Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI 2011 review

The A7 Sportback is on sale in Australia in diesel and petrol V6 guises, the former being turbocharged and the latter getting the supercharger. The four-seater will be sold under the "Imagination Meets Engineering" banner and is expected to contribute a small part - perhaps just 200 units - as well as being an image leader for the German brand.

Value

With a starting price of $142,750 for the three-litre turbodiesel V6 and $147,800 for the three-litre supercharged V6 petrol model, there's no cheap-and-cheerful marketing campaign likely - particularly when the options list can be ticked to push the pricetag close to $200,000 by the time one hits the road.

Also on offer is a glass sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, folding exterior mirrors, an automatic bootlid, quad-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, leather trim, a multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, electric-adjustable front seats with memory on the driver's pew.

The infotainment system runs via a fold-out satnav screen and switchgear mirroring the A6 and A8, including the latter's touchpad set-up, with Bluetooth connectivity for music and phone to the hard-drive equipped Bose 14-speaker surround-sound system.

Technology

Built on the new A6 platform, the A7 Sportback boasts aluminium construction to keep weight under 1800kg, with a long wheelbase and short overhangs.

The seven-speed double-clutch automatic is teamed with a Stop-Start fuel saver function and the big four seater gets the clever quattro all wheel drive system that apportions drive 40 front/60 rear (with the ability to split 70/30 r 15/85).

The crown-gear centre differential - first seen in the RS 5 coupe - and torque vectoring can be upgraded with the optional sports rear differential for torque splitting between the rear wheels.

Design

It's certainly a niche product ,but Audi says its aiming for the class of the sedan, with the sporty athletic lines of the coupe and the cargo capacity and interior flexibility of a wagon - it all adds up to a muscular road stance.

The look is unmistakably Audi, although from the rear the squat, flattened rump is perhaps not as attractive as the sculpted flanks and snout. The cabin is brimmed with top-grade leather, aluminium or wood trim, installed in a typically first-rate manner.

Safety

The list of technology is extensive, starting with the basic pre-safe system (which can be optioned to the full-auto braking level with active cruise control) and the (also optional) night vision with pedestrian recognition on the list as well.

The airbag list includes the driver and front passenger, side airbags front and rear and a full-length curtain airbag. There are also anti-lock brakes, stability control, an electronic differential lock, tyre pressure monitoring and parking sensors teamed with a reversing camera.

Driving

First up was the 220kW/440Nm three-litre supercharged V6, which does an admirable job of pushing the 1770kg plus occupants vehicle up winding mountain roads. Firing out of corners can sometimes see the electronic stability systems flash briefly, but the clever quattro system switches drive fore and aft, as well as side to side at the rear, to good effect.

The V6 feels most at home in the mid-range of the tacho, when there's plenty of grunt on offer, but the car driven on the launch suffered a strange high-pitched wind howl, something not found on other vehicles.

The seven-speed auto has a quick shift and the Sports mode has enough smarts to make the paddles an indulgence rather than mandatory. The adaptive suspension in auto mode is capable of good body control and decent (if on the firm side) ride quality, which doesn't degrade when the Dynamic mode is selected.

The roll control and handling is composed and balanced, feeling lighter on its feet than the kerb weight suggests; the steering has nice weighting but could do with more feedback.

Switching to the diesel and immediately the refinement of the turbodiesel package is apparent, as is the strong in-gear surge from the V6, which would be the best pick for an all-rounder.

Tyre noise - particularly on coarse bitumen - was a downside in both cars, something which may have been more apparent due to the lack of wind and engine noise.

Front room was as you'd expect from a vehicle of this size, but rear headroom is limited by the swoopy roofline.

As has been the case with many - but not all - Audis, steering is well-weighted but lacking in feel, which can take some time with which to get accustomed.

Verdict

A well-planted cruiser that drives more confidently than expected.