfort. The level of interior soundproofing is outstanding, isolating occupants from everything happening outside. Moreover, if the road surface is uneven, the air suspension also ensures that the bumps do not reach the cabin.

Consumption: a V6 that still saves fuel

Without a doubt, one area where it excels is economy, not only because it carries the ECO badge but also because of the consumption we achieved during the test. On the motorway, average consumption over the Madrid > Vigo > Madrid route was 6.5 litres per 100 km (here, the engine switch-off played an important role in achieving these figures).

On open roads, the figure we hovered around was 6.3–6.5 litres per 100 km on our usual route. If we were careful with the accelerator, we even got down to 5.8 litres per 100 km, an excellent figure. Finally, in town on our usual route, consumption was 8 litres per 100 km.

Equipment: an arsenal of assistants and level 2 autonomy

The safety equipment, both standard and optional, on the Audi A7 Sportback is very comprehensive, with a large group of assistants that look after our safety at all times. We start with the Pre-Safe system, which prepares the vehicle for an imminent collision and can even apply the brakes automatically to mitigate or avoid the impact (depending on speed) in the event of an accident.

Another safety system it features is the unintentional lane change assistant, which acts on the steering wheel to bring the car back into its lane if we are about to drift out. Combined with the adaptive cruise control, this system lets the car stay actively within its lane (though always with hands on the wheel, otherwise the system disengages). In fact, to this level 2 autonomous driving we must add traffic sign recognition that adjusts the cruise control to match the speed limit at all times, all automatically.

Parking will not be a problem with this Audi A7, as it has a 360-degree camera system that also shows a 3D image of the car, combined with parking assistance for both bay and parallel parking. Meanwhile, the multimedia system goes a step further in terms of entertainment and information, offering all kinds of connectivity for various apps providing vehicle information, weather, news, or even transport details (train or plane departures and arrivals depending on the station or airport). All of this is on a touchscreen which, if we need to write something by hand, we can use the climate control panel for, recognising perfectly what we write (no need to go letter by letter). The optional sound system (905 euros) was a powerful Bang & Olufsen with 16 speakers and 705 W, but on this occasion it did not reach acoustic perfection (as it does on other models that fit it, although at a higher price).

A separate mention goes to the LED Matrix lights (1,985 euros), which provide excellent illumination. We strongly recommend this option, as it keeps the most powerful beam possible at all times without dazzling other vehicles, switching each individual diode on or off, with outstanding illumination through corners. There is also a LED Matrix with Laser version, but the LED Matrix is more than sufficient for the most demanding drivers.

Price and personal opinion

The new Audi A7 Sportback is available from 64,190 euros, while the unit we tested had a price of around 109,000 euros with all the options described above. It is rare for a car to be as contradictory yet as effective: it is astonishing that a 286 CV car can be a diesel and still drive into central Madrid during the most restrictive pollution scenarios. On the other hand, those seeking sportiness will find it guaranteed with one of the best V6 diesel engines I have tried in recent years (and this is a considerable achievement at a time of ever tighter regulations). And if you are looking for comfort, this A7 Sportback does not fall short and has nothing to envy from executive premium saloons. In fact, it is an interesting alternative for those who want a sportier model than the Audi A8 and don’t mind losing a little rear space in exchange for a more aggressive and sporty exterior design.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira