2024 Audi RS7 Review: Elegant Assassin
For some reason, chimera automobiles have become all the rage, which means we've seen an increase in performance-focused vehicles that, by rights, shouldn't be as thrilling as they are. Spicy SUVs are a case in point, and four-door sedans with coupe style are right up there, too. Enter the 2024 Audi RS7, a Sportback sedan with a potent V8 engine putting out 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. This is enough to hustle a full family to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. And it's not alone in this mission, going up against rivals like the BMW M8 Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S four-door Coupe, both of which offer the same slick styling, high-performance powertrains, and rapid acceleration while coddling a full house of passengers. So which one is the best?
Best Deals on RS7
New for 2024
There's a lot to talk about for 2024 as the new Audi RS7 gets more than just fresh 22-inch wheel designs and additional exterior paint colors. Ascari Blue and Grenadier Red are added to the existing choices, and both the interior and exterior of the RS7 get a few new style and design elements. A Bronze Edition will also be made available, although it will be limited to just 50 units, and it will feature Sebring Black crystal effect paint, gold 22-inch wheels, and various exclusive aesthetic packages. The RS design package is now available with blue accents.
Most importantly, the new Audi RS7 four-door coupe gets a significant bump in power; the 4.0-liter V8 produces 30 more horsepower and 37 lb-ft more torque than last year, which results in a benchmark sprint dispatched two-tenths quicker than the outgoing model. This is also in part due to the new model shedding some weight.
2024 Audi RS7 Price: Which One to Buy
There's just one model to buy this year, with the price of the 2024 Audi RS7 Performance starting at an MSRP of $127,800 in the USA. This is a few thousand dollars up over last year's model, but with all the enhancements for 2024, it's not unreasonable - nor does it come close to the $170,350 MSRP asked for an AMG GT 63 S 4-Door.
If you're spending this kind of money on a speedy four-door, you may as well add on a few extras. We'd skip over the aesthetic packages and add the Executive Package for heated rear seats, a head-up display, soft-close doors, remote park assist, and extended leather inside. We'd also tick the boxes for the individual contour seats with ventilation and massage in front, as well as the additional safety and convenience features in the Driver Assistance Package. Lastly, the optional sport suspension and dynamic ride control are necessary in a car like this - it replaces the adaptive air suspension. Like this, the RS7 will cost you under $140k, all-in.
Performance 4.0 TFSI quattro |
---|
Top |
$ 127800 |
4.0-liter biturbo V8 (621 hp/627 lb-ft) |
21-inch wheels |
HD Matrix-design headlights with laser light |
Bang & Olufsen premium sound system |
Audi virtual cockpit with MMI interface |
Interior and Features
While it looks mostly the same as the outgoing model, the 2024 RS7 gets new flourishes, a refreshed Digital Cockpit, and optional packages to customize the cabin.
The interior benefits from an update this year, but the classic Audi Sport design elements are a familiar way of differentiating the Audi RS7 interior from others. There are new RS Design packages that buyers can fit to their cars which add gray, red, or blue accents, bespoke trim, and seatbelt coloring. Other elements that highlight the sporty nature of the RS7 include a flat-bottomed steering wheel that, along with the shift lever, armrests and center console, is wrapped in Alcantara. The brand's virtual cockpit includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with new features linked to its performance nature. As the halo car in the lineup, the RS7 is fitted with every comfort and convenience Audi has on hand.
Space
The four-door body and long wheelbase make the Audi RS7 a spacious car to fit up to five people in. As is always the case, though, it's best to limit rear-seat passengers to just two for their convenience. The sloping sportback styling means that headroom is slightly tighter for those in the back, but there is generally more than enough legroom all around. Of course, those up front get the lion's share of space, and even taller folk will happily spend hours seated in the leather Sports seats.
Cargo
Cargo specs for the Audi RS7 work out to 24.6 cu-ft with the rear seats down and almost 50 when they're folded. This is much more than either BMW or Merc competitors manage.
Storage for small items inside the Audi RS7 is relatively good. Along with a bin under the armrest in the front of the cabin, there are also door pockets and a glovebox, and the rear seat also has a pull-down armrest. There are two cupholders next to the gear shifter, and these can also be covered up.
Audi RS7 | BMW M8 Gran Coupe | Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door Coupe | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5 Seater | 4/5 Seater |
Headroom | 37 in. front 37.1 in. rear | 40.6 in. front 37.1 in. rear | 40.8 in. front 38.2 in. rear |
Legroom | 41.3 in. front 37 in. rear | 42.1 in. front 36.6 in. rear | TBA |
Trunk Space | 24.6 - 49 ft³ | 15.5 ft³ | 12.7 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
As it sits at the top of the range, Audi uses only the best here in terms of materials and finishes. As a starting point, the RS7 gets leatherette on the dashboard while black Valcona perforated leather with honeycomb contrast stitching and RS embossing covers the seats. The stitching can be had in gray, blue, or red. Cognac Brown seats with Granite Gray stitching are also available, the only color scheme that significantly brightens the interior. Carbon twill inlays are standard.
The optional RS Design packages in blue, red, or gray add Alcantara to the steering wheel, shift lever, console sides, and switch out the leatherette for the genuine hide on the dashboard. The color stitching is then added to the steering wheel, armrests, RS logos, armrests, and center console sides. You also get that color added to your seatbelts.
When adding the Individual Contour Seat Package, there are different Valcona/Milano leather seats without the standard honeycomb stitching. A Dinamca headliner goes for $3,000.
Features and Infotainment
As the halo car in the A7 range, the RS7 isn't just given the best performance, but it also receives the most features and top-end tech. Items like cruise control, a garage door opener, a power tailgate, and a power panoramic sunroof are standard, and in addition to loads of RS badging inside - including illuminated aluminum front door sills - you also get four-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, ambient LED lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, and the Audi virtual cockpit. This includes a 12.3-inch digital driver display. The interior can be made even more premium with options like heated rear seats and power soft-closing doors.
The infotainment center comprises two screens: a 10.1-inch top screen and an 8.6-inch lower display. The latter takes over the climate control system, which isn't ideal in our books as it can distract the driver. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the RS7 gets navigation along with a premium Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. Buyers can also spend almost $5k for the upgraded version of this audio setup, though, which has 19 speakers.
Performance 4.0 TFSI quattro | |
---|---|
Audi Virtual Cockpit | S |
Heated and ventilated front seats | S |
10.1-inch and 8.6-inch dual displays | S |
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | S |
Four-zone climate control | S |
Performance
With more horsepower on tap than before, the Audi RS7 is potent and rapid while still being a comfortable and confident driver's car.
Since this is the area where the RS7 is supposed to shine, the one trim available for 2024 has been aptly renamed; the 2024 Audi RS7 Performance thus comes with a tweaked version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo eight-cylinder engine that now makes 621 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. This is an improvement over the 591 hp/590 lb-ft of last year's model, and the result is that the Audi RS7 can now go from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds (quicker than 2023's 3.5 seconds). Top speed is limited to 155 mph, but this can be increased to 174 mph.
Power from the turbocharged V8 goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and the quattro all-wheel-drive system. A sport rear differential, dynamic all-wheel steering, and adaptive air suspension are all standard, while an RS Sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control can be optioned on for $1,250 to replace the latter. Independent tests suggest the 2024 RS7 feels composed and confident at even higher speeds, and while it's not the sportiest in the segment, it offers an exceptional balance between athleticism and elegant comfort. The AWD RS7 legitimately brings the best of both worlds to the table.
Fuel Efficiency
Despite the increased outputs for the 2024 model year, gas mileage is a little better than it was last year, but only on the highway. EPA figures on city/highway/combined cycles for 2023 models are listed as 14/21/17 mpg, while the new, more powerful version gets 14/22/17 mpg, according to the EPA.
The RS7 has a total fuel capacity of 19.3 gallons, allowing it to travel just under 330 miles before running empty.
4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas 8-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|
Power | 621 hp |
Top speed | 155 mph/174 mph optional |
MPG | 14 / 21 / 17 mpg |
0-60 | 3.3 seconds |
Safety
2024 models haven't been tested by US-based authorities, but if history and the number of safety features on board are anything to go by, the RS7 is as safe as houses.
The A7 lineup, which includes the sportier S7 and fire-breathing RS7, hasn't been comprehensively tested by the NHSTA. The normal A7 did receive a five-star rating for the side crash test, though, so the sportier models should mirror this. The IIHS has yet to give the 2024 Audi RS7 a safety review as part of its testing on the A7 lineup, but 2023 models already scored marks good enough to earn it a Top Safety Pick+ award.
Safety features start with a full suite of airbags as standard, including front knee airbags and rear passenger-side airbags. Other standard items include cruise control, Audi pre sense basic, pre sense front, a top-view camera system with a 360-degree view, and lane departure warning. A lot more can be added on by ticking the boxes for the Driver Assistance Package (adaptive cruise control, pre sense rear, side assist with exit warning, intersection assist, and traffic sign recognition) and the Night Vision Assistant, which comes with large animal and pedestrian detection through thermal imagery. A head-up display comes as part of the Executive Package.
Performance 4.0 TFSI quattro | |
---|---|
Lane departure warning | S |
Top-view camera with 360-degree view | S |
Adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance | O |
Night-vision assistant with animal and pedestrian detection | O |
Head-up display | O |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
There's no reliability review for the Audi RS7 or its siblings from JD Power, but its recall history is promising; there are no recalls listed for 2024 or 2023, and only three for 2022. These have likely been ironed out since they didn't appear again in 2023.
The Audi RS7 has a standard warranty that covers four years or 50,000 miles and it comes with roadside assistance for the same period.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Hybrid/Electric Components | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 12 Years / Unlimited Miles | 8 Years / 100,000 Miles | 4 Years / Unlimited Miles |
Design
The exterior design of the Audi RS7 remains one of our favorites; the combination of elegance and sporty athleticism is very appealing, and while it's not quite a sleeper car by virtue of aggressive cues like the dual exhausts with RS oval tips, matte titanium gray door blades and bumper inserts (front and rear), and the retractable rear spoiler, it's the type of car that works just as well as an executive cruiser as it does to embarrass lesser cars at the traffic lights. Upfront, there are HD Matrix-design headlights with Audi laser light and the standard RS exterior pack adds air intakes in the front fascia and a diffuser at the rear. The RS7 rolls on 21-inch 10-spoke star design wheels in silver as standard, but there are 22s in various finishes available.
Further customization to the exterior of the Audi RS7 comes by way of optional packages like the Black Optic Package and the Matte Carbon Package, which add various bits and pieces to the exterior, as the names imply. You can also have your RS7 with red painted brake calipers for a few hundred bucks extra.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Audi RS7 A Good Car?
In a segment where rivals like the M8 Gran Coupe and AMG GT 63 S also play, the Audi RS7 is perhaps the least brash and obvious choice. The Bimmer makes slightly less horsepower yet is quicker to 60 mph (three seconds dead), but it doesn't look as good to our eyes as the Audi does - and it costs $11,000 more. The AMG GT 63 S four-door Coupe is outrageously expensive, too, starting at over $170k. For this, you only get nine hp more and just two-tenths shaved off the 0-60 sprint. If it were our money, we'd spend it on the Audi RS7 to get the best of both worlds. While performance is a key aspect of these cars, if we were shopping for a track toy, we'd not be looking in the four-door coupe segment anyway, so it makes the most sense to opt for the car that is most livable - we think the RS7 manages this best.