Edwin Yuan

2016 Audi A7

••3.5

Posted On: May 7, 2024

Exquisite Elegance Meets Thrilling Performance: The 2016 Silver Audi A7

Pros
Stylish Design, Performance

Cons
Expensive Price, Maintenance costs

Indulge in the epitome of automotive elegance with the 2016 Silver Audi A7. From its sleek, aerodynamic silhouette to its luxurious interior, every aspect of this vehicle exudes sophistication. But it's not just about looks—the A7 delivers a driving experience that's as exhilarating as it is refined. Behind the wheel, you'll feel the power of the responsive engine, effortlessly gliding through... Read more

2016 Audi A7 Review

Pros

Superior acceleration and performance
The latest technology available as standard
Tons of space for passenger and cargo

Cons

The rear headroom is tight for taller passengers
Ride quality is harsh, especially with optional 20-inch rims

We see a lot of upgrades on the 2016 Audi A7 model. It gets an improved V6 engine that brings in better power output and fuel efficiency.

Overview

The Audi A7 is a premium sedan offering from Audi that has impressed all of us since its inception and the 2016 model year brings some refreshments both on the outside and on the inside. The updated supercharged V6 engine produces more power and is more efficient than before while keeping the displacement constant.

With the prices starting from $69,225, the new Audi A7 offers a great balance between performance and comfort with no compromises in either aspect. It goes head-on against the likes of Mercedes CLS 400 and the Maserati Ghibli, both of which offer more comfort and performance. Let us see how the updated 2016 Audi A7 holds up against its rivals in the ever-diminishing premium sedan segment.

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Audi offers the A7 with only two trims with most of the features available as standard from the base Premium Plus trim. It features the latest safety and technology features which elevate the already premium cabin. There are ample comfort and convenience features which include heated and ventilated seats, power-adjustability for front seats, four-zone climate control amongst others.

Trims	3.0 Premium Plus	3.0 Prestige
MSRP	$69,225	$71,875
Key Features	3.0L, Supercharged V6 with 8-speed automatic transmission	Premium Plus trim plus;
	Blind Spot Warning Accident Avoidance System	Night Vision Assistant
	Pre-Collision Safety System	Four Zone Climate Control
	10-speaker audio system	Bose Premium Brand Speakers
	Satellite Radio W/Real Time Traffic Satellite Radio	Passenger Seat With Power Adjustable Lumbar Support
	Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror	Power Closing Doors
	Multi-Level Heated Front Seats	Ventilated Front Seats

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The base Premium Plus trim offers most of the features but the higher-spec Prestige trim costs only a fraction more than the lower trim and is worth the additional costs.

Engine and Performance
8.6/10

The A7 gets an updated engine that now offers more power than before. The same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine now produces 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, 23 hp more than the previous iteration. All-wheel drive drivetrain is standard for the A7 while the transmission responsibility is taken by an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The A7 takes just 5.8 seconds to achieve 60 mph from standstill whereas the quarter-mile is covered in just 14.2 seconds.

Model	Audi A7 Premium Plus	Mercedes-Benz CLS 400 4MATIC	Maserati Ghibli Base
MSRP	$69,225	$70,325	$71,850
Engine	3.0L, Supercharged V6	3.0L, Twin-Turbo V6	3.0L, Twin-Turbo V6
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	RWD
Transmission	8-speed automatic	7-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Power	333 hp @ 5,300 rpm	329 hp @ 5,250 rpm	345 hp @ 5,250 rpm
Torque	325 lb-ft @ 2,900 rpm	354 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm	369 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm
0-60 mph (seconds)	5.8	4.8	5.1
Quarter-mile (mph)	14.2	13.5	13.4
Top Speed (mph)	155	155	163

The Maserati Ghibli is the most expensive car in this comparison but also offers more power and torque than the other two. The Mercedes-Benz CLS 400 on the other hand offers the least power output and yet is the fastest to 60 mph. The Ghibli is the leader in the quarter-mile run and also has the highest top speed. It is also the only car with a rear-wheel-drive while the other two offer AWD as standard.

Fuel Economy
7.3/10

The updated A7 engine is more efficient than before and it is now one of the most efficient cars in the segment. The EPA rated the A7 for 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway while the overall combined efficiency is rated for 24 mpg. The 19.8-gallon gas tank translates to an almost 600-mile range out on the highway.

Model	Audi A7	Mercedes-Benz CLS 400	Maserati Ghibli
MPG (City)	20	19	17
MPG (Highway)	30	26	24
MPG (Combined)	24	22	19
Fuel Capacity (gal)	19.8	21.1	21.1
Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles)	396 / 594 / 475	401 / 549 / 464	359 / 506 / 401

The A7 is the most efficient car here while the Maserati Ghibli is the least efficient one, but it features a larger fuel tank that assists in improving fuel economy. The CLS 400 has an identical fuel tank capacity as that of the Maserati but is more efficient. The A7 has the best driving range despite the smaller fuel tank capacity.

Interior
8.1/10

The cabin of the 2016 A7 is thoughtfully laid out with superb precision fit and finish and typical German build quality. The materials used are of high quality and make you feel every penny spent on it worth it. It can seat 5 passengers with relative comfort inside the cabin but taller passengers might find their heads rubbing up against the headliner and also makes ingress and egress that much more difficult.

Although, there is enough legroom on offer and the seats are wide enough to fit most Americans comfortably.

Model	Audi A7	Mercedes-Benz CLS 400	Maserati Ghibli
Seating Capacity	5	4	5
Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)	36.9 / 57.2 / 41.3	37.9 / 57.1 / 42.1	NA
Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)	36.6 / 55.9 / 37.0	36.1 / 56.5 / 35.0	NA
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)	24.5	15.3	17.7

The Audi A7 has the best legroom and although Maserati has not disclosed its interior dimensions, the A7 has more space on offer. The CLS has more headroom and legroom at the front, but things even out at the back. The Audi A7 also offers a large 24.5 cu-ft of cargo-carrying capacity which is way beyond what the Mercedes and Maserati have to offer.

8-way power front seats w/driver 4-way lumbar
Heated Front Bucket Seats
60-40 Folding Bench Rear Seat
Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column with Leather Steering Wheel w/Auto Tilt-Away
Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning with Rear HVAC w/Separate Controls
Leather Seating Surfaces
Memory Settings for Driver Seat, Door Mirrors, and Steering Wheel

How is the 2016 Audi A7 Sedan’s infotainment system?

The A7 features the familiar MMI infotainment system with a dash-mounted pop-up screen with buttons and a touchpad to control the 8-inch infotainment system. The menus are logically assigned and the graphics are pretty crisp as well, which makes the overall experience pretty intuitive. The Audi Connect provides 4G connectivity for upto 8 devices and also provides Google Earth data for the navigation system.

8.0-inch Audi MMI infotainment system
14-speaker Bose Sound System w/Subwoofer
SiriusXM satellite radio
Smart Device Integration
Audi MMI Navigation Plus
Bluetooth Wireless Phone Connectivity and Audio streaming
Audi Connect 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot

Exterior
9.9/10

The revised styling sees revised looks at both the front and rear end which makes the car look sharp and stylish. The mild refresh begins with reshaped LED headlights, a sharper trapezoidal grille while at the back, it gets a new rear fascia with tweaked taillights and trapezoidal exhaust outlets. The low 4.4-inch ground clearance and the minimalistic but stylish rims give the car a sleek and appealing look.

Model	Audi A7	Mercedes-Benz CLS 400	Maserati Ghibli
Curb Weight (lbs)	4,288	4,365	3,990
Length (in)	196.2	194.5	195.7
Width (in)	75.2	74.1	76.6
Height (in)	55.9	55.7	57.5
Ground Clearance (in)	4.4	4.6	4.5
Wheelbase (in)	114.7	113.2	118.0

The Audi A7 is the largest of the lot but it is the Maserati Ghibli which offers a much longer wheelbase. The Ghibli is also the widest and the lightest car which helps in stability and performance. The CLS 400 is the heaviest of them all while all the cars have similar ground clearance.

Safety
9.0/10

Neither the government NHTSA nor the privately run IIHS has crash-tested the new Audi A7, probably due to the low sales volume and high price of the car. Nonetheless, the A7 comes packed with tons of safety and driver assistance features which not only makes the life of the driver a lot easier but also provides a safe environment for all its occupants.

The list of safety features on offer on the 2016 Audi A7 is exhaustive and a highlight of them is listed below.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense rear
Audi Side Assist Blind Spot
Front And Rear Parking Sensors
Low Tire Pressure Warning
Back-Up Camera

Final Verdict

The 2016 Audi A7 although offers great performance and comfort, its peers are better in both aspects. The high efficiency and latest technology on offer make the A7 an exciting offer while the design language is something that everyone has grown to love. There is enough space for both passengers and their luggage and is a great companion for long road trips. If you don’t mind the low roofline, there is practically nothing to complain about.

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2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2015 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2017 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

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2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

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2016 Audi A7 Prestige

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2016 Audi A7 Prestige

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About 2016 Audi A7

2015 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2017 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 Prestige

2017 Audi A7 Prestige

2017 Audi A7 Prestige

2016 Audi A7 User Reviews

Exquisite Elegance Meets Thrilling Performance: The 2016 Silver Audi A7

ProsStylish Design, Performance

Cons Expensive Price, Maintenance costs

2016 Audi A7 Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features7.0/10

Engine and Performance8.6/10

Fuel Economy7.3/10

Interior8.1/10

How is the 2016 Audi A7 Sedan’s infotainment system?

Exterior9.9/10

Safety9.0/10

Final Verdict

Pros
Stylish Design, Performance

Cons
Expensive Price, Maintenance costs

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Engine and Performance
8.6/10

Fuel Economy
7.3/10

Interior
8.1/10

Exterior
9.9/10

Safety
9.0/10