MotorMouths

The 2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI is a five-door, all-wheel-drive hatchback with the sporting looks of a luxury coupe — performance in passionate conjugation with utility, high style in elopement with practicality. And it even has the nerve to flirt with fuel economy!

While there may be no shortage of four-door coupes available, Audi’s A7 is arguably among the most stylish options.

The Audi A7’s most direct competitors are the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera V-6 and the funky BMW 5-series GT. While some are better to drive and all offer more or less similar levels of practicality, none wear sheetmetal as effortlessly sensual as the A7’s.

We were told to expect a base price of around $60,000 for the 2012 Audi A7. For that kind of money, we can’t think of another car that so exquisitely blends luxury, performance, beauty, technology, and utility.

It can be argued that Audi’s take on the “four-door coupe” genre is the best yet. It’s clear there are few cars that will be able to upstage the satisfying A7 in sheer curbside wattage.

While dripping with speed, the A7 isn’t the world’s fastest four-door, but it’s among the prettiest. Those who spring the cash for an A7 are paying $10,000 over the A6 to have onlookers mistake it for a Maserati. Consider me thoroughly duped.

I was pleasantly surprised by this large hatchback’s combination of performance driving ability, smooth ride quality and family-friendly backseat space and functional trunk. The A7 is worth every penny.

The A7 has more standard features than the A6 (18-in. wheels, a hard-drive), but what you’re mainly paying an extra ten grand for is good looks. I’d still be sorely tempted. The A7 is a knockout.

All the cars in this segment have their specialties, and the A7’s killer looks yet IKEA-like pricing are the elements which give it an edge. You can’t fault it for taking on the competition head on, especially when you take a look at the result.

Don’t think that just because the A7 handles like an agile sporty car that it loses something in the luxury ride quality. It doesn’t. The A7 delivers stiff competition for any sporting luxury car on the road.

There are luxury cars with better performance or roomier backseats, and there are luxury SUVs with more utility, but the swoopy Audi A7 is a sexy hatchback with performance and personality to match.

Thanks to a sharp-looking interior and a nice blend of performance and comfort, the 2013 Audi A7 is a great choice for a coupe-styled luxury sedan.