Audi RS7 Sportback facelift review, test drive

Is there more to the updated version of Audi’s mega sedan than just some fancy headlamps?

Published on May 13, 2015 06:24:00 PM

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Audi RS7 Sportback facelift review, test drive

The engine too, in Dynamic with the gearbox in ‘S’, likes to keep the revs high for the best responses, but here too, it’s not as if it’s undriveable at low speeds. Of course, the correct thing to do at low speeds is use Comfort mode, in which case it’s downright docile at part throttle. And with the combination of engine stop-start and cylinder deactivation, you could probably manage some pretty conventional fuel economy figures – provided you’re very gentle with the throttle, of course.

The dynamics too stay unchanged. The steering still feels a bit too numb for the kind of performance it has to harness, but the turn-in is quite direct and the long nose goes where you want it to. There’s an incredible amount of grip from the wide tyres and Quattro system, and you’d have to be quite, um, reckless with your throttle foot to unsettle it in a corner – it’s not impossible though. All in all, you’ll be happier for the feeling of security the all-wheel-drive system offers when you want to drive quickly on regular roads.

Should I buy one?

Yes. While Rs 1.4 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) may sound like a lot, remember, it’s only around Rs 4 lakh more than what the pre-facelift car cost when it was last on sale – not a huge amount in this rarefied end of the luxury sedan market, especially when some rivals cost a fair bit more. The additions made with the update may not be many, but what they contribute to the wow factor and, in some cases, user-friendliness, is well worth it. The point of these super sedans is to combine all the luxury, usability and comfort you expect with all the mental performance you crave, and the RS7 walks that fine line so deftly. One of the best in the segment has only got a little better.

GAVIN D’SOUZA