Video: 2016 Audi S7 Review

Many automakers provide different variants of their models of increasing levels of performance, but Audi is particularly good at distinguishing theirs, both in terms of performance and price. For example, the base A7 has 333 horsepower. The S7 has 450, and the RS 7 has 560. Now, would I like an RS 7? Yes, absolutely, but here's the thing, it costs a good $26,000 more than the S7. Whereas the S7, costs less than $15,000 more than the A7, and it gets you more than halfway there. Here's what it has. Now, unlike the A7, which has a turbocharged V6, the S7 has the same four-liter turbocharged V8 as the RS 7. Now, the twin turbos here, have less boost pressure. 12.3 PSI, versus 17.4, in the RS 7, but there's still a lot. It does 0 to 60 in a claimed 4.5 seconds, versus the RS 7's 3.7 seconds, but really it's the immediate thrust and excellent, excellent sound of this V8 that really makes it excel beyond the A7 in ways that the numbers just don't reflect. As for the numbers, the A7 does 0 to 60 in about 5.2 seconds. The S7 also has a seven speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that we prefer to the eight speed tiptronic in the A7 and the RS 7. The shifts are lightening fast, and it also gives you a much more dramatic launch when you use the launch control. What you do is you put the transmission into sport mode, knock back the stability system, turn off the auto stop-start, stand on the accelerator and the brake, and it revs much higher than it does in the RS 7. Let off the brake, and I'm telling you, if you have passengers, when you let off that brake, they're going to be terrified. Now the drive train alone might be worth the price of admission, but there is more. The S7 comes with RS 7's standard adaptive suspension with air springs. And what that does, is give the car more of a dual-personality, and also makes it ride remarkably comfortably, even with the adaptive suspension, in it's firmer dynamic setting, and on optional 21-inch wheels with glorified rubber band tires. The road holding is great for a heavier car. And if you want to dial things up a bit, for just $3,500 with the optional sport package, you can add a limited slip rear differential, variable ratio dynamic steering, and an active exhaust. I could live without the first two. Honestly, the steering on the S7 is not its high point, or the high point of any Audi for that matter, but what you really want is the active exhaust. Without it, you are not getting the full effect of that V8. (engine revs) Now with that package, we're up to roughly $18,000 more than a base A7, but in addition to what I mentioned, it also includes other features that are not standard on the A7, like a heads up display, sports seats, Bose premium stereo, and adaptive headlights. There's no question all three of the seven models are great cars, and the RS 7 would certainly be a treat, but if you're looking to get the most for the least, the S7 is it.