2022 Audi S7

Overview

The middle child of the A7 line, Audi's S7 flies under the radar. If you didn't notice the little fleck of red in its badge, you might mistake this four-door for its tamer sibling. It has the same creased hood, hexagonal grille, and fastback rump as the A7. But subtle differences—the quad exhaust tips, the rear diffuser, the larger intakes, and the contrasting mirror caps—give it away to those in the know. The S7 features standard all-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic, and a twin-turbo V-6 good for 444 horsepower. If you want eight cylinders, Audi offers the 591-hp RS7, but you'll have to shell out more than $115K for it.

What's New for 2022?

Audi pretty much leaves the S7 alone for 2022. All models now come with a rear airbags as standard and the tire pressure monitoring system gets an upgrade.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Prestige model has the most bells and whistles, but it also costs a pretty penny. We'd choose the Premium Plus trim, which comes standard with an adaptive air suspension, a powerful Bang & Olufsen sound system, four-zone climate control, front sport seats with 12-way power adjustments and heated cushions, automatic high-beams, leather upholstery, and a panoramic sunroof. To that we'd add the S Sport package, gaining a more audible exhaust, rear-wheel steering, and a torque-vectoring rear differential. Lastly, we'd consider the Executive package for its ambient lighting, extended leather, heated rear seats, and LED headlights.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Audi axed the S7's 450-hp twin-turbo V-8 a couple of years ago, replacing it with a twin-turbo V-6 that makes 444 ponies. You won't notice the small dip in power, though, as Audi ramped up the torque by 37 pound-feet, to 443. The V-6 routes that torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 48-volt motor-generator smooths auto stop-start operation while an electric supercharger rouses throttle response. Unfortunately, the electric components add to the overall weight. Tipping the scales at 4640 pounds, the new S7 is 132 pounds heavier than its predecessor. The eight-speed automatic can't snap off shifts quite as quickly as the seven-speed dual-clutch it replaces. As a result, the S7 falls a few tenths behind its predecessor to 60 and through the quarter-mile, managing a 4.1-second sprint to the former and a 12.5-second dash to the latter. Despite all of that, this luxury four-door remains eager to hustle and feels much smaller than it is. It has no problem stopping either. Massive front rotors clamped by six-piston calipers bring the S7 to a halt from 70 mph in a short 151 feet.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

In fuel economy, the 2022 S7 should mirror the 2021 model, which achieves better mileage than its predecessor as well as a top rival, the BMW M850i Gran Coupe. The Mercedes-AMG CLS53 has the S7 beat in the city, though, scoring 21 mpg to the S7's 18. During our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, the Audi achieved 28 mpg, matching its EPA rating. In the same test, the BMW also earned 28 mpg, and the Merc returned an impressive 30 mpg. For more information about the S7's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the S7 features everything you'd expect from a luxury performance sedan: natural wood trim, quilted leather with contrast stitching, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, shift paddles, four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and more. Plus, Audi offers luxury touches such as dual-pane acoustic glass and soft-close doors, and who doesn't like those? The S7's fastback shape is a boon for cargo volume. Under the hatch, you have 25 cubic feet of room to play with. That's double what the CLS53 has to offer and 11 cubes more than what the S6 sedan can boast.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits in front of the driver. In the center console, Audi divides the infotainment functions between two haptic-feedback screens, a 10.1-incher on top and an 8.6-inch display down low. The screens are rendered with crisp graphics and, with a little familiarity, are easy to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces come standard, as do SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth audio, and a wireless charging pad. Audi provides a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system on both trims, and you can upgrade to a 19-speaker unit from B&O on Prestige models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Audi provides S7 buyers with some driver-assistance technology. For more information about the S7's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

When it comes to warranty coverage, Audi matches what the other luxury German brands have to offer. Its four-year roadside assistance program isn't novel either.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs