2012 Audi A7

MMI Touch
Buyers who step up to the Premium Plus trim enjoy MMI Touch, a neat touch-sensitive pad that lets the driver input letters and numbers by drawing them with his or her finger. MMI Touch might seem like a novelty but it quickly proves useful when searching for street names or points of interest.

Navigation with Google Earth
Google Earth is impressive on a home computer but becomes doubly impressive when incorporated into a vehicle navigation system. Improved awareness of one's surrounding area and the shear coolness of a helicopter-like map view make navigation with Google Earth easily one of our favorite features.

Audi has a knack for interior design, a skill brought to bear in the A7's luxurious cabin. All A7's utilize Audi's MMI interface, a metal rotary selection knob surrounded by four buttons, to control most vehicle functions, which contributes to an attractively uncluttered dash adorned with few controls. The engine start button's location to the right of the gear selector seems odd to us but overall we think the interior layout works well. In terms of occupant comfort all seating positions feature cozy, supportive seats while passenger space is generally good, though taller passengers may find rear-seat head room a bit tight.

The nose of the 2012 Audi A7 is dominated by an oversized hexagonal grille and LED running lights, a look shared with much of Audi's current lineup. Gaze rearward and the A7's design begins to distinguish itself with a roofline that cuts low over the rear windows, which looks great but requires occupants to duck low when entering the vehicle. On the positive side, with the rear seats folded and the large standard power-operated rear hatch lifted, the A7 happily swallows copious amounts of cargo, verified by an editor who used the space and wide opening to haul a bass guitar and bulky amplifier.

These days, 310-horsepower in a luxury sedan might seem barely adequate but, thanks to an advanced 8-speed automatic transmission, the A7 makes the most of its engine's output, delivering zero-to-60-mph acceleration in a swift 5.4 seconds. Power is sent from the transmission to a standard quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system, greatly improving the Audi A7's capabilities on slippery roads. We should also mention that the A7's supercharged engine requires premium fuel.

3.0-liter Supercharged V6
310 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
325 lb-ft of torque @ 2,900-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28

In least-expensive form the A7 checks in around $60,000, with the Premium Plus and Prestige trims adding around $3,600 and $6,300 to the bill respectively. Fully outfit an Audi A7 Prestige trim and the price swells to in excess of $80,000. While less expensive than the Mercedes-Benz CLS, prices for the Audi A7 remain much higher than those of the Volkswagen CC. For up-to-date pricing on the A7 be sure to check out the KBB Fair Purchase Price. When it comes to resale values the A7 is expected to perform reasonably well, with residual numbers that match those of the Volkswagen CC but trail the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

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