Driven: Audi A7 3.0TDI Quattro SE

Some 1,527 A7s have been registered here since Audi UK began selling it in January.

It’s yet another niche product in the German brand’s steadily expanding line-up; one which is appealing to middle managers who’ve grown up with the practicality of a junior executive hatchback, but now want to make a senior executive statement.

The A7 we tested had the no-cost option two-person rear seat, which buyers can specify to enhance its limousine-like perception and give them an excuse to show off to their peers and leave their snivelling junior to grab a taxi.

Their peers will be impressed, because the A7 cabin is superb and luxurious, and drips with standard technology. Heated, electrically adjusted leather seats cosset the front occupants, who can take turns fiddling with the sat-nav, CD and digital radio or vehicle settings through Audi’s famed MMI multimedia interface control and touchpad or voice commands.

Front and rear visual parking assistance helps avoid scrapes and an electronic tailgate release gives easy access to the luggage.

Buyers who plough through the options list can further personalise their A7 up to the cost of a small mortgage deposit.

Some are cosmetic, but others more practical and high tech, such as night vision assistance, pre-sense collision mitigation, park assist, adaptive cruise control and even an onboard wi-fi hotspot.

Occupants will be impressed by this car’s refinement on the road.

It is quick, smooth and impressively efficient to drive, with a stop-start system allowing the powerful turbodiesel to keep CO2 emissions below the critical 160g/km mark and delivering official combined economy of almost 48mpg.

It sits in VED band G and has a BIK rating of 24%, so ensuring its appeal to corporate motorists who’ll also have the more expensive Mercedes-Benz CLS on their consideration list.