Name: Audi A7 (2011 to 2018) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Audi A7
Rating: 56.0

Summary

The Audi A7 is a large upmarket liftback which is based on the contemporary Audi A6 saloon. This is the original model which arrived on UK roads in 2011, before being facelifted in 2014, and then discontinued in 2018 to make way for the current second-generation model.

Available with either a petrol or diesel engine, the A7 was highly regarded by the UK press during its time on sale, often complemented for its attractive looks and premium interior fit and finish.

“The Audi A7 is a car that can appeal to both your head and your heart”, said The Telegraph‘s Chris Knapman, who was impressed by the liftback’s powerful engine options and its “spacious” and “sleek” cabin.

If you’re on the lookout for some high-octane thrills, reviewers often warned that the A7 was built to favour comfort over performance, and several outlets added that the liftback’s rear visibility was quite poor. Others took issue with the car’s price.

While the car did come with “a decent amount of equipment”, David Finlay of Car Keys reported that “typical Audi strategy means you have to pay a lot of money for a full set of toys. Exceeding the list price by £10,000 is easy, and doing so by double that is not difficult.”

As of January 2025, the original Audi A7 holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 56%. Its media review scores were only average and very poor reliability lets it down.

A7 highlights

Attractive exterior styling
Well-built and refined interior
Powerful and frugal engines

A7 lowlights

Pretty expensive, base price and up
Poor rear visibility
Rear headroom is tight
Very poor reliability record

Key specifications

Body style: Large five-door liftback
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £41,045 on-road

Launched: Spring 2011
Last updated: Autumn 2014
Replaced: Spring 2018

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: (2010-17)
“Luxurious and crammed with tech, the A7 is generally reliable but running costs can be high.”
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Model reviewed: Sportback (2010-17)
Score: 8 / 10
“Sleek styling and hatchback practicality set the Audi A7 Sportback apart from the usual executive saloon car suspects.”
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.4 / 10
“Distinctive styling and some affordable engines make the A7 an appealing buy, but remember that it will cost a fair bit more to buy than the equivalent saloon.”
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Model reviewed: (2010-)
Score: 8 / 10
“Good looks alone are reason enough to buy the Audi A7, though it has many other talents, especially if you opt for a diesel version.”
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Business Car+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“High P11D makes buying an Audi A7 an emotion-led decision.”
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Car+

Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI Ultra (2014)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 is an incredibly practical four-door, four-seater with a humungous hatchback boot, and in Ultra guise it’s cleaner, lighter and pretty good value.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI Quattro SE S tronic (2012)
Score: 8 / 10
“With 367 lb.ft of torque summoning 62mph in just 6.3 seconds, it goes without saying that Audi’s silky 3.0 V6 turbodiesel provides pretty much all the thrust you could ever wish for, and the 7-speed automatic transmission is slush personified.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“If you can stomach paying £10k for an opening rear hatch (Vauxhall charges the same for 4dr and 5dr Insignias), aren’t bothered about behind-the-wheel entertainment and love gadgets, you’ll enjoy the new 2010 Audi A7.”
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Car Keys+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi A7 Sportback is a luxury car with the looks of a four-door coupe, but a practical hatchback and generous boot. It’s available with powerful diesel engines, blending performance and efficiency to a tee.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Audi A7 has the appearance of a low-slung coupe, but look more closely and it’s a spacious five-door executive car.”
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Sportback (2014-17)
Score: 7 / 10
“The Audi A7 is a better-looking alternative to the A6.”
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Evo+

Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re in the market for something like an Audi A8, BMW 7-series or Mercedes-Benz S-class, but you really don’t like three-box saloons, then the Audi A7 Sportback is for you.”
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Green Car Guide+

Model reviewed: Sportback 3.0 TDI Ultra (2014)
“The new Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra will be capable of 60.1mpg – highly impressive for a 3-litre V6 diesel.”
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Heycar+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The bold details and crisp creases combine with the swooping roofline at the back of the Audi A7 to create some proper visual drama.”
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Sportback (2011-18)
Score: 8 / 10
“The A7 Sportback also features Audi’s best engines, all of which offer strong performance with good economy, helped by an automatic stop/start system.”
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Motors+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The sloping roofline and incredibly stylish interior means the A7 has plenty going for it and with the executive coupe market rather limited it can certainly make a mark.”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 has huge amounts of grip, refined petrol and diesel engines, and excellent build quality.”
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: Sportback (2010-18)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 Sportback is so much better-looking than a BMW 5-series GT but still impressively practical, provided you plump for the five-seater one.”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: A7
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A7 is a car that can appeal to both your head and your heart, with a smooth yet efficient V6 engine, lots of space and sleek styling.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The Audi A7 is charming, sophisticated and damn good looking.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 6 / 10
“Great-looking and groaning with tech, if a bit stolid on the road, the A7 takes the fight to the Merc CLS and wins.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0 TDI 5dr Multitronic
Score: 6 / 10
“A7 drivers will be firmly wedged in the driver’s seat, and a thoroughly ritzy place it is too. Audi makes some of the best cabins in the business, and this is one of the best of the best.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

The original Audi A7 was never tested by Euro NCAP. Despite being based on the 2011 – 2018 A6 saloon, and sharing much of that car’s safety technology, the A7 does not share the A6’s safety score.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The first-generation Audi A7 was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life, as it pre-dated the Green NCAP programme’s creation.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 215
Average repair cost: £1364.46
Last updated: October 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Audi A7 has a poor reliability score of just 13% as of October 2024, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both this original A7 and the current (2018 onwards) model.

As well as being considered unreliable, the average repair costs is a hefty £1,400. That’s far more than the cost of a used car warranty, which is well worth bearing in mind if you own an A7 or are considering a used one.

Around a fifth of all reported problems with the A7 relate to its engine, and repairs of this nature have an average repair bill of about £1,400. Be aware of gearbox issues too – they are expensive and almost as common, with an eye-watering average repair bill of more than £3,100.

If you’re looking at a used Audi A7, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

No data yet

Due to its age, we don’t have our usual five-year ownership cost ratings for the original Audi A7.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Audi A7

2022

2021

2020

2019

2017

2015

2014

2013

Date: May 2022
Recall number: R/2022/132
Model types: All
Build dates: 05/2012 to 03/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 4,690
Defect: The mesh size of the oil strainer in the oil supply for both turbochargers is too small.
Remedy: The oil strainer will be replaced with a revised version with a larger mesh size.

Date: June 2021
Recall number: R/2021/204
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 263
Defect: Vehicles may have been fitted with a hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty.
Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and where necessary replaced on the vehicles affected.

Date: June 2020
Recall number: R/2020/138
Model types: All
Build dates: 06/2017 to 03/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 34,982
Defect: It is possible that moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator.
Remedy: The starter-alternator must be replaced on the affected vehicles.

Date: June 2019
Recall number: R/2019/175
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 135
Defect: Hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty.
Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and replaced if required.

Date: March 2019
Recall number: R/2019/099
Model types: All
Build dates: 02/2014 to 09/2016
Number of vehicles affected: 2,763
Defect: It is possible that fuel may escape from one or both fuel rails (low-pressure side).
Remedy: The fuel rails for the low-pressure side of both cylinder banks must be replaced on the affected vehicles.

Date: February 2019
Recall number: R/2019/060
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2014 to 10/2014
Number of vehicles affected: 4,907
Defect: The auxiliary heater element connection in the air conditioner may fail.
Remedy: Check the auxiliary heater connector and replace the element if required.

Date: February 2017
Recall number: R/2017/078
Model types: All
Build dates: 05/2016 to 10/2016
Number of vehicles affected: 2,622
Defect: Due to an error in the manufacturing process the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioner may not trigger in the event of a collision.
Remedy: On affected vehicles replace air bag assembly and seta belt pretensioner where necessary.

Date: April 2015
Recall number: R/2015/031
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2011 to 04/2012
Number of vehicles affected: 1,073
Defect: Fuel may leak from the injector rails. Drivers may notice a smell of fuel and or evidence of a leak.
Remedy: On affected vehicles replace injector rails and seals.

Date: October 2014
Recall number: R/2014/098
Model types: All
Build dates: 01/2012 to 08/2014
Number of vehicles affected: 5,755
Defect: On affected vehicles engine oil may in isolated instances enter the brake servo via the vacuum feed lie.This may cause the brake servo diaphragm to rupture and loss of brake servo assistance.
Remedy: Replace vacuum line on affected vehicles.

Date: October 2013
Recall number: R/2013/112
Model types: S7 models
Build dates: 01/2012 to 08/2013
Number of vehicles affected: 452
Defect: Due to manufacturing tolerance the fuel line may become damaged in individual cases and within a specific manufacturing period. In the worst case this can cause leakage.
Remedy: Recall the affected vehicles within the range quoted and replace the fuel line.

As of September 2024, there have been ten DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Audi A7. These cover sunroof motors, tyre size data, software and different battery issues.

Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Audi dealer.

If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used A7, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.