The Q7 was Audi’s first-ever full-size SUV when it first launched back in 2006, and it
was certainly well received by customers.
Sharing much of its underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne, it was good to drive, and
had a luxurious interior.
Now, the Q7 has been reimagined, with less weight for the engine to haul around and sharper
lines.
It’s also completely loaded with technology, as Audi strives to lead the way in connectivity
and infotainment.
Step inside and the interior has undergone a transformation, and while we can’t possibly
go through every detail here, let’s look at the highlights.
Well, design-wise, the quality of materials adorning Audi’s ‘wing’ dashboard is
even better, and the air-vents spanning its full width create a bold look and diffuse
air softly into the cabin.
This MMI controller, with the neat touch of a gear lever handrest, means physical buttons
are few and far between, but you can still control the climate control and some other
key functions without going into any menus.
Perhaps the biggest wow-factor is reserved for the £600 Audi Virtual Cockpit, replacing
the dials with a 12.3-inch HD display, and so much information it could keep a vehicle
engineer occupied for a week.
There’s also the option of a Head-up Display for speed and sat-nav instructions, Audi’s
Phone Box which can wirelessly charge and boosts the signal of your phone, automatic
high beam headlights and the ability to turn the car into a WiFi hotspot.
But, most mind-blowing is Traffic Jam Assist, which uses all the sensors for the adaptive
cruise control and blind spot warning, coupled with clever software to actually drive the
car for you in stop start motorway traffic, even changing lane if there’s an obstacle
like a broken down car.
So, what about space?
Well, the Q7 might be 37mm shorter and 15mm narrower on the outside, but it’s actually
bigger inside.
Headroom in the middle row is really impressive, as is knee room and the seats all slide and
recline individually.
The rear seats, well, they’re even big enough for adults.
The boot now measures a vast 770-litres and the
loading lip is 5cm lower.
Also making life easier is the third row of seats, which now go up and down electrically,
and really impressively, all six passenger seats can accommodate a child seat.
Right, it’s the biggest Audi, so how does it fare on the road?
Well, its lighter, weighing up to 325kg less than before, and that makes for improvements
everywhere: It handles better, has better performance and it’s more economical.
At launch there’s just one engine, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 268bhp, but what’s really
impressive is its 600NM of torque, which is similar to the amount you get in a Nissan
GT-R. It all means the Q7 has a deep well of power you can summon at will, and it’s
incredibly smooth and quiet.
It will hit 62mph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds, with almost seamless shifts from
the standard eight-speed gearbox, which can also disconnect drive and coast to save fuel
when you come off the power.
There’ll also be a lower-powered 215bhp version of the same engine, with slightly
better fuel economy and lower starting price.
For such a large SUV, handling is as car-like as you could reasonably expect, with impressive
body control and lots of grip.
In fact it masks the Q7’s size so well, you need to remember to brake a split-second
earlier, because it’s easy to forget you still have a two-tonne car to bring to a halt.
Every Q7 gets five driving modes, with very light steering in Comfort mode, which weights
up and feels more positive in Dynamic or Auto as you increase speed.
The ride is generally good, but the combination of 20-inch alloy wheels and standard suspension
can get upset by sharp bumps.
For the ultimate Q7 you need adaptive air suspension like we have here, which alters
both ride height and stiffness, giving a more pronounced effect as you change modes.
There’s also now the option of all-wheel steering, which allows the rear wheels to
turn by up to five degrees, reducing the turning circle to that of an Audi A4 and improving
high-speed stability.
It almost feels bonkers describing a Q7 as good value for money, but you know what, with
a starting price of £47,755 you are actually getting a whole lot of car.
But, of course, you can easily get carried away with the options, taking the price of
the S line model behind me from £53k to £63k, the higlights being £2,000 for adaptive suspension
and £1,100 each for the leather interior and optional wheels.
Running costs are impressive, with the 47.9mpg and 153g/km of CO2 putting it in contention
with the class-leading Volvo XC90 and BMW X5, while the Q7’s retained value after
three years is expected to be best-in-class.
Audi is setting out its stall as a leader in connectivity and technology, and being
a flagship for the brand, the Q7 makes the Mars Rover look out of date.
If the idea of sitting in a traffic jam with the car driving itself appeals to you, then
this is the SUV you need.
Thanks to clever parking technology, it doesn’t even feel as cumbersome in town as before,
so bearing all that in mind along with improved performance the Q7 has a very strong hand.
Just don’t go too crazy with the options, or you could end up with a very big bill.
But what do you think of the Audi Q7?
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