Audi A7 2018 review: what’s it like on UK roads?

Audi is gearing up for a product offensive this year with around 21 new models expected to launch over the next 12 months. Kicking off the German car firm’s busy year is an all-new version of its A7 four-door coupe, a car that Audi says blends the styling of a coupe with the practicality of an estate.

Penned by Marc Lichte, the vehicle giant’s new design chief, the A7 has been redesigned from the ground up. Its sportier look is inspired by the A8 flagship saloon and the car is designed to accommodate a range of all-hybrid engines.

With customer deliveries due by the start of April, we decided to take the new four-door coupe to Northamptonshire to see how it coped with Britain’s notoriously bumpy b-roads.

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The model we opted for was a turbo-charged S-Line variant, which is badged as the 50 TDI Quattro and comes with a £56,955 price tag. As standard, the S-Line has sports seats covered in Alcantara, as well as HD LED headlights.

Our model had a few extras on it, such as four-zone climate control and lane-keep assistance. This brought the total price up to £77,045.

One of the A7’s standout features is its all-wheel steering (a £1,900 optional extra). The system moves the rear wheels by up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the front axle when you’re manoeuvring the car around tight corners. The axle moves in the same direction as the front wheels when you’re changing lanes on the motorway. This gives greater stability.

The A7 responded with hatchback-like nimbleness on the twisty b-roads of Northamptonshire thanks to its all-wheel steering package. As a result, the four-door coupe feels much smaller than its large footprint would suggest.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel hybrid engine in our test model was also a hit. The engine works well with the eight-speed automatic gearbox it’s paired with and there’s very little noise from the motor at lower speeds. Put your foot down and the 282bhp V6 engine sounds surprisingly good for a diesel car, adding a sportier edge to the four-door coupe’s athletic looks.

Our test model was also fitted with adaptive air suspension – a £2,000 optional extra.

Most of the time, the system irons out creases and undulations in the road with ease, making for a very comfortable ride.

But holes and bumps – even minor ones – can send small vibrations and noises into the cabin. It’s an odd sensation considering the system should feel like a magic carpet ride over the UK’s dire roads.

Meanwhile, the hi-tech cabin boasts a dual-screen control system and voice assistant features. The infotainment system, Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit, and the heating options are controlled almost exclusively through the touch inputs.

The system is very responsive, with each press of the touchscreen panels accompanied by satisfying haptic feedback. What may divide buyers, though, is the lack of any physical buttons. You need to take your eyes off the road to enter the infotainment system’s more advanced settings.

But we found the system easy to get to grips with as many of the core functions can be accessed through buttons on the steering wheel. The voice assistant is also a handy alternative. Most of the time, it can understand commands.

Would we recommend the new A7 for car buyers on the hunt for a premium four-door coupe? Absolutely. As you’d expect, the car is built to a high standard and crammed with all the latest cabin tech. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is included in the standard package.

Our ideal spec would include the magnificent four-wheel steering, but we’d leave the adaptive air suspension unticked on the options list.

What do the critics think?

One of the standout features of the A7 is the dual-layout touchscreen control system in the centre console. This hi-tech panel is among the “easiest of its type to operate safely” while driving, thanks to “haptic” feedback - the same sense of touching a real button, says Evo.

Auto Express argues that the system “not for everyone”, as drivers need to press the touchscreen panels “firmly” for a response. But the touch controls are “slick once you’re used to it” and feel “ahead of Mercedes and BMW systems”.

The touchscreen system isn’t the only hi-tech feature on the A7, the magazine says. The 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine is paired with a 48v electric motor to create a hybrid system that makes the A7 “an excellent motorway cruiser”. The electric motor can shut down the diesel engine when coasting between 34mph and 99mph, saving you fuel.

Although the V6 diesel version will probably cost more in tax than the petrol variant, says WhatCar?, it's the ideal spec for those looking to purchase the A7 as a company car, since the diesel has a cheaper list price and will be more fuel efficient.