The low-slung, sleekly raked Audi A7, derived from the excellent A6 sedan, belongs to that class of coupe-like four-door sedans that are sometimes called personal luxury cars. That often means there's more emphasis on styling than on practicality. That said, with its large, power-assisted hatchback and generous interior proportions, the A7 actually does provide a healthy dollop of practicality. The Audi also seats five people, at least in a pinch.
We tested the A7 with its ultra-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission and 240-hp turbodiesel V6, which is possibly the nicest, perkiest, most unobtrusive diesel engine we've experienced. Besides having plenty of grunt, the A7 returned an average of 28 mpg, a fine showing for a car this size. A long cruising range -- 565 miles in mixed driving and close to 800 on the highway -- is another plus. A big minus is that VW/Audi cheated on EPA emissions testing for their diesels; a repair for this engine is pending.
Combining luxury, sound driving dynamics, an impeccably furnished cabin, and that superior fuel economy, the A7 scored among the best cars we've tested - before we found out it was an illegal car. Of course, you can also choose from several excellent gasoline engines, including a supercharged V6 and the stupendous S7.
Performance is abundant, with a hefty forward surge that's almost always on tap. Handling is responsive and secure, if not overtly sporty. The ride is also very good, steady, and compliant, although the low-profile 20-inch tires make the ride firmer than we'd like.
Interior finish, seat comfort and driver accommodations are first class. Access, however, isn't as good as in the A6, because the doors are smaller and the ride height is lower. The rear seat is a lot roomier than in most competitors, though not as hospitable as the A6's.
Among the few shortcomings are the controls, which take some getting used to. Front and side visibility are surprisingly good, but the "sporty" styling hurts rear visibility. While the A7 is generally very quiet, a low-level diesel thrum audible at idle robs the A7 TDI of refinement.
And there's no getting around the fact that the A7 experience doesn't come cheap.