A class of their own

These curvy five-door executive cars mix style and performance. Which is a better used buy?

THE rakish A7 Sportback broke the mould of Audi’s predictable design at launch in 2012. With its curvy shape and coupé-like roofline, its silhouette looked a little like the Porsche Panamera’s – which won’t be to all tastes.

Inside, it’s a familiar slick Audi design, with plenty of kit and a more intuitive layout than in the Porsche. Unlike its rival, it’s also got five seats, and while the middle rear seat is tight, the practical hatch bootlid has a wider opening.

Out on the road, the A7’s smooth 3.0-litre diesel is more powerful than the Panamera’s unit and delivers more pace. However, the ride is a touch firm with the bigger wheels in S line spec, and the car isn’t as involving to drive as the Porsche. On the plus side, the Audi costs from nearly half the price of its rival used.

The A7 didn’t feature in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, but the A6 is nearidentical under the skin, and finished in 81st place. Some problems with the S tronic auto gearbox have been reported, though. PORSCHE’S first-generation Panamera might be a controversial car in terms of its design, but subtle tweaks as part of a 2011 facelift helped improve things.

The interior is where it starts to feel like a true Porsche – the cockpit is driver focused and the materials are first class, although the dash design feels cluttered with lots of buttons. The Panamera only seats four, too, and although the two rear passengers are comfortable, the boot is smaller in capacity than the Audi’s.

Where the Porsche does claw back some ground is on the road. It’s an accomplished drive for such a big, heavy car, serving up an excellent blend of ride and handling, plus an involving feel. The refined 3.0-litre diesel is the pick of the range, too.

The Panamera didn’t rank in Driver Power 2016, either, but no major problems have been reported. Servicing and parts bills are likely to be pretty steep, however.