Audi S7: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Audi S7 choice comes down to four distinct specifications across two generations.
The Audi S7 choice comes down to four distinct specifications across two generations. The first-generation 4.0 S-tronic combines a 3993 cc Gasoline V8 with either 420 hp or 450 hp, while the second generation moves to smaller V6 engines: the 3.0 AT has a 2967 cc Diesel engine producing 349 hp, and the restyled range offers a 344 hp 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic plus a 444 hp 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. Every listed Audi S7 is a Liftback with AWD and a maximum speed of 250 km/h. For outright acceleration, choose either the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic or the 444 hp 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic; both reach 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. For the lowest measured combined consumption, the 349 hp 3.0 AT records 6.5 l/100 km.
Audi S7 generations: what changed?
The first-generation Audi S7 was produced from June 2012 through June 2014 as a Liftback with one version, the 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic. Its 3993 cc Gasoline V8 produces 550 Nm, drives all four wheels through a 7-speed Robotic gearbox, and accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.
The first-generation restyling ran from July 2014 through September 2018, remaining a Liftback with one version named 4.0 S-tronic. Power increased from 420 hp to 450 hp while displacement and torque remained at 3993 cc and 550 Nm. Acceleration to 100 km/h improved by 0.1 seconds, from 4.7 to 4.6 seconds. Combined consumption fell by 0.3 l/100 km, from 9.6 to 9.3 l/100 km, although kerb weight rose by 85 kg, from 1945 to 2030 kg.
The second-generation Audi S7 began in January 2019 as a Liftback with one version, the 349 hp 3.0 AT. It replaces the first generation’s 3993 cc Gasoline V8 and 7-speed Robotic specification with a 2967 cc Diesel V6 and an 8-speed Automatic gearbox. Torque rises from 550 Nm in either first-generation version to 700 Nm, while measured combined consumption falls to 6.5 l/100 km.
The second-generation restyling began in February 2024 and lists two Liftback versions: 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic and 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. The former is a 344 hp Diesel V6 with 700 Nm; the latter is a 444 hp Gasoline V6 with 600 Nm. Both use 8-speed Automatic gearboxes and AWD.
Audi S7 engine options and specs
| Generation and version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation, 4.0 S-tronic (420 hp) | 420 hp | 550 Nm | 3993 cc | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| First-generation restyling, 4.0 S-tronic (450 hp) | 450 hp | 550 Nm | 3993 cc | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | 7-speed Robotic | AWD |
| Second generation, 3.0 AT | 349 hp | 700 Nm | 2967 cc | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | AWD |
| Second-generation restyling, 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 344 hp | 700 Nm | 2967 cc | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | AWD |
| Second-generation restyling, 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 444 hp | 600 Nm | 2894 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | AWD |
Power per litre separates these versions more clearly than displacement alone. The 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic develops approximately 105.2 hp per litre, while the restyled 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic reaches approximately 112.7 hp per litre. The second-generation 3.0 AT produces approximately 117.6 hp per litre, and the restyled 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic produces approximately 115.9 hp per litre. At approximately 153.4 hp per litre, the 444 hp 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic has the highest power per litre in the supplied range.
The torque comparison favors the Diesel versions. Both the 3.0 AT and 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic produce 700 Nm, which is 150 Nm more than either 4.0 S-tronic and 100 Nm more than the 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. The 349 hp 3.0 AT delivers its stated power at 3850 rpm and its 700 Nm from 2500 to 3100 rpm. The restyled 344 hp Diesel produces its stated power at 3850 rpm and its 700 Nm at 1750 rpm.
Audi S7 performance, fuel economy and mpg comparison
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Maximum speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 S-tronic (420 hp) | 4.7 sec | 250 km/h | 13.4 l/100 km | 7.5 l/100 km | 9.6 l/100 km |
| 4.0 S-tronic (450 hp) | 4.6 sec | 250 km/h | 13.2 l/100 km | 7 l/100 km | 9.3 l/100 km |
| 3.0 AT | 5.1 sec | 250 km/h | 7.7 l/100 km | 5.8 l/100 km | 6.5 l/100 km |
| 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 5.1 sec | 250 km/h | not measured | not measured | 7.1 l/100 km |
| 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 4.6 sec | 250 km/h | not measured | not measured | 10.7 l/100 km |
The fastest measured choices are the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic and the 444 hp 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic, each recording 4.6 seconds to 100 km/h. The 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic is only 0.1 seconds behind. Both Diesel versions take 5.1 seconds, making them 0.5 seconds slower than the quickest specifications.
The 3.0 AT has the lowest measured combined consumption at 6.5 l/100 km. That is 2.8 l/100 km below the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic, 3.1 l/100 km below the 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic, and 4.2 l/100 km below the 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. The restyled 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic consumes 7.1 l/100 km combined, 0.6 l/100 km more than the earlier 3.0 AT.
No 0–60 mph figure is provided for any version, so Audi S7 0–60 performance is not measured in this dataset. Only the stated 0–100 km/h results should be used for comparison.
Audi S7 dimensions, weight and capacity
Exterior dimensions are not measured for any listed Audi S7. Wheel sizes are also not measured across the range. Ground clearance is 120 mm for both first-generation 4.0 S-tronic specifications; it is not measured for the 3.0 AT, 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic, or 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Weight per hp | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 S-tronic (420 hp) | 1945 kg | 2555 kg | 4.63 kg/hp | 120 mm | 75 l | not measured |
| 4.0 S-tronic (450 hp) | 2030 kg | 2565 kg | 4.51 kg/hp | 120 mm | 75 l | not measured |
| 3.0 AT | 2010 kg | 2635 kg | 5.76 kg/hp | not measured | 63 l | not measured |
| 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 2010 kg | 2635 kg | 5.84 kg/hp | not measured | 63 l | not measured |
| 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 2085 kg | 2670 kg | 4.70 kg/hp | not measured | 73 l | not measured |
The 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic has the best weight-to-power result at approximately 4.51 kg per hp, followed by the 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic at approximately 4.63 kg per hp. The 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic records approximately 4.70 kg per hp. The Diesel alternatives carry approximately 5.76 kg per hp in the 3.0 AT and 5.84 kg per hp in the 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic.
The 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic is the lightest at 1945 kg. The 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic is the heaviest at 2085 kg, a difference of 140 kg. Both 4.0 S-tronic versions have the largest tank at 75 l, followed by the 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 73 l. Each Diesel version has a 63 l tank.
Audi S7 reliability and problems
Engine reliability, repair history, service intervals, and recurring problems are not measured in the supplied data. The specifications therefore cannot support a reliability ranking between the 3993 cc Gasoline V8, the 2967 cc Diesel V6, and the 2894 cc Gasoline V6. Buyers comparing used examples should not treat power, consumption, or acceleration figures as evidence of mechanical condition.
Which Audi S7 version should you buy?
Choose the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic if the priority is the first-generation V8 specification with the strongest measured combination of acceleration and weight per horsepower. Compared with the earlier 420 hp 4.0 S-tronic, it adds 30 hp, improves acceleration to 100 km/h by 0.1 seconds, and reduces combined consumption by 0.3 l/100 km. It also weighs 85 kg more, while torque remains unchanged at 550 Nm.
Choose the 3.0 AT if measured fuel economy matters most. Its 6.5 l/100 km combined figure is the lowest in the dataset, and its 700 Nm is the joint-highest torque output. Its trade-off is acceleration: 5.1 seconds to 100 km/h is 0.5 seconds slower than the quickest versions.
Choose the 3.0 TDI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic if you want the restyled second-generation Diesel. It retains 700 Nm and the same 2010 kg kerb weight as the 3.0 AT, but has 5 hp less and consumes 0.6 l/100 km more on the combined measure. Both record 5.1 seconds to 100 km/h.
Choose the 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic if you want the restyled second generation with the quickest acceleration. It matches the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic at 4.6 seconds to 100 km/h despite having 6 hp less. Against the restyled Diesel, it adds 100 hp and reduces the acceleration time by 0.5 seconds, but loses 100 Nm and uses 3.6 l/100 km more in the combined cycle.
Price and sale information—including Audi S7 listings in Florida—is not provided, so no version can be recommended on purchase price or value for money. Based strictly on the measured specifications, the 450 hp 4.0 S-tronic is the strongest V8 performance choice, the 3.0 AT is the consumption choice, and the 2.9 TFSI V6 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic is the quickest restyled second-generation choice.