We've been hearing about "coupes" like the four-door 2014 Audi A7 for years now, and we're still perplexed. Try as they might, the Germans will never convince us that a coupe can have as many doors as a sedan. Nonetheless, the athletic A7 does a decent coupe impression from behind the wheel, and its sloping roof line admittedly brings old Mustang fastbacks to mind. We're prepared to concede that "coupelike" is a fair term for Audi's slinky head-turner.

Enhancing the A7's appeal for 2014 is the arrival of an optional turbocharged diesel V6. Fuel economy is outstanding at 29 mpg in combined driving, but that's only half the story. The A7 TDI can also scoot to 60 mph in an estimated 5.5 seconds, putting it in a virtual dead heat with the gasoline-powered A7 3.0T. It's hard to think of a better combination of fuel economy and acceleration on the market today, and the TDI engine's remarkable refinement makes it almost indistinguishable from a gas engine in normal operation. It will take a few years to recoup the TDI's higher up-front cost, and you'll likely have to grab an oily truck-stop pump handle from time to time, but for the most part, there's really no downside to buying the diesel Audi A7.