The A7, particularly in four-wheel-drive guise, is an easy car in which to make unruffled progress. Though the torque distribution is slightly rear-biased, it’s impossible to provoke the A7 into any sort of tail-wagging antics: you’ll only find a near-inexhaustible supply of grip, just the merest hint of body roll through even the quickest corners and, at the very limit, gentle understeer.
Avoid the 20-inch ‘S-Line’ alloys and refrain from clicking the adaptive dampers into the knobbliest mode, and the A7 doesn’t ride too badly. We’d guess it won’t tackle smashed-up UK tarmac with the fluency of the Jag XF, but it’s less brittle than most sporting Audis. However, it isn’t a whole lot of fun. It doesn’t give much back to the driver: the steering, though sharp, feels artificial, the chassis erring on the side of inert caution.
A recent facelift has revitalised the A7’s engine line-up. There’s more power and better economy across the board, but the big news is the addition of a super-frugal, front-wheel drive Ultra model. It makes do with a 218bhp version of the familiar 3.0-litre TDI engine, this time mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Just how many mpg are we talking? More than 60. And it’s not slow, either. 0-62mph takes 7.3 seconds and the top speed is 149mph. Our choice remains the superb 3.0 BiTDI.