Long Term Report – Audi A7

In view of the considerable capital outlay for a new A7 Sportback, it’s maybe appropriate to consider what sort of used A7 Sportback you might be able to purchase for a somewhat lesser amount, and in what ways it might differ from our latest model. The A7 was unveiled in August 2010 with a 201bhp 3.0-litre TDI diesel variant with front-wheel-drive and eight-speed multitronic transmission and a 242bhp edition paired to quattro all-wheel-drive. This was supplemented by a four-wheel-drive version paired to the smaller engine around a year later. 309bhp BiTDI editions joined the range in early 2012, while Black Edition versions arrived later the same year. The facelifted A7, as seen here, arrived in the UK last autumn.

For obvious reasons, I would never advise anyone to purchase a used A7 Sportback from anywhere but an Audi dealer, where low-mileage used 2011 two-wheel-drive multitronic transmission cars can be found from as little as £23,000 with around 30,000 miles recorded. You’ll have to pay £24,000 plus for a late 2010/2011 242bhp quattro with a few more miles on the clock, but it’s well worth paying the extra for the quattro, whilst the seven-speed S tronic transmission is also generally rated superior to earlier multitronics. So it’s probably best to consider £24,000 as a starting point for a very nice used A7 Sportback, with a full Audi used car warranty, and at that price you’re probably looking at a 40,000 miles car with some useful options and a good 100,000 miles left in it. That’s over £25,000 less than a new one today, and £15,000 less than the smaller A5 3.0 TDI Sportback quattro brand new, with a few options. Fuel economy of the early cars was not quite as good as our long-termer, but around 40mpg on long trips can be expected, and the reliability of the 3.0 TDI quattro drivetrain is pretty well assured, with the benefit of a comprehensive 12-month warranty and extendable at extra cost.

The general concept and quality of the A7 Sportback has not changed that significantly in its lifetime, with the exception of a few technological developments like LED headlights, and a used A7 certainly won’t stand out as something of a lesser beast than a new one. You need to insist on a good long test run, preferably a loan car for the weekend, to see how it suits your needs. Size is possibly the only real negative, and maybe the lower seating position for those with less flexible limbs. But it’s an easy car to drive on the open road, with bags of performance, and yet it’s pretty easy on the pocket when you come to fill up. Maintenance is not too costly, and thankfully I shall escape any servicing worries before this splendid machine returns to Audi’s headquarters. I’ve certainly had no worries that might have needed the services of an Audi dealer, although I sometimes wonder if the front parking sensors need something of a talking to, as they sometimes show an obstinate reluctance to make suitable noises when approaching obstacles in front of the car, but make plenty of noise when you are pulling back from them!

Victor Harman

Whats Hot:	The heated front seats – they are simply magnificent when it’s chilly outside!
Whats Not:	Rear seating – only suitable for two adults, on account of the wide central transmission tunnel that inhibits the amount of leg space.

 

Date arrived:	16th October 2014
Mileage to date:	2,790 miles
Fuel consumption:	54.3mpg (official combined) 41.9mpg (on test)