2019 Audi A7: The Mona Lisa meets Lindsey Vonn

"The new A7 enjoys a stiffer unibody structure than last year's model, while a new, optional rear-wheel steering can help bend the A7 into curves. Our test car didn't include that feature, though.

"It didn't seem to need it, either. Hammering the A7 through the canyons surrounding Napa Valley, the suspension's ability to absorb bumps without even slightly affecting the car's line was impressive. The A7's brakes provided the ability to precisely shed the right amount of speed charging into tight corners and the active dampers managed any dive incurred under hard braking.

"On the bumpier Butts Canyon Road, the Comfort setting seemed to work best, soaking up impacts without allowing any excess body motion, while the Dynamic mode was ideal for the faster, smoother Chiles Popes Valley Road."

-- Dan Carney, Motor1.com

"Beneath Mona Lisa's face is the athletic muscle of Lindsey Vonn. The toned, all-wheel-drive all-the-time chassis is impressively intuitive given the big sedan's 2-ton-plus girth. Over the parched hills of Napa Valley, California, the A7 loved to play. Firm wheel, all-wheel-steering, Dynamic mode for quicker-shifting, dual-clutch, 7-speed tranny.

"California is as thick with cops as it is with fire smoke these days, so go quickly at your peril. Slow it down with Audi's nifty Adaptive Cruise Control.

"Those twin nostrils in the front grille are radar and laser devices that monitor short-and-long range objects, while the computer also uses GPS to self-brake for corners. Hustling along Napa's back roads at 60 mph, the A7 automatically backed down to 48 mph for a 45-degree turn -- accelerating back to speed out of the apex. Smart."

-- Henry Payne, The Detroit News

"With the willing and optional Sport suspension that uses adaptive air springs and dampers, the A7 handled Northern California wine country's twisty roads like a proper sports sedan. Body roll in swift corners builds only marginally, and repeated heavy braking also instills confidence. Even though the steering is not the most communicative on the market, it is still very accurate and requires a reassuring dollop of additional effort when pushing things."

-- Jim Resnick, New York Daily News

"The new turbo V6 is blessed with noticeably more torque than the previous supercharged engine, and the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox shifts almost imperceptibly in daily operation while firming up beautifully when drivers use the paddles on their favorite sinewy roads. The new 2019 Audi A7 is a hatchback sedan that belies its 4,332-pound curb weight, and its timeless style will continue the long-lasting legacy of the original."

-- Andy Bornhop, Kelley Blue Book

"The A7 demonstrated a poise that instills confidence on my test drive. On undulating roads, its rear end never broke free despite genuine opportunities to do so. Maybe it's the car's heft and stance, maybe it's the all-wheel Quattro system but, either way, for a big sedan with particularly good cargo space, the A7 does a very good impression of a racy and nimble A4. Which is some feat."

-- Marco Della Cava, Robb Report