2017 Audi S7 Review

Can a hatchback have swagger? The 2017 Audi S7 emphatically suggests yes. In addition to breaking with the traditional notion that luxury cars must be sedans, the S7's hatchback body style is also surprisingly stylish. It's also got plenty of substance to go with the style.

Based on the A7, the S7 trades that car's 333-hp six-cylinder engine for a downright potent 450-hp twin-turbo V8, bigger brakes and a tauter suspension. The result is that the S7 has swiftness that's on par with dedicated sports cars.

Despite its level of performance, the S7 demands little sacrifice for its thrills. Sedans can't match its cargo volume. It rides gracefully and has a striking, well-trimmed cabin that's hushed and peaceful. If you somehow manage to exercise restraint with the throttle, it even delivers respectable fuel economy. As a result, it's equally at home on long trips as it is when you want to make an entrance... or a hasty exit.

Germany has no shortage of other V8-powered four-doors to consider. There's the imposing 2017 BMW 650i Gran Coupe, the quietly muscular 2017 Mercedes Benz CLS550. If you absolutely must have a hatchback body style with all-wheel drive like the S7, the only choice is the pricier 2017 Porsche Panamera 4S. The Porsche is the only all-new offering in the bunch, and those that can make the leap will find that it's in a league of its own.

Standard safety equipment on the 2017 Audi S7 includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front knee airbags. Front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, lane keeping assist and a blind-spot warning system are also standard. Rear side airbags and a corner-view camera system are optional.

The standard Audi Pre Sense Basic system warns the driver, pre-tensions the seatbelts and closes the windows if a potential collision is detected, while Pre Sense Rear (also standard) uses the brake light to warn traffic behind the vehicle in the event of a potential rear collision. The optional Audi Pre Sense Plus system (via the Driver Assistance package) can do all that, plus fully tighten the seatbelts and automatically apply the brakes full force to mitigate the severity of an imminent crash.

In Edmunds brake testing, the S7 stopped from 60 mph in 110 feet, an average stopping distance for a vehicle in this class with summer tires.

The 2017 Audi S7 is a midsize high-performance four-door with a hatchback. Audi has added a second trim level called Prestige to the S7 lineup for 2017. Unlike the A7, which comes in a five-passenger configuration, the S7 comes standard with two individual rear seats, making it a dedicated four-passenger vehicle. Every S7 is equipped with all- wheel drive.

With 450 hp just itching to be unleashed by your right foot, the 2017 Audi S7 is a thrilling car to drive. Throw in Audi's crisp-shifting automated manual transmission and all-wheel drive, and you've got a terrifically responsive and satisfying powertrain. Its right-now character makes passing maneuvers a breeze.

The S7's standard adaptive air suspension delivers a smooth ride along with capable handling, a deft balancing act that once again sets this Audi apart. Around turns, the S7 can feel like the heavy and sizable sedan it is, but nonetheless it inspires driver confidence in both enthusiastic cornering and evasive maneuvers. In short, few four-door cars can match the S7's broad range of dynamic abilities.

The interior of the S7 is characterized by sleek, handsome design and excellent materials quality, with some S-specific flourishes thrown in for good measure. The standard MMI infotainment system features a dash-mounted pop-up screen and a control dial surrounded by buttons on the center console. The system boasts logical menus, crisp graphics and a touchpad to enhance functionality. Certain rival systems are easier to use, but most shoppers will find Audi's system intuitive after a short time.

The S7 is also equipped with the Audi Connect telematics suite, which includes 4G LTE connectivity, mobile Wi-Fi capability, Google Earth data for the navigation system and simplified Google search functionality for points of interest. The Wi-Fi is a boon for passengers on a long road trip, or if you'd simply like to turn the S7 into a 450-hp mobile workstation. On the other hand, the Google Earth navigation maps can be difficult to read at a glance from behind the wheel.

Whether you stick with the standard sport seats or opt for the massaging contour seats, you'll enjoy excellent support during long trips and spirited back-road runs alike. But due to the S7's aggressively raked roof line, backseat headroom is tight for average-to-tall folks. Legroom is adequate, however, and there's something to be said for the intimate comfort of the twin rear bucket seats versus a traditional three-across bench seat.

The S7's handy hatchback design permits easier loading of larger items that just won't fit in the trunk of a conventional sedan. Official luggage capacity is 24.5 cubic feet, while lowering the rear seatbacks opens up considerably more room.