Audi A7 Sportback
Update Sportback helps out on brother’s big day
THE Auto Express Audi A7 was pressed into service recently with one of the toughest jobs it’ll face during its time on our fleet. I took command of the five-door coupé ahead of my brother’s wedding, where the A7 was initially used to pick up supplies for the big day.
Its 535-litre boot easily swallowed 45 candlesticks, some table runners and a set of delicate glass decorations for the reception, all of which were kept protected by the supple air suspension set to comfort mode.
While the Audi was superseded by an Aston Martin Rapide for the happy couple’s transportation duties on the big day, the A7 did become a chariot for the ushers, whisking us to and from rehearsals on the trip from Sheffield to Derbyshire.
With plenty of motorway miles to cover, this proved to be a stern test of the car’s adaptive cruise control system. My run up the A1 included many changes of speed limit, and the Audi’s semi-autonomous driver aids took the sting out of the journey completely.
The powertrain complemented them, too. The 3.0 TDI’S effortless 620Nm of torque and incredible refinement are really impressive, and given the A7’s considerable size and weight, it feels fast. However, one thing that perplexed me – and has other staff members as well – is the responsiveness of the gearbox. It takes some time to react to your throttle inputs, so the Audi is slow off the line, and when you ask for a burst of acceleration (on the motorway in particular) it feels like ages before it kicks down, rearing up and taking off. This jerkiness can have a real impact on comfort in the car.