Meet The Poor Man’s Audi A7 Sportback – Literally!

Buyers in the market for a used first-gen Audi A7 Sportback usually look for 3.0-liter TFSI or TDI versions, unless they can actually afford an S7 or even an RS7.

But what about the opposite end of the spectrum? As it turns out, certain markets had access to a much cheaper A7 version, powered by a 1.8-liter TFSI petrol unit that’s good for just 190 PS (187 HP) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. In straight line, it hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.2 seconds and maxes out at 229 km/h (142 mph).

The thing is, they’re pretty rare. Sure, Audi A7 fans love the car because of the way it looks, but the nameplate also has a well-known luxury status, similar to its direct rival from Mercedes, the CLS.

You can then imagine why somebody would hesitate to order one with such a small engine, especially in such an underwhelming spec as this 2016 one, currently for sale on Mobile.

The asking price is €29,490 ($34,523) and despite having 50,815 km (31,574 miles) on the clock, it’s still a lot of money for the type of performance that’s unbecoming of a relatively large luxury car. Then again, if your economic circumstances point you towards a sub 2.0-liter power unit, then perhaps a premium brand isn’t the way to go.