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Audi A7 Sportback and BMW 8 Series
It's not a top tennis match, it's a driving test at the pinnacle. Anyone sitting in an Audi A7 Sportback or BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé has reached Mount Olympus of Desire. Both coupes are dream cars, not only eye-catching, but also status and status symbols. Each of them exhibits a special charm in their own way.
As a BMW enthusiast, you've just flipped through the web page and filled in the comparison results on the ratings table. With a lot of anger, you've already written your first draft, which may cause a scolding war — don't send it first, and when you read this article and have learned something about these two cars, your high blood pressure may come down. In this article, we will compare the Audi A7 Sportback and the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, two dream cars with completely different personalities but equally noble temperaments, and we will interpret them in a completely new way.
Both the 55 TFSI quattro and the 840i xDrive are all-wheel-drive cars with turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engines, but what's the difference? On the one hand, there is a conceptual difference: Audi's tailgate is large, and there is significantly more loading space than the limousine-style BMW, at which point BMW will be deducted points. This is also described below.
However, the main difference is the price of the two cars, which determines the cost of people's judgment and thus ultimately determines the results of the comparative test. If you're not angry right now to say that you don't care about cost and luggage space, then you'd better cut out the first and last parts of the ratings table. Or, better yet, cut them all off and burn the scrap.
One does not have to deny that the price difference between the two cars is indeed a fact. And it's getting worse and worse, because BMW wants to help test cars achieve optimal performance with a variety of optional configurations.
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Everything is counted
BMW performed well on the test field, accelerating to 100 km/h from 34.3 meters from start-up. But the A7 55 TFSI quattro could do even better, requiring a distance of 1.3 meters shorter in the same test. In the cold brake test, the distance between the two vehicles from 130 km/ h to the stop will increase to nearly 3 meters. However, Gran Coupé makes up for this deficiency with its more comprehensive security equipment. In addition, the two cars perform differently when it comes to large turns: the Sportback can be deflected in reverse when turning, so it requires less cornering space, but this configuration costs 1900 euros more.
Why are we listing these options here in so much detail? Because all options that are evaluated in the comparison test, such as driving force, are included in the cost when calculating the price. At the same time, seat adjustment is included; we evaluate it in the "Operation" project. Audi, on the other hand, embraces passenger curiosity in the configuration: leather seats need to be adjusted manually. This configuration does reduce the weight and the price of the test car, but in this class of models, such a configuration seems a bit strange.
Not a flat top A7
In addition, Audi's charm is no less than BMW. Both models have an eye-catching exterior, with luxurious lounges in lacquered and leather interiors. Which one you prefer depends entirely on your personal aesthetic. In both cases, however, designers have come up with much more than just erecting a giant screen on a dashboard.
Objective differences are first reflected in infotainment systems. In the A7, people are mostly operating on touch screens, which is strictly forbidden while driving. The 840i xDrive, on the other hand, features a rotating dial that avoids distractions, earning it some points in the comfort section of the "Multimedia" score.
By the way, anyone who thinks the Gran Coupé is just a flat-top version of the Audi A7 doesn't fully understand the characteristics of the BMW 8 Series. Compared to luxury cars, four-door coupes are closer to the driver, more attractive and more challenging.
In fact, the BMW 840i xDrive always moves forward deliberately and purposefully, and it makes this clear and unmistakably clear from the chassis to the steering wheel. This stimulates the driver's aggressiveness. After the driver finds a curve, evaluates it, aims at it, turns intently, bypasses the cart and goes straight to the bullseye, like a Zen archery.
The Gran Coupé strides forward, and all it can do is be obedient, but also participate. That's clearly beyond Sportback. In addition, BMW can support itself more strongly in the corners; the bridgestone Potenza S007 with strong grip has made a lot of contributions in this regard. On the other hand, due to the fact that its all-wheel drive system distributes more torque to the rear wheels, the BMW 8 Series can even make some drifting, a feature that is usually only found in sports coupes. This should warm the hearts of driving enthusiasts.
The 8 Series' sense of speed has become smaller, giving it the feel more like a 5 Series coupe. The A7 seems to inherit the A8's superior comfort, which reflects the different personalities of the two cars.
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Will bump "invisible"
In terms of suspension, Audi is better than BMW, which is a bit over-controlled by body movement, blindly bringing itself closer to the ups and downs of the road, rather than floating through it as easily as Audi. Audi will minimize bumps. Despite the 20-inch wheels, its response was friendly: manhole covers, lateral seams, edges, all of which were all undetectable before reaching the seat.
Now, let's compare the traditional steel suspension of the Gran Coupé with the optional air suspension of sportback (priced at 2650 euros). BMW could have made adaptive shock absorbers an optional accessory to improve the comfort of the vehicle, but instead opted for another solution, combining a 2,583-euro roll control system with the M technology sport kit on the test vehicle. This includes 20-inch wheels, a sports brake system and a sports differential.
In other words, this large investment in accessories is likely to be a big reason why the vehicle drives so well in curves. So, if you're excited about the description of your driving behavior above and are interested in buying the car, don't forget to tick the box in the configuration table.
On the other hand, the car comes standard with a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, which, while it doesn't have an impressive 48-volt mix system, still has a high rev. An error-free automatic transmission is also included as standard, which guarantees a little longer time in low gears even in the most sporty mode. The A7's automatic transmission has some bumps in gear changes and is a bit indecisive in distributing kinetic energy, which doesn't make it less attractive. In general, the turbocharged V6 engine will hide itself and will not make a sound.
Cultured restraint is part of the A7 character. This is evident in the challenging sections of the road. At such times, the steering wheel will only communicate with the driver what is most important. Sportback doesn't seem to be nervous and in a hurry across corners under any circumstances. Instead, it prefers open spaces, being able to probe the road quickly and meticulously, and then give him effective help without bothering the driver and leaving enough room for his back to stretch. The A7 also pays more attention to the passengers in the rear, providing them with more comfortable seats than those of the BMW.
The Audi A7 Sportback's focus on comfort is in line with the BMW 840i xDrive's emphasis on sportiness. The result was that the contrast score between the two cars almost ended in a Solomon-style draw.
If you follow our prompts and cut the first and last items of the ratings table, the winner is Gran Coupé. So there is no need to incite a war of invective. This sentence has ended the comparative test.
For all the others, we want to offer a second comparison: Audi, which is significantly less equipped but also significantly cheaper, is ahead of BMW at the finish line.