• Long body means plenty of space inside
• Big boot is easily accessed via hatchback
• Five seats, but best for four

How much space is there?

The A7 has five seats, but there’s only really room for four. The transmission tunnel running through the centre of the car seriously impinges on legroom for a passenger in the middle seat, meaning that it’s only suitable for short journeys.

Occupants of all shapes and sizes will get comfortable easily in the front of the A7, although it’s quite a drop down into the car in the first place.

Those in the back will be fine for legroom, too. Taller passengers may struggle for headroom due to the sloping roofline, but it’ll be a pleasant place in which to spend time if you’re not too hunched over.

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Boot space and storage

The A7’s boot is the same size as its predecessor at 535 litres, but its big selling point is that the huge hatchback-style bootlid means access to the load area is very impressive indeed, and much more practical than an equivalent saloon such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The standard-fit electric tailgate helps this access, too, but there’s still a bit of a lip to get heavier items into the boot.

If you do need more space, the rear seats will fold down to free up a total of 1,390 litres of space, which is almost estate-car level. However, that sloping roofline means you won’t be able to get big, chunky items in the car like you would in an estate without worrying about the rear window.

Bootspace for the plug-in hybrid model is reduced by 80 litres. Blame the batteries. The shape of the boot isn’t affected, and it’s still certainly large enough for most situations. However, while Audi provides the cables needed to plug the eTFSI in, and a bag to hold the cables, there’s not a specific place to store the bag.

Is it easy to park?

There’s no escaping how large the A7 is. For reference, it’s longer than a Range Rover Sport and it can be a bit of a pain when parking in a supermarket or negotiating a mini roundabout.

Rear visibility isn’t brilliant due to the sloping roofline. Luckily, a reversing camera and all-round sensors are standard. An automatic parking system aids in parallel manoeuvres, but it’s quicker to just do it yourself.

Safety

• A7 comes with full suite of safety systems and airbags
• Achieves a full five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Technology is already there for advanced autonomous driving

The A7 Sportback received a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2018. It scored well in the adult occupant test, but not so well in the safety assist section.

There’s a full complement of airbags throughout the car, while rear side airbags can also be added from the options list. Family buyers will be pleased with the two Isofix child seat points found on the two outer rear seats too.