Vehicle Spotlight: Audi A7 Sportback, Baby Got Hatchback
With hatchbacks making a comeback among those looking for a crossover cure, it was only a matter of time before German engineering found a way to breathe new life into a segment previously reserved for broke college kids. Enter the Audi A7 Sportback. While it may not be the first model that comes to mind when you think of Audi, it is most definitely worth a closer look.
The Audi A7 Sportback was first introduced at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car. It was a stunner then and remains so today. The original design is still familiar: full-sized luxury sedan offering the convenience of a hatchback trunk. But the all-new model represents what the automaker proudly calls “the new design language of Audi.” Blending sportiness and luxury, the Four Ring brand has the perfect compromise for customers seeking practical cargo room, athletic handling, and high-class design and comfort.
A Hatchback Unlike Any Other
The Audi A7 Sportback design is separated from traditional hatchbacks as the shape of the car isn’t at all defined by the rear hatch. While many other popular hatchback styles feature a steeper rear roofline, resembling a poor attempt at classing up a station wagon, the A7’s sleek sportback body and roofline slopes to the rear of the vehicle like that of a fastback. And the more appealing design doesn’t sacrifice on space. The A7’s still packing 25 cubic feet of cargo room—the best in its class.
The new model, while sporting a very similar look to earlier A7s, does offer some significant styling cues that separate it from previous versions. A new grille adds some aggression, while animated headlights and tail lights give the ride a more dynamic appearance. Optional 21-inch alloy wheels and an automatic spoiler add to the sportiness, as does a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 putting out 340 horsepower. While that might not be enough to break land speed records, it’ll set you back for a thrill at the least.
Take a Step Inside
The driving experience is only enhanced by the Audi A7 Sportback’s posh interior. Premium leather and natural wood inlays are accented with full LED ambient lighting and an innovative 10.3-inch LCD display infotainment system. A perforated steering wheel is paired with paddle shifters to really help drivers sink into that feeling of precision driving—using every last pony under the hood at a moment’s notice. Drivers can also switch the car into sport and dynamic mode to fuel the urge of spirited driving. The suspension stiffens up, confidently tearing through corners. And with two rows of spacious seating, your friends can come along to enjoy the comfortable ride.
Think Value, Not Cost
The Audi A7 Sportback starts just shy of a whopping $70,000. And while that’s definitely more than the average hatchback, this vehicle isn’t courting the average customer. Us plebs may have driven a hatchback in our glory days because it was cheap to own, cheap to run, and could hold all our junk. But for the enterprising yuppie who needs impressive wheels for client meetings, but enough room for his racquetball gear and extra pairs of yachting shoes? A Chevy Cruze just ain’t gonna cut it.
That being said, if we were in the same tax bracket as Audi’s target audience, we’d want one too. The look and feel of a sportscar with the luxury and performance of German engineering, bundled up in the utility capabilities of a hatchback. That’s what we call a win, win, win situation.
