2012 Audi A7

The 2012 Audi A7 Sedan is available in three different trim levels to choose from, viz. Premium, Premium Plus, and the top-of-the-line Prestige trim. The entry-level Premium trim starts off strong with features like heated eight-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, driver memory functions, leather upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, automatic bi-xenon headlights with LED DRLs, automatic wipers, heated windshield washers, and much more. Noteworthy upgrades include a rearview camera, a navigation system, front and rear parking sensors, an enhanced version of MMI with voice controls.

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Since all the three trim levels of the 2012 Audi A7 come with the same powertrain, you just have to decide which trim suits you the best with regard to luxury technology and creature comforts. While the base Premium trim is filled to the brim with luxury tech and creature comforts, features like the navigation system and front and rear parking sensors which are available in the Premium Plus trim make it a pretty worthy choice.

All three trims of the 2012 Audi A7 Sedan are powered by the same supercharged 3.0L V6 TFSI unit producing a maximum of 310 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels via the standard Quattro all-wheel-drive drivetrain. While Audi officially claims that the A7 can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, which is pretty quick on its own, it has been found out that it can actually do that in as quickly as 4.6 seconds, which is incredibly quick for an executive car. 

Moreover, the top speed is governed at 155 mph. This makes the Audi A7 quite an excellent performer in all aspects. It promises excellent handling as well due to the all-wheel-drive system while the steering wheels lack a bit of feedback. Apart from that small issue, the rest of the car is very enjoyable.

Except for the Mercedes CLS, all the other cars in its segment including the Audi A7 are in a very similar ballpark with regards to the power output from their engines. The Merc has a larger capacity turbo V8 and produces significantly more power than the rest. But the power is not translated to outright speed, to say the least. It has very similar performance figures to the relatively less powerful Audi A7.

Powered by the 3.0-liter TFSI supercharged V6 under the hood, the Audi A7 has an EPA estimated fuel efficiency of 18, 28, and 22 mpg in the city, highway, and combined cycles respectively. It is one of the most efficient cars in its segment, though only by a small margin. The overall range on a full tank of gas is also good but not the best by any means. Other cars in the segment have bigger tanks, especially the Porsche Panamera that comes with a massive tank that helps it deliver impeccable driving range.

In terms of fuel economy, the Audi A7 and most of its competitors are in a very similar ballpark. That being said, the Mercedes-Benz CLS with a bigger, more powerful engine under the hood is naturally a bit less efficient than the rest. But it does have a relatively large fuel tank to compensate for that loss. The Porsche Panamera has a massive fuel tank and delivers the best range.

Audi has a pretty good reputation with regards to making some of the finest, most luxurious interiors in a car, and the 2012 Audi A7 sedan stays true to that reputation as well. It has a high-quality executive-looking interior which makes you feel special every time you step inside the car. On top of that, the base Premium trim starts off strong with luxury and convenience features. These include heated eight-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, driver-seat memory functions, leather upholstery, and much more. 

The top-spec Prestige trim adds on upgrades like ventilated front seats and a power-adjustable steering wheel. While you can get heated rear seats with the Cold Weather package and the comfort level of the twin rear bucket seats is immaculate, the A7's aggressively raked roofline makes the rear headroom tight for most adults.

While the rear headroom of the Audi A7 is pretty tight, it is what you would expect from a fastback design. While the Audi A7 has a pretty good interior volume of 119.0 cubic feet, which is pretty good for its segment, the BMW 5 Series takes the cake in this regard with a total interior volume of 122.5 cubic feet. However, if interior space is one of your top priorities, then the 5 Series GT from BMW might be your best bet. Depending on the trim level, noteworthy interior features include:

• Heated eight-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment
• Driver memory functions
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery

How intuitive is the 2012 Audi A7 Sedan’s infotainment unit?

The Audi A7 comes with Audi’s newest MMI or Multi-Media Interface system. The main purpose of this system is to streamline the controls for audio, vehicle settings, and available navigation under a common interface, and it does that pretty well. With standard features including a CD player with USB and AUX connectivity, Bluetooth, and a 14-speaker Bose sound system, it also comes with satellite radio and an iPod audio interface as well. Key features of the infotainment include:

• CD player with USB and AUX connectivity
• Bluetooth
• 14-speaker Bose sound system
• Satellite radio
• iPod connectivity

The 2012 Audi A7 Sedan has a unique-looking fastback design which makes it one of the best-looking cars in Audi’s lineup. It has a seamless design with a long engine hood, and along with the long wheelbase and the short overhangs, it creates perfect proportions for the eyes to behold. But there’s more to it than just pure visual perfection. The Audi A7 has an active rear spoiler that extends from the rear hatch at highway speeds to improve stability. The top-of-the-line Prestige trim also comes with an S-line exterior trim to make it stand out from the rest.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Audi A7 and most of its competitors are more or less in a similar ballpark, and with a curb weight of 4210 lbs, it holds the middle ground. Also, the A7 has the lowest ground clearance of 4.4 inches. Speaking of exterior dimensions, the BMW 5 Series GT is the tallest car here at 61.6 inches, and with a pretty decent ground clearance of 5.7 inches as well. Few major exterior features include:

• Standard bi-xenon headlights with LED DRLs
• Optional LED headlights
• Heated and auto-dimming mirrors
• Sunroof
• Singleframe grille
• Active rear spoiler

Standard safety tech for the Audi A7 includes front side airbags, side curtain airbags, front knee airbags, active front head restraints, antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control. Rear side airbags can also be equipped as an added option. It also comes with Audi Pre Sense Plus which prepares the car for impact by tightening the safety belts, adjusting the seats, and closing the windows and sunroof, when a critical situation is detected. Audi Pre Sense Plus also includes four phases of assisted braking, from an audible reminder, to fully assisted braking. Being a new car, it has not been tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS. Other active driving aids include:

• Blind-spot warning system
• Front and rear collision warning/mitigation systems
• Infrared night vision display
• Airbags
• Audi Pre Sense Plus

With a stylish exterior design, luxurious interior, and a powerful and efficient engine with sporty handling dynamics, the Audi A7 Sedan is a no-brainer, especially at its price point. It might be a bit more expensive than the Audi A6 executive sedan, and its sloping roofline impedes rear-seat headroom, but that’s what makes the A7 pretty unique on its own. That being said, it actually has one of the most spacious interiors in its class, and also provides best-in-class cargo capacity as well.