The Audi A7 was built on the back of the A6 sedan, sharing the same platform, interior design, and technology in a sportier, coupe-like package. Originally created to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door coupe, it also competed with the BMW 6 Series and Porsche Panamera throughout its life.
Within the Audi model lineup, it was intended to be the “just right” vehicle for those who wanted a more emotional design with sporty styl
It had a variety of powertrain options in its short lifetime, including a diesel and a plug-in hybrid as well as performance models with biturbo V6 and V8 engines. Ultimately, the turbo V6 was the predominant and persevering powertrain.
The Audi A7 is a great option as a used vehicle because it has all the luxury accoutrements with a more affordable price tag. If you opt for a 2017 or newer vehicle, you’ll also get most of the modern tech and safety amenities we see in new cars such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, touchscreen infotainment systems, digital gauge clusters, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
Relatively few used models are available across the A7’s two generations, but it’s possible to find a good example if you’re willing to travel.
Which Audi A7 years are the best?
Looking at the first-generation Audi A7, post-facelift models have fewer complaints and recalls according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, so focus your search on model years 2016 to 2018. For the second generation, the 2023 to 2025 model years had zero complaints and zero recalls at the time of writing. While they may be pricier because they are newer, they may be a good bet in terms of reliability — plus they have the latest tech features.
What are the worst Audi A7 years?
We typically advise buyers to steer clear of the first model years of a generation, and that old adage is true with the Audi A7. CarComplaints.com names 2012 the worst model year due to engine problems, and 2019 gets the most recorded complaints due to numerous faulty sensor readings and infotainment issues.
Is a used Audi A7 a good deal?
We think the Audi A7 is a very good deal for used car buyers because, like a lot of luxury vehicles, it depreciates quickly. If you look at later first-gen models, you have a good chance of finding one for less than $25,000, which is a fraction of the original MSRP. Even prices for 2022 model year cars are nearly 50% less than the original MSRP.
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In addition to an all-new design, the second-generation Audi A7 Sportback ushered in the mild hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. The new Audi retained its five-door liftback styling and was still closely related to the Audi A6. It also still had standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in the form of Audi’s quattro system.
The only powertrain available at launch was a new 335-horsepower 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The battery is stored under the rear cargo floor and powers a belt-alternator starter for the automatic stop/start system. The dual-clutch S tronic seven-speed automatic transmission was also new.
Standard spec at launch included a power liftgate, LED headlights, Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, and Audi’s Pre Sense 360 safety suite. Available features included Audi’s virtual cockpit digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, four-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a sport suspension, and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system.
In Canada, the 2019 A7 lineup included the Progressiv and Technik trims, both of which were 55 TFSI quattro models. In 2020, the S7 returned to the lineup with a 2.9-litre biturbo V6 that delivered 444 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. In 2021, the RS 7 returned to the lineup, and the A7 added a short-lived plug-in hybrid powertrain with 39 kilometres of all-electric range, which was discontinued for 2023. Outside of powertrain changes, between 2019 and 2023 the A7 received some minor package option changes and additional standard equipment.
The A7 was refreshed in 2024 with a new honeycomb grille, infotainment improvements, and more standard equipment, while RS 7 performance was improved at this time courtesy of more horsepower. Closing out this generation and the A7 lineup, 2025 brought upgraded technology and more standard equipment for each trim.
We saw just under 40 Audi A7s for sale nationwide across Canada during our research, which means you may have to travel to bag a second-generation A7. At the time of writing, prices ranged from about $30,000 to $90,000, but it’s possible to find cars in good condition with less than 80,000 kilometres for less than $40,000.
Though the first-generation Audi A7 launched in Europe in 2010, this fastback four-door coupe didn’t appear in North America until the 2012 model year. Based on the same Volkswagen MLB platform as the Audi A6, the A7 shared the same drivetrain, chassis, dashboard, and interior as the sedan. Though similar to the A6, the A7 had a sloping rear roofline, creating a smaller rear seating area. Instead of a traditional trunk, it had a hatchback that opened the cargo area through to the cabin. Competitors included the expensive Mercedes-Benz CLS and the significantly less expensive Volkswagen CC.
The A7 was launched with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system as standard and had just one engine, a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that delivered 310 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, it was initially available in Premium and Premium Plus trims.
At launch, the A7 included standard features such as leather seats, power heated front seats, push-button start, three-zone automatic climate control, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth phone pairing, 18-inch wheels, and a power sunroof. Available features included navigation with Google Earth, Audi’s MMI infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, 19-inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a premium Bose audio system, four-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, LED headlights, a head-up display, a night vision system, and a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system were also available during this generation.
The performance-oriented Audi S7 was introduced for 2013, equipped with a 420-hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The high-performance Audi RS 7 with a 560-hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and a 240-hp 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel V6 TDI model were added in 2014. By this time, the trim levels had been renamed to match Audi’s current nomenclature in Canada, Progressiv and Technik.
The A7 received a mid-cycle refresh in 2016 with a wider grille, revised front and rear fascia, updated LED lighting, and a newer MMI system with a faster processor. The TDI model disappeared before 2018, which was when some versions were initially fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2018 Audi A7, as the last model of the first generation, received some new tech features and package options.
We found just 30 first-gen Audi A7s for sale across Canada during our research with prices ranging from about $10,000 to $30,000. If you’re looking for an A7 with less than 120,000 kilometres and no history of accidents or damage, you’ll find several examples for less than $25,000.
