The bad: The
A7 TDI requires additional maintenance in the form of 10,000 mile
AdBlue fill-ups. Audi's proprietary audio port requires adapter cables
for external devices; a standard USB port would be preferable.
The bottom line: The
2014 Audi A7 TDI includes some of the best connected tech available
today in an automobile, and those inclined to put up with a few diesel
drivetrain quirks will be rewarded with significantly higher fuel
economy than from the gasoline equivalent.
In heavy traffic on the freeway, I let the 2014 Audi A7 TDI's cruise
control handle braking and accelerating, and gave lane-keeping assist a
try by letting the car drift over to the left lane line. Cruise control,
using its radar to track the car ahead, unerringly handled stop-and-go
without my intervention. And before the car crossed the lane line, the
camera-based lane assist moved the wheel under my light grip, steering
the A7 TDI back into its own lane.Was I experiencing a glimpse of our autonomous driving future?
Not exactly, as the pull on the steering wheel sent the car on a drift toward the right lane line, from which it also corrected. If I let it have its way, I figured it would drunkenly weave back and forth between the lines, then get completely thrown off by the first serious curve or faded line paint. The A7 TDI's radar and cameras made it dimly aware of its surroundings, but true autonomy requires more sophisticated sensors.
Despite not exactly being the future of self-driving, the A7 has been a high-tech showcase for Audi since its launch in 2010, not to mention having an excellent body design that became much copied. For 2014, the A7 adds some driver assistance features, but its connected infotainment system is largely the same as before.
From the outside, the noise from the engine was remarkable enough that CNET's garage attendant asked me if there was something wrong with the car. However, Audi employs enough sound deadening to mask the engine noise in the cabin.
As with other new diesels, the A7 TDI requires a little extra maintenance over the gasoline version. Every 10,000 miles, it needs a refill of its AdBlue tank. The emissions system sprays the AdBlue fluid into the exhaust stream, where it breaks down nitrogen oxide into its component parts.
Long-range driver
Given the power delivery, noise, and extra maintenance, you might be wondering why Audi would bother with diesel at all. Fuel economy is the key here, as the diesel drivetrain in the A7 TDI gives it an EPA-rated 24 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. Audi claims a 650-mile range from the 19-gallon fuel tank.
During my time with the car, the white LED lights indicating fuel level turned off at a glacial pace. At the end of a driving course involving city traffic, 65 mph freeways, and twisty mountain highways, the car turned in a healthy 30.3 mpg. Most drivers will likely average over 30 mpg.
Contributing to the city fuel economy is an idle-stop feature, shutting down the engine at stop lights. Although there was no disguising the noise and vibration from the engine's stops and starts, I didn't find the feature hampered my driving. The engine started up readily whenever I lifted my foot from the brake pedal, and the system was smart enough to keep the engine running if it was cold out.
For those that find the A7 TDI's idle-stop too annoying, it can be turned off with the push of a button.
Although the A7 TDI is more of a luxury-efficient car than a sport play, it did handle very well. Quattro all-wheel drive comes standard on all A7s, and the suspension architecture is conducive to flat cornering. When I could keep the engine up in its power band, I could feel how Quattro helped the tires dig into the turns.
Audi's Drive Select feature let me choose from Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic drive modes, or configure a custom feel with its Individual setting. Those configurations included Dynamic settings for the engine and steering response, along with the seat belt tensioner and even adaptive cruise control.
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