Audi A7

Looking to break out of the midsize luxury sedan mold? The 2021 Audi A7 might be an intriguing alternative. It's based on the more traditional A6 sedan but replaces the trunk with a sweeping hatchback. Not only does it give the A7 a sportier fastback profile, but it also greatly increases cargo capacity.

There's also an increase in price over the A6, to the tune of about $10,000. In addition to the standard V6 engine with a mild hybrid system, there's a plug-in hybrid e Quattro model that is estimated to return 24 miles of electric-only range.

The A7's body style makes it a bit of an oddity among other sedans, but it's not alone. The tangentially related Porsche Panamera shares many similarities, but not when it comes to price — the Porsche costs quite a bit more. There's also the coupe-style Mercedes-Benz CLS to consider. So is this 2021 A7 for you? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below to learn more and get our in-depth take.

Which A7 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Audi A7 is a sedan with a rear hatch and is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. The standard powerplant is what Audi calls the 55 TFSI. It's a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (335 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque) paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It also features a 48-volt mild hybrid system that can help with engine smoothness and efficiency.

There is also this year's new 55 TFSI e Quattro. This is a real-deal hybrid. It uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to a plug-in hybrid system (meaning you can recharge it using an external power cord) and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Combined output is 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The EPA estimates the e Quattro can go 24 miles on all-electric power before switching over to the regular gas/hybrid operation.

Premium The base Premium trim is anything but basic. You get plenty of comfort, convenience and tech features such as:

• Sunroof
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
• Power rear hatch
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Audi Connect remote monitoring and control
• Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay
• Twin-screen infotainment system
• Navigation system
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

A Convenience package is optional for the Premium trim. It adds:

• Digital instrument panel
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless charging pad with signal booster
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Larger primary infotainment display
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Premium Plus The midrange Premium Plus comes with all of the features above plus:

• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Bang & Olufsen premium audio system

Executive package This Premium Plus optional package gets you:

• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Interior ambient lighting
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats

Prestige The top Prestige trim comes with the Executive package plus:

• Soft-close doors
• Noise-reducing side windows
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Traffic sign reader
• Frontal cross-traffic alert (alerts the driver to possible side collisions at intersections)

Luxury package The Luxury package is available only with the Prestige trim and adds:

• Premium leather upholstery
• Additional leather interior trim
• Front-seat massage functions