2023 Audi RS7

The large, coupe-styled four-door car has become quite a thing and many manufacturers now offer them. The Audi RS7 is Audi's sportiest rendition of the genre and although it crosses swords with like-minded rivals such as the BMW M8 Gran Coupe and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 four-door in terms of outright ability, it's cheaper than both. If you don't mind casting your net wider, and if the swoopy styling is not a prerequisite, similarly able cheaper conventional sedan options like the BMW M5 and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing are on the menu too. All of these offer serious performance, making the 0-60 dash in well under four seconds while transporting five terrified occupants. They all have V8 engines, but go about their business in distinctly different ways and the Audi plays to its strengths - searing pace combined with excellent comfort, quattro all-road and -weather grip, and a smooth automatic gearbox for tackling traffic. But its all-around greatness faces tough competition from some cheaper rivals, not least that CT5-V Blackwing and M5.

The starting price of the Audi RS7 is $120,900 excluding a destination charge of $1,095. That's not cheap, but it's less expensive than the faster BMW Competition Gran Coupe that begins at $134,100.

We could bore you with all the technical details, but suffice it to say that Audi has thrown the whole gamut of suspension and powertrain tech at the RS7 to ensure limpet-like grip through corners and pulverizing pace to string them together. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8's outputs of 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque aren't as high as some rivals', but enough to teleport you to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, courtesy of an eight-speed automatic, 48-volt mild-hybrid setup, and quattro AWD. More impressive is the way it does this, because, unlike most hard-riding BMW M cars, the RS7 is surprisingly comfortable. Even on the air suspension's firmest setting and on the optional 22-inch wheels, it doesn't jostle or jar its occupants. It's so well-judged and tuned that we wouldn't bother with the Dynamic Ride Control suspension option unless we want more of that M5 handling sharpness. Grip is superb and the standard rear-axle steering aids agility. The clever rear diff will even let you hang the tail out. It doesn't hide its weight as well as an M5, but it's crushingly effective nonetheless and blends comfort and handling so well, it's a genuine pleasure to use every day, not just on a track.

Everything comes together in a most pleasing way to make the 2023 RS7 a class act. It's properly rapid, rides as comfortably as an everyday sedan, and offers plenty of space for occupants and luggage. In every review of the Audi RS7 and its competitors, you'll read how very few of them manage such a fine balance and for this, we can forgive its few foibles, like the rather cheeky exclusion of some driver assists at this price, and the lack of an old-style manual controller so you don't have to prod that screen all the time. Despite its weight, the superbly set up air suspension and rear-axle steering make for a fast Audi that is not hamstrung by any dynamic weaknesses, yet demands no compromises of you on pockmarked roads. But don't forget about the USA's own contender, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. It might not have the deeply impressive levels of quality of the Audi, but for a staggering $30k discount, you get a massively powerful V8, sharp handling, superb comfort, and a manual gearbox. Makes you wonder if an RS7 really is worth its asking price.

There is only one RS7 model but having access to so many varying packages means that you can curate a truly unique specification. The packages have been focused to adhere to different needs and wants. Considering that this model is the flagship performance car of the A7 family, the Ceramic Brake package and Dynamic Ride Control would be crucial additions. The Driver Assistance package is also recommended as it adds a plethora of features that would make daily commuting a more comfortable and less stressful experience. The Bang and Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System is admittedly a costly investment, but the jump in sound quality from the standard set of speakers is phenomenal. We'd also add the Executive Package, 22-inch wheels (automatically adding the Black Optic package), and a $595 paint option if it were our money, and be happy with a total price of $144,990 including destination.