The 2020 Audi A7 stands out in the luxury car segment, not just for its sleek design and performance, but also for its commitment to safety. Built on the redesign introduced in 2019, the 2020 A7, along with its A6 sedan and A6 allroad siblings, has undergone rigorous testing to ensure occupant protection in various crash scenarios. This article delves into the safety ratings of the 2020 Audi A7, providing a detailed analysis of its performance in critical safety evaluations.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver’s Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, on the driver’s side, impacts an object. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the car’s structure holds up and protects the driver.
The 2020 Audi A7, sharing its structural design with the tested 2019 Audi A6, achieved a “Good” rating in this demanding test. This “Good” rating applies to models from 2019 to 2025, reflecting the consistent safety engineering of these vehicles. Key evaluation criteria and their “Good” ratings include:
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/Thigh: Good
- Lower Leg/Foot: Acceptable
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test further illustrate the vehicle’s robust performance. Occupant compartment intrusion was minimal, with maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar and upper hinge pillar both measured at just 4 cm. Crucially, the steering column showed 0 cm of intrusion, indicating effective protection of the driver’s upper body.
Driver injury measures were also encouraging. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was a low 491, and there was no hard contact to the head. Neck tension was measured at 1.7 kN and chest compression at 32 mm, all within safe limits. While the lower leg/foot protection was rated “Acceptable,” the overall driver injury measures underscore the 2020 Audi A7’s ability to safeguard occupants in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger Side
Extending the small overlap assessment to the passenger side, the test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect the front passenger in a similar collision scenario.
The 2020 Audi A7 again earned a “Good” overall rating for passenger-side small overlap performance. Similar to the driver’s side, the structure and safety cage were rated “Good.” Passenger injury measures were also predominantly “Good”:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good
- Passenger Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/Thigh: Good
- Lower Leg/Foot: Acceptable
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Acceptable
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/Thigh: Good
- Lower Leg/Foot: Good
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the passenger side were even less than on the driver’s side, with a maximum lower hinge pillar intrusion of just 2 cm. Passenger head protection received an “Acceptable” rating for restraints and kinematics because the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but rolled to the right. However, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing crucial head protection. Importantly, driver injury measures in the passenger-side test remained “Good” across all categories, indicating consistent protection for both front occupants.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier, simulating a common type of frontal collision.
In this test, the 2020 Audi A7 once again demonstrated exceptional safety performance, achieving a “Good” overall rating. All evaluation criteria were rated “Good”:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Leg/Foot, Left: Good
- Leg/Foot, Right: Good
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good
Technical measurements revealed minimal occupant compartment intrusion. Footwell intrusion was measured at 0 cm across all points, and steering column movement was also minimal. Driver injury measures were very low, with a HIC-15 of just 165 and chest compression of 28 mm, confirming excellent protection in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impact crashes are another serious concern, and the side crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side collision.
The 2020 Audi A7 excelled in the side impact test, earning a “Good” overall rating. Both driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as head protection, were rated “Good”:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Torso: Good
- Pelvis/Leg: Good
- Driver Head Protection: Good
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good
- Torso: Good
- Pelvis/Leg: Good
- Rear Passenger Head Protection: Good
Intrusion measurements showed a B-pillar movement of -17.0 cm relative to the driver’s seat centerline, indicating that the structural design effectively minimized intrusion into the occupant space. Driver and passenger injury measures were also low across all categories, reflecting robust side impact protection for all occupants.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is critical for rollover protection. The roof strength test measures how much force a vehicle’s roof can withstand before crushing a certain amount.
The 2020 Audi A7 achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength. With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.39, the Audi A7’s roof demonstrated its ability to withstand forces well over its own weight, contributing to occupant safety in rollover scenarios. The peak force measured was an impressive 22,702 lbs against a curb weight of 4,209 lbs.
Head Restraints & Seats
Beyond crashworthiness, seat and head restraint design play a crucial role in preventing neck injuries, especially in rear-end collisions.
The 2020 Audi A7’s power leather seats and head restraints were rated “Good” overall. Both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry received “Good” scores. Technical measurements indicated a backset of 23 mm and distance below the top of the head of 15 mm, meeting design parameters for effective whiplash protection.
Headlight Ratings
Visibility is a key factor in accident prevention, and headlight performance is therefore an important safety aspect. The 2020 Audi A7 offers different headlight variations across its trim levels.
For the Premium Plus trim, equipped with LED projector low and high beams and high-beam assist, the overall headlight rating is “Acceptable”. Low beam visibility was good on straightaways and gradual curves but fair on sharp curves, with some glare noted. High beams offered good straightaway visibility on the right side and fair on the left, with fair to inadequate performance on curves. High-beam assist helps compensate for low beam limitations.
The Premium trim, featuring LED reflector low and high beams and high-beam assist, also received an “Acceptable” overall headlight rating. Low beams provided good visibility on the left straightaway side and fair on the right, with fair performance on curves and some glare. High beams offered good right straightaway visibility and fair on the left, with fair to inadequate performance on curves. High-beam assist again provides compensation.
In contrast, the Prestige trim, equipped with LED projector low and high beams and high-beam assist, received a “Poor” overall headlight rating. While low beam visibility was good on straightaways and gradual curves, it was only fair on sharp curves, and critically, low beams created excessive glare. High beam performance was inadequate on straightaways and varied on curves, with high-beam assist attempting to compensate for low beam deficiencies.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
Advanced safety technologies play an increasingly important role in preventing accidents altogether. The 2020 Audi A7 comes standard with Audi Pre Sense Front, a front crash prevention system.
For vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, the 2020 Audi A7 system is rated “Superior”. The system meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
For pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime), the system is also rated “Superior”. In tests involving a crossing child and adult, the system either avoided collisions or significantly reduced impact speed. In a parallel adult scenario at 37 mph, the system reduced impact speed by 36 mph and issued a warning 2.3 seconds before impact.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat safety and ease of installation are crucial. The 2020 Audi A7’s LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) received a “Good” rating for ease of use. The vehicle has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. Details by seating position confirm easy-to-find and accessible anchor locations.
Conclusion
The 2020 Audi A7 demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, evidenced by its overwhelmingly “Good” and “Superior” ratings in critical crash tests and front crash prevention evaluations. While headlight ratings vary by trim, the structural integrity and occupant protection offered by the 2020 Audi A7 are consistently high across a range of demanding safety assessments. For those prioritizing safety in a luxury vehicle, the 2020 Audi A7 presents a compelling option, backed by comprehensive and positive safety performance data.
