There are people who comfortably can afford the 2017 Audi 3.0T Quattro sedan with "competition" trim.

"Comfortably" means they can buy it immediately with cash; they easily can afford a 48-month car note of $US800 ($1090) or more without endangering funds for housing, food, health care, or education; they won the car in a competition of some sort.

It is a fine car that, loaded with costly options, has most of the latest advanced electronic safety and driver-assistance technology. Truly, it is a car that can keep you alive, crash-free or otherwise safe from injury on a long drive.

It is like the best of the very best health insurance policies. As outfitted for this column — replete with "competition" trim and a full suite of items such as blind-side monitoring, forward-collision mitigation and one of the most advanced head-up display information systems available on the US market — it costs $US80,450.

Why am I writing about new car purchase costs and financing instead of how much fun it is to take the Audi 3.0T around curves, or how well the car's all-wheel-drive system works in nasty weather?

The numbers bother me.

I've been going over vehicle finance reports by Interest.com, a consumer finance company, and they disturb me. Heck, they should disturb everyone in the car industry.

According to Interest.com and similar consumer finance reports, most residents of the US's 25 largest metropolitan areas can't comfortably afford the current average new-vehicle price of $US32,086.

It has to do with median household income and new-vehicle down payments. Here's the thing, according to Interest.com: Only well-employed folks in Washington, DC, one of those 25 metropolitan areas — largely enhanced by federal largesse boosting the area's average annual household income to about $US75,000 — can comfortably afford a new car costing $US32,086.

What does that mean for the $US80,000-plus 2017 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro with "competition" trim?

If you are Audi, it means you are looking for buyers in the more-affluent households of Washington, San Francisco or Boston — homes that have average household incomes of $US95,000 or more.

Some people actually belong to that very tiny market, and Audi is going all out to woo them with the A7.

Those buyers are getting a very nice car.

It comes with a supercharged (forced-air), 3.0-litre petrol V-6 giving 340 horsepower (253.5 Kw) and 325 pound-feet of torque (440.6 Nm). The engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission that also can be operated manually.

The A7 is very smooth, very fast — capable of moving from 0 to 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) in less than five seconds, assuming that thrills you.

It has an interior of impeccable fit and finish featuring the best materials. The driver-assistance package includes items such as Audi's adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (a fuel-saving device); blind-side monitoring, and lane-departure warning.

But the price floors me. If Interest.com is right about vehicle affordability, I don't expect to see many A7s running up and down US Route 29, or Interstates 66 or 95. But I will smile every time I see one.

2017 Audi A7

• Bottom line: There is a difference between traditional automotive luxury, such as that of the Audi A7, and upstart value-based vehicle luxury, such as that of the Kia K900. But technological advances are eroding those differences in the realm of available advanced driver-assistance items. Keep that in mind when shopping.
• Ride, acceleration and handling: It gets excellent marks in all areas.
• Head-turning quotient: High. Everyone, including the police, looks at it.
• Body style/layout: The 2017 A7 is a midsize, front-engine, luxury all-wheel-drive hatchback/sedan designed to mimic the appearance of a coupe. The 2017 car has only modest cosmetic changes from last year's model. I see no complaints about that. There is a reason people are willing to strain to foot the bill for an $US80,000 car. The A7 has three trim levels — Premium Plus, Prestige, and new-for-2017 Competition Prestige.
• Engine/transmission: It comes with a 3.0-litre, 24-valve gasoline V-6 engine with variable valve timing (340 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque) linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
• Capacities: Seating is for five people, although rear seating is tight for three passengers, especially the middle occupant. Cargo capacity is 24.5 cubic feet with all seats in place. The fuel tank holds 19.8 gallons of gasoline. Premium grade is required.
• Mileage: I averaged 24 miles per gallon (12.0 litres per 100km) city-highway. That stop-and-go system (the engine shuts down when the brakes are applied for traffic signals and immediately resumes when released) really helps save fuel.
• Safety: Standard equipment includes front and rear ventilated disc brakes; four-wheel anti-lock brake protection; emergency braking assistance; traction and stability control; pre- and post-collision safety systems; turn-signal mirrors; side and head air bags.
• Pricing: The 2017 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro with "Competition Prestige" trim starts at $US76,550. Price as tested is $US80,450, including $US2950 in options (mostly advanced driver-assistance items) and a $US950 factory-to-dealer shipment charge. Believe it or not, you can bargain on this one.