Overall rating:

It's the flagship Sportback, built to take on the likes of Porsche's Panamera and BMW's M6 Gran Coupé, and on paper the S7 Sportback is more than a match for any of its rival. But there's something about it that doesn't quite fit with the idea of being a proper super saloon, and it's not just its hatchback shape. The S7 is far too civilised and subtle; sure it's quick and has masses of grip, but there's no reward from driving it hard and for a sporting flagship that's something of a missed opportunity.

Key Facts

Model tested: Audi S7 Sportback
Pricing: £61,995 (£88,795 as tested)
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six petrol
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera
CO₂ emissions: 225g/km
Combined economy: 29.4mpg
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 4.7 seconds
Power: 420hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 550Nm at 1,400- to 5,250rpm

Inside & Out:

Audi may call the A7 and S7 models 'Sportbacks', but don't be fooled by the marketing - conceptually this is a five-door hatchback, even if its roofline does ape some coupés in height. It's not entirely successful to our eyes, the rear looking a little over-stretched, but the wide stance at least makes it distinctive enough to appeal in this sector. And of course the optional 20-inch alloy wheels, S grille, mirror caps and quad exhaust pipes ensure you're aware that this 7 is the range-topper.

That was something equally obvious in our particular test car, loaded with nearly £27,000 of options. So the leather-lined cabin benefitted from a head up-display and the sublime Bang & Olufsen sound system. And with much of the layout, controls and instrumentation lifted from the range-topping Audi A8 you're not likely to feel short-changed from the driver's seat. It's not quite as practical behind as you might be expecting though, with only four seats and a high boot floor that makes the lengthy space rather short on height when it comes to carrying larger items.

Ride & Handling:

It's a big car the Audi S7, just 20mm short of five metres in length, and it never really shrinks around you like you might hope. That's not to say its not confidence inspiring of course, as with quattro four-wheel drive and body control that belies that size, there's little to worry about regardless of road, speed or conditions. In fact, in the dry you can lean on the chassis as much as you want, the S7 simply digging deeper and deeper into its grip reserves and slinging you past the apex and through the exit.

But there's not much point in doing so, as there's little in the way of reward for the driver, or any passengers. And even though the 20-inch wheels on this example take the edge off, the S7 is more about effortless pace mixed with comfort rather than dramatic speed and fast-paced thrills. You can tailor every aspect of the car's responses to your needs, whether that be firm, weighty and sporty or soft, light and comfortable - but we found ourselves enjoying the latter settings more often.

Engine & Transmission:

With 420hp it's no surprise the S7 is fast; in fact we'd wager that if you're brutal enough with the controls it'll sprint from 0-62mph faster than the quoted 4.7 seconds. Throttle response is quick, but despite the pace on offer it's all a little bit too civilised to properly engage the driver. Everything happens so smoothly, the seven-speed automatic gearbox swapping cogs without even the merest hint of a fuss, regardless of whether you're using the paddles or have the transmission in sport mode.

And though there's a big V8 engine under the bonnet, there's none of the deep eight-cylinder roar that you might be expecting - like the rest of the car the S7 is just too subtle to make a song and dance about its moves. Even the active cylinder deactivation, switching to four cylinders at low revs and throttle loads, is barely perceptible - partly thanks to the active noise cancellation that aims to reduce any change in engine speed frequencies.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Cars like the S7 aren't cheap; and they're not meant to be. After all, if you need to save some cash then an A7 diesel will likely fit the bill much better. But for all its running costs and purchase price, the S7 justifies it with its performance and standard equipment. Of course it's easy to bolster that list with options, as with our test car, and such things like the head up display (£1,450), adaptive cruise control (£2,600), night vision (£2,100) and the Bang & Olufsen hifi (£6,300) soon add to the purchase price.

At least the active cylinder deactivation tries its hardest to make the S7 more efficient, increasing fuel economy to an entirely reasonable 29.4mpg - though we're not too sure you'll see that figure very often in the real world.