This is the 2024 Audi S7 and I think it’s the ultimate long-distance road trip car and it looks stunning from every angle. It’s also extremely rewarding to drive, has a luxurious cabin, and to top it off it has a hatchback. As a Sportback, it effortlessly combines the sleek lines of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan, making a very bold statement.

Versus the A7, its cheaper sibling,  the S7 is the cooler kid on the block. The S7’s exterior design is sleek and sporty without being over the top and for 2024 it gets a redesigned front bumper, coupled with a new honeycomb front grille.

There are also new wheel choices including a new 21-inch 5-parallel-spoke style, graphite gray diamond turned wheel, wearing summer tires as part of the Black Optic Package. I only wish the summer tires option wasn’t Bridgestone Turanzas, not my favorite tire for a sporty 4-door coupe. That Black Optic Package gives you black exterior mirror housings and black exterior trim for $750 but not the black Audi rings.

Under The Hood

The 2023 Audi S7 is powered by a 2.9-liter V-6, which features two turbochargers augmented by an electric supercharger, called EPC, Electric Powered Compressor. It consists of an electric motor with a small turbine that helps quickly build turbo boost pressure, sharpening throttle response and reducing any noticeable turbo lag. The entire EPC system adds just 22 lbs to the vehicles’ overall weight and reduces response time to less than 250 milliseconds.

The V6 sends 444 hp and 443 lb-ft to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the dual-clutch as before and the S7 differentiates itself from the lesser A7 by having an adaptive air suspension system. These additional components have increased the curb weight, the S7 now weighing in at 4,623 lbs some 132 pounds heavier than its predecessor.

It doesn’t take a hit on performance with 0-60 taking 4.1 seconds, and the 2024 S7 achieves better mileage than its top rival, the BMW M850i Gran Coupe earning an estimated 19 city and 26 mpg highway fuel economy rating from the EPA.

Driving

Despite the loss of two cylinders, the latest S7 is extremely quick and the addition of the electric compressor/supercharger has all but eliminated any turbo lag; it’s genuinely snappy off the line now.

The four-wheel steering combined with the torque-vectoring rear differential makes the S7 feel like a rear-drive car and during some very hard cornering, I never experienced any understeer, which has been the bane of Audi’s cars for a while.

My tester was wearing Bridgestone Turanza tires which is a shame since they are typically not very god, especially so on a car with the pedigree of the S7. In the turns the sidewalls are soft, you can feel them, rolling, luckily Audi has a very good all-wheel drive system to prevent any issues during high-speed cornering. In a straight line the tires feel floaty and not very planted, this car really should have had Michelin Pilot  4S tires.

The S7 has several different drive modes, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual where you can adjust suspension, steering, and of course, exhaust noise so of course I chose the loudest setting. The acoustic glass does muffle the exhaust noise from inside the car but outside it barks, burbles, and farts like the best of them.

The switch to Dynamic is subtle but you can feel the dynamics of the vehicle change, everything becomes more intense, the car hunkers down on its air suspension and throttle inputs are more responsive and sharper. A blast on some of San Diego’s back roads showed how well this car goes, it has tons of torque to pass slower vehicles, and despite not being a sports sedan it handles remarkably well.

The eight-speed automatic snaps-off shifts about as fast as any twin-clutch transmission and the steering although devoid of much feedback is precise and the car goes where you point it. Brakes are firm and reassuring and provide excellent stopping power from higher speeds.

Interior

Settle down into the very comfortable Valcona leather seats and you get a sense of luxury immediately, and that usual Audi attention to detail. All is not perfect though there wireless charger is hidden in the center armrest so if you don’t need to charge it there isn’t anywhere to put your phone since the cup holders are not big enough.

Ahead of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument, which can be configured in multiple ways to display maps, music tracks, fuel economy data, etc. In the center console, Audi divides the infotainment functions between two haptic-feedback screens, a 10.1-inch one on top and an 8.6-inch display down below that serves up the climate control functions.

The graphics are crisp and the menus are laid out in a logical way and are easy to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces come standard, as do SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth audio, and the aforementioned wireless charging pad.

Rear seat passengers get heated seats as well as USB-C power and a quality armrest with two cupholders.

Cargo Space 

It’s super versatile since it is a hatch, it offers 24.6 cubic feet behind the seats which fold flat to create quite a large space and a relatively flat load floor. There’s some space under the carpet so=ince no spare wheel is provided. 

Pricing

The base price is $84,500 so $1,000 more than last year’s model. This one has a few options. The Prestige package is $7,400 and includes Adaptive Cruise, Dual Pane acoustic glass, Lots of luxury leather on the console, dash, and armrests, a top view camera system, Power soft closing doors, A Head-up display, and heated rear seats. From a tech perspective, the S7 is loaded with Traffic Sign Recognition, remote park assist, a wireless charging pad, and an LED Interior lighting plus a package.

My tester also had the upgraded Bang and Olufsen sound system with 3D sound for an eye-watering $4,900. Inside you get the Luxury Package which includes Valcona/Milano leather seats with ventilation and massage function. That package is $1,850. Add that all together and you get a total of $101,425 so be careful when you are checking boxes it adds up quickly.

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Verdict

If you are looking for a car with a ton of luxury and very serene road manners that when required gives you a kick in the pants, then the 2024 Audi s7 might have your name on it. True there are some faster rivals out there, but none are as complete as this one.

2024 Audi S7 Numbers

BASE PRICE: $84,500
PRICE AS TESTED: $101,425
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
ENGINE: 2.9 liter twin-turbocharged, supercharged, DOHC 24-valve V-6
POWER: 444 hp @ 6,700 rpm
TORQUE: 443 lb-ft @ 1,900 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
CURB WEIGHT: 4,597 lbs 
0-60 MPH: 4.1 seconds
TOP SPEED: 155 mph
BRAKES FRONT: 17.3-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc
BRAKES REAR: Front: 15.7-in vented, Rear: 13.8-in vented
WHEELS: 21-inch V spoke
TIRES: Bridgestone Turanza, 255/35R-21
EPA CITY/HWY/COMBINED: 19/26/22 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 16.9 mpg
CARGO SPACE: 25 cubic feet
PROS: Superb handling, Incredible chassis, the perfect grand tourer.
CONS: Options get pricey