Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) Review

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
There’s plenty to like about the 2014 Audi RS7, not least its speed, it’s style, it’s refinement and its practicality.

+Ludicrously fast and makes a great noise, fabulous interior quality, practical enough for a family.

-Handling should be more involving, infotainment system feels dated, very expensive to buy and run.

Insurance Groups are between 47–50
On average it achieves 93% of the official MPG figure

It’s also beautifully made and generously equipped. It does have some flaws, the most serious being its shortage of handling involvement, but it’s a likeable car nonetheless. It has some very tough competitors in the form of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 S, not to mention the Porsche Panamera a little further up the price scale. It stands comparison with any of them, though.

For those who don’t know their RS from their elbow, here’s a little history lesson. There was a time, not all that long ago, when Audi Sport - the German manufacturer’s performance division - would only produce one super-high-performance RS model at a time, in order to make that car feel extra-special.

However, such was the clamour for fast and furious versions of a variety of Audi’s popular models that the good folks over at Audi Sport finally decided to give in and give the people what they wanted.

Nowadays, RS models come in all shapes and sizes, and the RS7 - based on the A7 four-door coupe executive car - is one of the biggest. Like all RS models, it comes with a ludicrous amount of horsepower, a brash styling overhaul and a colossal pricetag. That means the RS7 won’t suit everyone, certainly not those of a nervous disposition, but for those it does suit, it’ll be about as appealing as cars get. 

This twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol delivers 560PS in its regular guise, but if you choose to upgrade to the Performance version, that gets hiked to an even crazier 605PS. As you can imagine, both are breathtaking in the way they pick up speed, and the noise that accompanies that searing performance is just as dramatic.

Take things easier, and the RS7 is also capable of delivering top-drawer refinement and a comfortable ride, making it a good way to munch through continents in double-quick time.

Some might be disappointed that it doesn’t feel like more of a sports car in the bends - it’s too big and heavy for that, and the steering doesn’t give much feedback - but it’s still extremely capable in the corners, with strong grip and tight control.

There’s lots to like inside, too, with typically tactile Audi build quality, lots of luxury features as standard,  fairly generous cabin space for four and a big boot. Granted, the infotainment system looks a little dated, and some of the latest infotainment and safety kit is missing, but on a car launched in 2014, that’s not really surprising.

What isn’t missing, though, is bucketloads of performance, style and charm. You’ll pay handsomely to get them, mind, and the astronomical running costs will mean the bills just keep on coming, but every time you put your foot down to release all that noise and acceleration, you won’t care one bit.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) handling and engines

Driving Rating
Like most of cars in the RS stable, the RS7 is refined, comfortable and capable of reaching blistering speeds.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Handling and ride quality

Play around with the RS7’s driving modes for a couple of minutes, and you’ll quickly realise that the RS7 has a Jekyll-and-Hyde character.

Stick it in Comfort mode, and things are very civilised. The standard air suspension stays nice and supple, mopping up most lumps and bumps in a fuss-free manner, so it’s a comfortable way to pootle around town or scythe up a motorway.

Select Dynamic mode, however, and things change completely. The gearbox becomes more aggressive, the exhaust becomes more theatrical, and the air suspension becomes much firmer. So much firmer, in fact, that it becomes borderline uncomfortable, so you’ll want to avoid this mode unless you’re feeling very playful indeed.

But it’s when you’re in those playful moods that the RS7 is a little bit underwhelming. Yes, it’s crazy-fast, yes, the four-wheel drive gives huge amounts of grip and traction, and yes, the suspension’s newfound firmness gives better control over body roll when you’re attacking a bend.

However, the steering has an artificial, remote feel that doesn’t involve you in the action, while the car’s considerable size and weight robs it of true athleticism. 

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Engines

This car is all about its engine, and what an engine it is. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol, it delivers 560PS in its regular form, and an even crazier 605PS in Performance trim.

As you can imagine, neither is a slowcoach. You can keep things docile and easy when you’re plodding around town, but when the road opens up and you plant your right foot, all hell breaks loose.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox kicks down, there’s a metallic snarl from under the bonnet, and you’re hurtled toward the horizon at a rate savage enough to have your eyes - not to mention your grin - widening immediately. If you’re a stat-fan, the 0-62mph dash takes just 3.9 seconds, while the Performance trims a further two tenths off that. That’s some serious pace.

The gearbox varies its behaviour according to which driving mode you select. The more comfortable one keeps things smooth and slick, while in the sportier one, the shifts become faster and more aggressive. It’s very effective.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Safety

Don’t forget that this generation of RS7 is pretty old now, and although its roster of safety kit was pretty good for its day, it doesn't look quite so generous now. You get six airbags, three Isofix child seat mounting points, high performance brakes and electric traction and stability aids, but there’s no automatic emergency braking provided as standard.  There were some fairly clever systems offered on the options list, though, including night vision and active cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.

The RS7 - or A7, for that matter - of this vintage was never crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the A6 upon which it’s based scored the full five-star rating. That was way back in 2011, though, and standards have moved on a long way since then.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
4.0 TFSI quattro 29–30 mpg 3.9 s 221–229 g/km
4.0 TFSI quattro Performance 30 mpg 3.7 s 221 g/km

Real MPG average for the Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

93%

Real MPG

23–33 mpg

MPGs submitted

5

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) interior

Interior Rating
Even when compared to a Porsche Panamera, the Audi RS7 Sportback does not feel in any way like a poor relation.
Dimensions
Length 5012 mm
Width 2139 mm
Height 1419 mm
Wheelbase 2910–2915 mm

Full specifications

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Practicality

You might expect the RS7 to be an absolute carbon-copy of the regular A7 on this score, but that’s not so. Space up front is identical to the A7 of the day, as is the amount of headroom and legroom in the back seats, meaning that long legs are well catered for, but those who are six foot or more might find themselves rather short of headroom.

The difference lies in the number of seats provided. The regular A7 has a regular three-person bench, while in the RS, the middle chair is substituted for a storage tray. It’s no great loss, because the lost chair was hard, narrow and not very comfy anyway, but it does mean you won’t be able to squeeze in a fifth person for short hops.

The boot is bigger than those you get in most rivals, and the space is a nice square shape, even if it is a little shallow.

It’s easy to get at, too, thanks to the A7 having a lifting hatchback rather than a conventional bootlid like the CLS. The rear seats drop down in a 40-20-40 configuration, and they drop more or less flat, leaving you with no steps or slopes.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Quality and finish

You’d expect any Audi - especially a high-end one like the RS 7 - to deliver cabin quality worthy of rivalling anything else in the class. Sure enough, every surface is attractive and tactile, and even the panels tucked away out of sight are similarly plush. 

The impeccable way in which everything is assembled also helps give the car a substantial, solid feel. There’s no hint of movement between any of the tight-fitting panels, and if you ever hear a squeak or a rattle from your RS7, then don’t worry, you’re probably just having a bad dream.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Infotainment

This generation of RS7 doesn’t get Audi’s latest touchscreen functionality because the car is too old, but many would argue that’s a good thing because you operate the system with physical dials and buttons instead.

These are all clearly marked and feel satisfyingly chunky, too, but unfortunately, this is an early iteration of Audi’s MMI operating system and it feels rather more dated than later ones fitted to smaller Audis like the A4. The graphics are slower, glitchier and less crisp, while the menus are more convoluted.

The functionality feels a bit dated, too. You get navigation, DAB, a Bluetooth phone connection, a 10GB hard drive and a 14-speaker BOSE surround sound audio system. However, the car is a bit too old to support wireless phone charging or Apple Carplay/Android Auto, and Audi also made you pay extra for a wifi hotspot, too.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) value for money

Value for Money Rating
Nobody is going to be under any illusion that an RS7 is going to come cheap.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Prices

When the RS7 2014 was new, it would’ve cost you around £85,000 for the regular one and upwards of £90,000 for the Performance, neither being inconsiderable sums.

Buyers of used versions will obviously make very significant savings compared to those sums, but even more so due to the fact that high performance executives like these always shed their value quickly.

You shouldn’t have any difficulty finding three-year old examples for around half the original price, and none of them with crazy mileage, either. Find an older example, and you’ll pay significantly less. However, do remember that while used examples will be cheaper to buy, they’ll be no cheaper to run.

Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018): Running Costs

Despite a 45PS difference in power output, the regular RS7 and Performance models have identical official fuel economy figures. Tested against the old NEDC standard, these were given at less than 30mpg, so against the newer and stricter WLTP tests, that’ll probably be closer to 20mpg.

And don’t forget that those are laboratory figures that are tough to mimic in the real world. The fact that the RS7’s stupidly powerful engine will be under virtually zero stress in 95 percent of driving situations should give you a decent chance of getting closer to the official figures than you will in most cars. As soon as you get your clog down and drive the RS7 as nature intended, though, your return will plummet.

Meanwhile, the RS7 sits in group 50 for insurance, the priciest group there is. If your car was registered before April 1st 2017, you pay an annual VED tax bill of £330. If it was registered after, then you pay a lower flat rate of £150 per year, but between years two and six of the car’s life, you also have to pay a £325 annual surcharge on top. That means a bill of £475 per year during this period.

Servicing and repair charges are broadly similar to those of high-performance premium rivals, but it might be worth bearing in mind that Audi ranked very low in the manufacturer standings of the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, albeit not as low as BMW.

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Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) models and specs

There’s not much that’s basic about the base-level specification of the RS 7. All versions come with four-zone climate control, leather upholstery, cruise control, a powered bootlid, an electric sunroof, heated front seats, metallic or pearl-effect paint and automatic lights and wipers. That’s in addition to all the infotainment and safety kit mentioned earlier. Performance trim brings extra styling bits, part-leather-part-alcantara upholstery and a sports exhaust, on top of the even-more-bonkers engine.

Dimensions
Length 5012 mm
Width 2139 mm
Height 1419 mm
Wheelbase 2910–2915 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1920–1930 kg
Boot Space 535–1390 L
Warranty 3 years / 60000 miles
Servicing 9000–18000 miles
Spare Wheel
Standard Tyre-repair kit
Costs
List Price £83,515–£94,185
Insurance Groups 47–50
Road Tax Bands K–L
Official MPG 28.8–29.7 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall -

On sale until July 2019

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
RS7 4.0 TFSI 560 Quattro Tiptronic 5dr £87,610 29.7 mpg 3.9 s
RS7 4.0 TFSI 605 Performance Quattro Tiptronic 5dr £94,185 29.7 mpg 3.7 s

On sale until October 2015

Estate
Version List Price MPG 0-62
4.0 TFSI quattro 560 tiptronic Auto 5dr £84,525 29.7 mpg 3.9 s

On sale until August 2014

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
4.0 TFSI quattro 560 5dr Auto £83,515 28.8 mpg 3.9 s

Model History

September 2013

Audi RS7 goes on sale

Combining the finesse of the A7 Sportback with the ferocity of the twin-turbo V8 at the heart of the acclaimed RS 6 Avant gives the new RS 7 Sportback the same 3.9-second 0-62mph acceleration potential. With the help of its two turbochargers, the 4.0-litre TFSI engine delivers its formidable peak power of 560PS between 5,700 and 6,700 rpm, and peak torque of 700 Nm between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm.

Customers with Autobahn aspirations can increase the latter to 174mph by specifying the optional Dynamic package, and boost it even further still with the Dynamic plus package, which calls a halt to acceleration at 189mph. Thanks to the new engine’s cylinder on demand (COD) system, it can cover up to 28.8mpg according to the combined cycle test.

Adaptive air suspension with RS-specific settings works in harmony with the quattro system. The specially tuned set-up lowers the body by 20 millimetres, and incorporates damping with configurable settings. As an alternative, sports suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) is available as an option. This system employs steel springs and three-way adjustable shock absorbers that are interconnected diagonally by means of oil lines and a central valve for improved stability.

Both set-ups are controllable via the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system, which enables the driver to choose between Comfort or Dynamic modes depending on their preference, or an Automatic mode in which sensors automatically adjust the settings based on driving style, speed and prevailing conditions.

Behind the standard 20-inch seven twin-spoke design alloy wheels are four internally vented discs with weight-saving wave-like outer contours which provide suitably resolute and reassuring stopping power. The sizeable discs are gripped by six-piston calipers and are available in either black or red. Also available as an option are carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs with anthracite grey calipers.

The interior of the RS 7 Sportback conveys the sporting theme with similar subtlety, but leaves passengers in no doubt that they are travelling in a very special Audi flagship. RS logos appear in the dials with their white faces and red needles, on the flat-bottomed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, in the illuminated entry sills, in the rev counter and in the displays for the MMI and the colour Driver’s Information System (DIS).

June 2014

Revised RS7 launched

The new generation RS7 Sportback, which becomes available to order in the UK in the summer ahead of first deliveries in late 2014, combines subtle styling enhancements with new LED lighting, upgraded infotainment features and revisions to the 560PS V8 TFSI powerplant which enable it to comply with new EU6 emissions regulations.

Subtle modifications have been made to the bumper plus the headlights, also adapted to the new singleframe grille, now feature LED technology as standard. Matrix LED technology is available for the first time on the RS7 Sportback, with integrated dynamic turn signals on the front and rear. The tail lights also have a new interior design. New to the paint palette are the colours Floret silver, metallic; Glacier white, metallic; Mythos black, metallic and Sepang blue, pearl effect.

In the elegant black interior, dominated by the RS sport seats, the designers have made judicious changes to the instrument cluster, including the air outlet controls of the vent nozzles, the shift paddles behind the steering wheel and the quattro emblem on the instrument panel.

The EU6-compliant 4.0 TFSI engine in the revised Audi RS 7 Sportback provides the same prodigious 560PS, with a constant 700 Nm of torque at engine speeds between 1750 and 5500 rpm. The engine catapults the five-door coupe from 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds; the optional dynamics packages allow top speeds of 174mph and 189mph respectively. On a combined cycle however, the resonant V8 twin-turbo returns up to 29.7mpg, and emits 221 grams of CO2per km. A key factor in this efficiency is the Cylinder on Demand (CoD) system, which can shut down four cylinders during partial load operation.

An eight-speed tiptronic transmission tuned for optimum performance also features a tall final gear to contribute to fuel efficiency. The might of the V8 engine is harnessed by the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and used to best effect by the standard Sports differential, which apportions torque in precisely measured quantities between the rear wheels according to driving conditions.

RS adaptive air suspension is fitted as standard, together with adaptive damping, and is controlled via the Audi drive select driving dynamics system. Audi offers the tauter RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) as an alternative. A further option is dynamic steering, which continuously varies the steering ratio for greater agility.

The revised Audi RS 7 Sportback is fitted with 20-inch forged lightweight alloy wheels as a standard. Optional 21-inch cast aluminium wheels are available in three different colours. The four internally ventilated brake discs have a weight-saving wave design. Alternatively carbon fibre-ceramic discs are available as an option. Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) features a Sport mode that can be deactivated altogether if required.

October 2015

RS7 performance launched

The RS 7 Sportback performance costs £91,600 OTR and the 4.0-litre TFSI engine bolsters its 605PS output with a 700Nm torque peak which can be temporarily increased by the driver to 750Nm by way of an overboost function.

It sprints from 0 to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds, an improvement of 0.2 seconds and needs just 12.1 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 124mph, giving it a 1.4-second advantage. The governed 155mph top speed can be increased as an option to 174mph, or 189mph if the dynamic package plus is specified.

Despite the 45PS output boost, the sonorous V8 biturbo power unit returns up to 29.7mpg in the RS 7 Sportback performance.

The standard eight-speed tiptronic transmission has been designed to maximise the potential of the even more extreme engine. The driver can choose between the modes D and S or change gears manually either by tapping the selector lever or by using the shift paddles on the RS multifunction sport leather steering wheel. In manual mode, a shift indicator in the driver information system or optional head-up display indicates the rev limit.

What does the Audi RS7 (2014 – 2018) cost?