Models · Audi
Audi A7 Sportback 4G buying guide
The first A7 Sportback, sold from 2010 to 2018 and facelifted in 2014, is a five-door coupé on A6 underpinnings, mostly with V6 engines and quattro. It's generally reliable, and the known issues are specific to particular engines and options.
The versions
- 3.0 TDI V6 diesel, from 204PS to 272PS depending on year, front-wheel drive or quattro
- 3.0 BiTDI twin-turbo diesel: 313PS, 320PS after the 2014 facelift, quattro with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
- 2.8 FSI V6 petrol (early cars) and 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 petrol (333PS after the facelift)
- 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic on most models
- Steel or optional air suspension; all engines drive their camshafts by chain
What to check on a 4G A7
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
3.0 TDI rattle on start-up
What to look for: On a diesel, ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive, and listen for a rattle in the first seconds after starting. Ask whether the revised timing chain sensors have been fitted, particularly on 2014 and 2015 cars.
Why it matters: A rattle on some 3.0 TDIs was traced to faulty chain sensors. Audi introduced revised sensors in 2016, and a dealer can fit them to earlier cars. Paperwork showing it's been done settles the question.
S tronic gearbox behaviour
What to look for: With the car warm, drive slowly as if in traffic, pull away gently several times and slow to a crawl. Feel for jerks, hesitation or a clunk on low-speed downshifts.
Why it matters: Most A7s use the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Its control unit (mechatronic) can give trouble, especially when oil services have been skipped. Specialists change the gearbox oil about every 35,000 to 40,000 miles, so look for that in the history. The BiTDI uses a conventional eight-speed automatic instead.
Coolant leaks on the 3.0 TFSI
What to look for: On a petrol 3.0 TFSI, check the coolant level and look with a torch around the front of the engine and under the supercharger for pink crusty deposits or dampness.
Why it matters: The water pump and thermostat housings on this engine are plastic and can crack and leak with age. It's a known repair, and a car that has had them replaced has the job behind it.
Also in the full guide
- Recall work
- Front suspension creaks on air-suspended cars
- The electric handbrake, screen and fuel flap
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the 4G A7
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Audi.