If you don鈥檛 need the space and practicality offered by the latest Audi S6 then fear not, Audi has your back. With the same V6 mild-hybrid diesel, this S7 does everything its sibling does, with an added dose of Sportback style. Boasting an identical 344bhp and 700Nm, the Audi S7 is no faster than the S6. Despite is sleeker body and coupe looks, it isn鈥檛 any sharper, either. In fact, the two cars feel very similar to drive. That鈥檚 no bad thing, of course. Like the estate, the S7 Sportback delivers a huge slug of torque from 2,500rpm - forging past slow-moving traffic with ease. It鈥檚 quiet, too, with the slippery shape - and our car鈥檚 double-glazed side windows - keeping wind noise to a minimum. Like the S6, our test model also featured Audi鈥檚 optional four-wheel steering. It offers a pleasing degree of agility, with natural feedback through the wheel. Grip from the quattro all-wheel-drive system is strong in all conditions, too. You might reasonably expect the sleeker S7 to offer advantages when it comes to running costs, but that swooping roofline can only do so much in a car weighing over two tonnes.
The result is a single gramme per kilometre of CO2 - not even enough to lower the S7鈥檚 Benefit in Kind rating. S7 buyers are more likely to lament the death of the old car鈥檚 petrol V8, but that鈥檚 no reason to advocate the crummy sound imposer, which pumps artificial engine noise through the car鈥檚 speakers. Luckily, it can be switched off via the digital drive mode menus; even the throaty diesel grunt is preferable to the synthesised roar. The S7鈥檚 cabin is lifted almost unchanged from the standard car, just as it is in the S6. It鈥檚 luxurious and filled to bursting with the latest tech - including the stunning twin-screen infotainment system. The kit list is identical to the S6鈥檚 in fact, with all cars coming fitted with four-zone climate control, privacy glass and lashings of premium trim. Which model you choose will depend largely on whether you need the S6鈥檚 space and practicality, then. But given how similar they feel to drive, it鈥檚 hard to recommend the pricier, more compromised S7. Audi reckons it鈥檒l cost around 拢8k more than an S6 saloon - a big price to pay for a lower roofline.
There鈥檚 only room (and seatbelts) for four people, though, which may be a hindrance at times. The modern dash is a bit daunting at first, but you soon get used to it because it鈥檚 highly intuitive. The boot is quite small at 260 litres, or 1,100 with the seats folded. You can buy a nearly new Mk1 BMW i3 for between 拢13,950 and 拢41,855 on our sister site BuyaCar. Thanks to the electric i3鈥檚 simplicity, only the brakes generally need attention, but its heating system contains long-life coolant. The i3 REx has two cooling systems (for the heater and engine) and its chain-driven engine needs an oil and filter change every two years or 12,000 miles, at a cost of 拢211. Owners who purchased a 拢239 Service Inclusive pack got three years of check-ups, but the plan could only be bought up to the first service and can鈥檛 be extended. The i3 has been recalled once so far, due to incorrectly calibrated sensors within the electric power steering system. These weren鈥檛 set up properly at the point of manufacture, so the driver was in danger of losing control when cornering. The fix only required a recalibration of the sensors. They rate it slightly lower than we do (3.7/5 compared with 3.9/5), with overall ratings skewed somewhat by two owners who have experienced lots of problems. Still, most drivers love the performance, build quality, reliability and usability.
The styling is largely borrowed from the Model 3 inside and out, just like its platform, but the higher proportions suit it well especially from the rear three-quarter view. The interior is a masterpiece of minimalism with the Model Y getting a 15-inch rectangular infotainment touchscreen perched upon a simple dash with strip of unvarnished wood breaking up the swathes of grey plastic. The panoramic glass roof adds to the natural ambiance, and the seats, made from vegan materials, are a nod to the brand鈥檚 sustainable purpose. It鈥檚 also Tardis-like; the front boot and rear, with the split seats down, enabling 1,900 litres of cargo space, according to Tesla, and the option of seating for seven. The car doesn鈥檛 require a key; instead, it connects to your smartphone for seamless entry and exit. It also talks to the Tesla Mobile app so you can autonomously summon the car, fix the temperature, track the car remotely.
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