Flat roof, sinewy sideline and material wallow can be A7 Sportback and Mercedes CLS higher aim for Audi. In our comparison test, the two rivals meet for the first time. What Coupe sedan more successfully flirts with luxury?
To the show asked grandeur was upper-middle class long time suspicious, luxury even offensive. Until the Mercedes CLS as GT defective fine spirit based on the E-class came. He pleaded apparent extravagance and indulge, made both not only court, but also capable of dienstwagen. Causing a trend towards the flat roof sedan and Mercedes encouraged the second generation of the CLS. Applies here as a diesel type 350 CDI to the Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI.The odd number of nomenclature underlines the special feature of the Audi A7 and shows that he actually belongs to the group, Coupe. From their habitual constraints will rid the Audi A7 Sportback; He is a gracefully proportioned four with sloping roof line and cleverly concealed value in the form of a floating triangle. His tailgate reaching up to much of the roof can the Audi A7 almost so expertly open like a station wagon. And closed yet elegant looks. So Audi has developed avant creative the idea of the first 100 of 1977 based on the A6.
The Mercedes CLS is still committed to the sedan with conventional short trunk lid and fixed rear package. You limited the capacity of bulky - even when the rear seat back rest on request readily place. Its strength shows the Mercedes CLS rather travel as the transport capability. Despite also flat discontinued roof shape as much space is in the rear, that two adults survive a trip to the single-seat system with average figures without whining, unlike in the Audi A7 find even due development opportunities for their feet. Although the measured values are back sports in the the Audi A7 as slightly larger; but his fond leaves the same cabinet character such as the Mercedes CLS.
In both, wood and chrome Leather hanging jewelry decorated and the rear seat as a temporary solution, but as lodge presents itself. Already here leaves the atmosphere of Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS in the middle-class roots in the direction of luxury sedan. But that can hardly obscure that the desirable place is forward - where the big Audi models leave deep impression for a long time with stylish noblesse. And where Mercedes has found connection again: are all decorative elements in the Mercedes CLS of selected quality and neatly fitted;. alone, it lacks the subtle extravagance of its predecessor. One would have expected the current Mercedes CLS dashboard already in this form in the E-class.
The Dandytum of the Mercedes CLS pioneer no longer celebrates the new, but has a huge presence of rear-view mirrors - it needs no headlights to draw attention to themselves. The train is free, the Mercedes CLS with sorceresses and smooth gear changes WINS space.
While the supercharged three-liter of Mercedes CLS pushes to almost as vast as an electric motor, sounds like a V6 gasoline engine, needed but as little fuel as a hybrid. Modern diesel engines can inspire pretty. At the Rotary power on the three-liter TDI of the Audi is it another A7 Sportback, but runs a nuance rougher. His thrust takes also, the Audi makes up even the performance disadvantage (245 to 265 HP) A7 thanks to standard all-wheel drive traction in the Sprint from zero to 100.
Audi at the A7 test car plays the entire repertoire of Dynamics helpers: option tyre in the 19-inch increase the grip, shock absorber with adjustable curve and air suspension covers the area of non-detenting to smart, and a mechanical limited slip differential supports the efforts of the Quattro system, enrich the traction-enhancing advantages of 4 x 4-the principle with the will of the steering of rear Trieblers. An Audi comes out A7, which is hardly cheaper than the expensive Mercedes CLS ausstattungsbereinigt - on the other hand sets standards.
The comfort is so convincing that the Audi should look good A7 even when compared to the flagship A8. And to position he WAGs dynamics of the chassis on the road such as the much smaller A4. So, the options bring benefits in the comfort and the handling standings, at the same time much ballast on board. With an unladen weight of 1,949 kilograms is a silly load-carrying capacity of 371 kilograms. Four strong men could take only their credit cards during the holiday.
The Mercedes CLS may invite some 100 kg more, because he largely avoided heavy options, and on his steel series chassis. Its one for all vote was exceptionally. Despite option 19-inch wheels offers the Mercedes CLS sanftmudiger as the Audi A7 Sportback to, without at give shipping lurching to work. It is subject to him but on long bumps with light catapult movements. At the same time, he lets the Audi winding Landstra?chen not in the vehicle dynamics tests significantly depend on A7 is, dominated the brasige then flows with unswerving relaxation, which also the velvety precise steering.
That is the Sportback pushes, has emerged only at the end of the comparison - both infuriating flirt with the luxury League and celebrate the top class comfort very athletic. The even better safety equipment with its captivating braking power; brings the victory the Mercedes CLS It sets standards especially for delay on different friction values.
And then there is the shiny efficiency of three-liter V6 CDI of Mercedes CLS; He meets the addition of blue efficiency fully. When the then strolls Durchschnittsverbrauche of 5.9 litres per 100 km can be achieved, in the testing, there are excellent 8.7 litres - even without a start stop system. The has the Audi A7 Sportback though, but it can only delay start the engine, which leads to a fussy traffic light start and compared to the Mercedes CLS brings no benefit of consumption (Audi A7: 8.9 litres). In the second generation of the Mercedes CLS trendsetters remains: he connects frugality wallow.
