Name: Audi RS 7 (2019 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Audi RS 7
Rating: 54

Summary

The Audi RS 7 is a high-performance, luxury five-door liftback based on the regular Audi A7 Sportback range. This is the second-generation model, which arrived in the UK in late 2019.

Officially named the RS 7 Sportback, this sporty Audi has received a largely positive collection of review scores from the British motoring media – praised for its upmarket interior, which Car says is “tech heavy” and “beautifully built”, and its performance, which the Carwow team argues would “give some supercars a run for their money”.

“The Audi RS 7 is very, very good”, says Jeremy Clarkson writing for the Sunday Times. “Knock off £25,000 and you’ve got a deal.”

The majority of reviewers agree with this sentiment – the RS 7 is an impressive performance package, but the asking price is steep, even by Audi RS standards. “It’s a model that still lies in the shadows of the RS 6“, Car Key‘s Ted Welford explains. “The wagon offers a better mix of practicality and affordability.”

While Top Gear describes the RS 7 as “genuine fun” on the road, announcing that it’s a proper rival to the likes of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E 63, others do not find the liftback as appealing.

“When you’re forking out this kind of cash, there are more thrilling performance cars”, What Car? concludes, recommending the Mercedes-AMG GT 4 Door, which it says is “the best-sounding car in the class”, as well as the slightly quicker all-electric Porsche Taycan.

As of January 2024, the Audi RS 7 holds a New Car Expert Rating of D with a score of 54%.

RS 7 highlights

Blistering pace and acceleration
Plenty of grip in high speed corners
Well-built upmarket interior
Large boot

RS 7 lowlights

Expensive, base price and up
Rivals are more fun to drive
Firm suspension
RS 6 is cheaper and more practical

Key specifications

Body style: Large liftback
Engines: petrol
Price: From £118,545 on-road

Launched: Winter 2019/20
Last updated: Winter 2022/23
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The RS 7 Sportback feels more relevant since Audi distanced it from the now-diesel S7, and it’s undoubtedly more involving to drive than its predecessor, too.”
Read review

Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“As tempting as it might be to label the Audi RS 7 a devastatingly quick cross-country machine, doing so would be a touch disingenuous. Truth is it just feels slightly too wide to really be at home on the tighter lanes and B-roads that so often provide the most thrilling drives.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“In many ways, the RS7 Sportback is exactly how you expect it’s going to be. Tech heavy, beautifully built, fantastic on the autobahn and completed by a tuneful V8 soundtrack. As it’s based on a large five-door fastback, that it’s practical as well as good looking is also what you’d expect.”
Read review

Car Keys+

Score: 9 / 10
“Despite the RS 7’s best efforts, it’s a model that still lies in the shadows of the RS 6. That’s really no fault of its own, it’s just because the wagon offers a better mix of practicality and affordability than the model tested here.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi RS7 Sportback is a large luxury hatchback that blends big performance with an equally impressive interior, plus plenty of space and everyday usability.”
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Audi RS7 Sportback is an incredibly fast four-door coupe that’ll give some supercars a run for their money. It looks great inside too, but alternatives are more involving to drive.”
Read review

Evo+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi RS 7 is agile, very fast, and more entertaining than you might expect.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Audi RS 7 combines coupe styling, practicality and monstrous performance.”
Read review

The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi RS 7 is very, very good. Knock off £25,000 and you’ve got a deal.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed:
“The Audi RS 7 is ferociously fast and capable, but where’s the fun?”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“An Audi RS that nails its basics but also sprinkles in some genuine fun. The RS 7 proper E63 and M5 rival at last.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi RS7 Sportback is extremely quick, nicely made, well equipped and jolly practical, but you could also say the same about other, much cheaper A7 Sportback models.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 81%
Safety assist: 76%

The Audi RS 7 shares its safety rating with the regular Audi A7 range which was awarded a five-star score in 2018.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Audi RS 7 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. Due to its price and exclusivity, it is unlikely to have its emissions tested in the future.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 193
Average repair cost: £1375.10
Last updated: January 2024

Reliability score

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

The Audi A7 range (including the RS 7) has a reliability score that’s very low, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both the current-generation A7 and the original (pre-2018) version.

Around a quarter of all reported problems with the A7 relate to its engine, and repairs of this nature have an alarming average repair bill of about £1,900. Be aware of gearbox issues too – they are expensive and rather common with an average repair bill of more than £3,000.

If you’re looking at a used Audi RS 7, 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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	23 mpg	E	22 – 23 mpg	E – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	282 g/km	D	280 – 291 g/km	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	50 – 50	F – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£607	D
Year 2	£1,462	D
Year 3	£2,338	D
Year 4	£2,653	D
Year 5	£3,629	D
Overall	£10,689	D

Running costs for the Audi RS 7 Sportback are inevitably high, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Given that it’s powered by a 600hp, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, the RS 7’s woeful fuel consumption and CO₂ figures (which are used to determine road tax) are to be expected. Likewise, its performance and price tag mean that insurance costs will be at the top end of town.

Finally, scheduled servicing costs will be unsurprisingly expensive as well – although not quite as pricey as some other cars in this price bracket.