Audi A7 Sportback road tests and consumer car reviews

Just taken delivery of new 2011 model in 5 seater version. Absolutely stunning and powerful car. Fifth seat is a must. Fantastic in Quattro version, good economy. Turns heads wherever it’s seen. A must in Ibis White with 20" alloys. It’s my first Audi and I will struggle to find better.

I’ve only had the car for one week so I can’t give a real owner’s review, but had to comment that the car arrived with the 5th seat belt and central head rest factory fitted. So far the car seems to be just excellent and very difficult to fault. The build quality is damn near perfect, and there’s so much stuff supplied as standard it will keep button pressers happy for ages. I am not sure about the cabin noise reported elsewhere here, maybe I’m a bit hard of hearing:-), but I think it is really quiet. Performance is great, and fuel economy is beyond my expectation averaging 38 mpg. I’m seeing up to 48 mpg on the motorway, all according to the computer which is pretty much identical mpg performance to the 2.0 TDI A6 Avant that it replaced. It is my first "auto" box, if you consider the multi-tronic an auto, but it is as smooth as silk. Although I have noticed a slight lag when moving off from standstill, maybe that’s just how autos work?? Take one for a test drive, I’d be surprised if anyone truly finds problems with it. In the end I suspect it will be down to the badge as to how you feel it compares to Merc/BMW & Co.

Great car! Took one for a test drive. Downsides: 4 seats (crazy!) and lack of a rear window wiper, one hour in the car and it was impossible to see out!

I found the A7 a fantastic car to drive. It was only letdown by the amount of road noise coming into the cabin which I think is down to the frameless door windows. However the biggest disappointment is the fact that it is missing a central seat belt in the rear, even though it has a bench seat with plenty of space for a middle seat passenger. It almost seems as though Audi have forgotten to fit the central seatbelt and headrest, as there is no obvious or logical reason to leave it out. Once this car gets the full quota of seats it deserves, it will be hard to beat.

You can get a fifth seat belt added for GBP250, and I know other people who have already done it. Just Google "seat belt fitters". I’ve recently bought my A7 and will be using them - I have 3 kids. It’s a shame Audi don’t do this for you. Really silly.

With such a versatile car, I can’t understand why Audi have restricted it to just four seats. It’s wider than than the A4 and the A6 and they can carry 5 people!. Surely fitting an optional seatbelt and headrest in the rear would complete the great flexability that this car has. I remember that VW/Audi did Only offered the Passat CC with 4 seats and due to the obvious customer complaints about that, they eventually brought out a 5 seat option. You would have thought they’d learnt a lessson. Don’t buy until they bring out a five seat option unless you want your residual value to suffer.

The A7 is a 5 door Four seater, not a 5 seater as stated in the review. Heaven knows why it only has 4 seats, as it’s wider than the A6 and desperately needs 5 seats to be credible for a car of this size.