These days, most luxury-vehiclebuyers tend to opt for premium brands’SUVofferings,but Audi’s seductive S7 Sportback nonetheless represents a distinctively styled, spacious and sufficiently fast alternative to the norm. Underestimate it at your peril…

We like:Stylish design inside and out, comfort, ride quality, performance

We don’t like: Quite thirsty, lacks one or two desirable safety features

Fast Facts

Model Tested:Audi S7 Sportback quattroPrice:R1 568 000 (June 2021)Engine:Turbocharged 2.9L V6 petrolPower/Torque:331 kW/600 NmTransmission:8-speed automaticFuel efficiency:8.4L/100km0-100kph:4.6 secLoad capacity:535–1 390 litres

The S7 Sportback offers just enough in the way of sporty addenda; its low-slung profile is refreshing in a world dominated by upright SUVs.

Where does the Audi S7 Sportback fit in?

You may have noticed that Audi recently launched a plethoraof RS-badged performance vehicles in South Africa. Comparatively well-priced (at least compared with their BMW M and Mercedes-AMG rivals), the RS models have come to dominate the headlines for the Ingolstadt-based marque. But what if you don’t particularly like (or want) the aggressive styling of an RS-badged Audi and the ability to post the fastest zero to 100 kph time is very low on your list of vehicular requirements, if at all? What if you want a stylish, swift and distinctive offering that’s not an SUV?

Firstly, you’redefinitely in the minority of luxury-vehicle buyers… Just look at the dwindling sales (and offerings) of high-performance premium sedans. But, then again, the Audi S7 Sportback is anything but a run-of-the-mill sedan. Its rakish coupe-like profile, broad-shouldered stance and vast tailgate set it apart from the likes of the more conservative Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series.

S-badged Audis often live in the shadows of their RS siblings, the S7 is might be the pick of the A7 Sportback range.

Sitting behind that the S7 Sportback’s angular chrome grille is the same motor you’ll find in cars like the RS4 Avant and RS5. So, while the S7’s design prioritises elegance over aggression, it still offers plenty of sporty kerb presence. And then there’s the spacious cabin, which is trimmed in superb materials and boastsstunning design features. Yes, this is a car for discerning, individualistic buyers.

Audi S7 Sportback: Design & Practicality

The S7 Sportback turned many heads during its tenure in our test fleet;this is an exquisitely detailed,handsome machine. For example, when you unlock the vehicle, its LED clusters perform a dazzling show thatstops people in their tracks. But it’s not a “shouty” design, as many of the Germanluxury brands’ top-end offerings tend to be. Its overall look speaks of good taste and an appreciation of restraint.

The S7 Sportback has atypically Teutonic cabin execution, replete with luxurious finishes and plenty ofonboard technology.

The good news continues inside, where the S7 Sportback offers Audi’s latest fascia layout. In fact, the overall look is one of new-age tech (there are no wood or brown/beige panels in sight) – piano black and satin silver finishes dominate. The centre console is dominated by a pair of touchscreen displays with haptic feedback, the upper one serves to controlvehicle settings and the infotainment system, mainly, while the lower oneincorporates virtual controls for the climate control system.

These HD screens have really slick graphics and the haptic feedback genuinely optimisesusability. The digital instrument cluster (Audi’s Virtual Cockpit)offersvarious display modes and incorporates the navigation map, which testers applauded. And, to turn up the techy ambience another notch or so, there are up to 30 contour colours on offer. It’s a strikingly modern (and beautiful) cabin, particularly at night. What’s more,the build quality is top notch.

Given the S7 Sportback’s sporty packaging, it avails a generous amount of rear legroom.

While the S7 Sportback can accommodate a trio ofpassengers in the rear, it’s really optimised to be a spacious 2+2 seater. Viewed as such, rear leg- and even headroom is actually pretty impressive. And when you open that vast tailgate, you are offered a vast(535-litre)boot. If you fold down the rear seats,utility space grows to 1 390 litres, which is unmatched in the world of luxurious 4-door “coupes”.

The load bay is practically shaped and -sized; it’s one of the highlights of the S7 Sportback.

What’s the Audi S7 Sportback like to drive?

To recap, the S7 Sportback is powered by the same 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 as you’ll find in some RS models. The engine delivers a whopping 331 kW/600 Nm and transmits its power via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system and an 8-speed automatic transmission. By default, the torque split is 40:60 front to rear, but the system can channel as much as 70% to the front, or 85% to the rear as required.

This derivative features Audi’s sport suspension with damping control as standard, but adaptive air suspension is a R36 330 option. Is worth the extra outlay?Yes, arguably so, because it endows the S7 Sportback with a superb ride quality;the sedan’s suspension is relatively pliant (or forgiving), considering that it rolls on 21-inch wheels shod with low-profile tyres. In fact, one of the lasting memories of the S7 Sportback is its ability to “waft”… That’s indeed a rare talent in a time when all brands appear to be setting up their cars dynamicallyso as to excel on racing circuits (as ridiculous as that sounds).

Aided by optional adaptive damping, the Audi S7 strikes a fine balance between a pliant ride and involving handling.

That’s not to say that the S7 Sportback doesn’t handle well, too. It’s fun to hustle through bends and sweeps, but it’s a big, heavy car, so it never really shrinks around you like the RS, M and AMG products tend to do. We suspect, however, that the target customer for the S7 Sportback would not be particularly concerned with their luxury sedan’s dynamic sharpness.That said,if you do want to make your S7 a little more engaging to drive, Audi does offer an optional sport differential on the rear axle (R27 400) and even Dynamic All-Wheel Steering (R34 700).

Mostly, however, you’re likely to find delight in the way the S7 Sportback accelerates –smoothly (but very strongly)!With a 0-100 kph time of 4.6 sec, the big Audi is certainly no slouch!

Audi Virtual Cockpit has the ability to use its entire display area to show the navigation map.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the S7 Sportback features a mild-hybridsystem to optimisefuel efficiency. During deceleration, this system can recover up to 8 kW, which is stored in a lithium-ion batteryin the vehicle’s floor (beneath the boot area). The technology allows for start/stop operation from a speed as low as 22 kph, and the S7 Sportback can coast for up to 40 secwith the engine switched off.

This feature, Audi claims, can result in a significant fuel saving in regular driving. The claimed combined cycle fuel consumption figure for the S7 Sportback is 8.4 L/100 km, which is certainly good, given the car’s performance capability. In the real world, however, you’ll have to drive very gingerly to achieve returns near the claimed figure. A more likely average is around 10.2L/100 km.

Haptic feedback makes it much easier to become familiarised with the touchscreens’ interface.

Audi S7 Sportback: Features & Tech

The modern, tech-focused cabin is not all for “show”, with the S7 Sportback’s standard spec offering a decent-enough combination of luxury and safety features. As mentioned previously, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit display is standard, as is the MMI navigation plus system. A premium Bang & Olufsen with 3D Sound is also included, as are 4-zone climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof and Audi’s phone box and smartphone interface. The front seats are electrically adjustable(with memory for driver) andoffer a heating function. You pay extra for ventilatedand massaging front seats, however.

You also have to pay extra for a couple of advanced (but desirable) safety features, such as adaptive cruise control (R27 930) and rear cross-traffic alert (bundled into a lane-change warning package for R20 100).

The rear occupants are afforded individual temperature and ventilation controls.

How much does Audi S7 Sportback cost in SA?

The Audi S7 Sportback sells for R1 568 000 (June 2021) without any options fitted. The price includes a 1-year/unlimited km warranty and 5-years/100 000km maintenance plan.

See specification details for the Audi S7 Sportback

Buy an Audi S7 Sportbackon Cars.co.za

Verdict

Like most of the recent high-performance RS additions to the Audi South Africa stable, the S7 Sportback is very attractively priced against its nearest competition. Although Mercedes-Benz has shown an updated CLS in Europe, it’s not yet on South African pricelists, and so we have to look to BMW and Porsche for competitors. BMW’s 8 Series Gran Coupe is a very attractive machine, but the 840i variant is a good R100k more expensive than the Audi and not as powerful (250 kW). Similarly, the closest Porsche Panamera, on price, is the “4”, which is even more expensive (pre-options) and yet less powerful (243 kW).

For those few buyers out there who are looking for a sedan-like luxury car experience, however, Audi puts forward a very compelling proposition in the caseof the S7 Sportback. In fact, this is a very hard car to fault, given the sheer breadth of its talents. Offering exceptional ride comfort, oodles of power, fantastic attention to detail in the cabin, all wrapped up in a handsome design, the only real criticism we can level at the S7 Sportback is the fact that it misses one or two desirable features as standard. Then again, you could add those to the price and still pay less than you would for one of its rivals.

Book a test drive of the new Audi S7 Sportback here

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