The refreshed, almost decade-old Q7 is way more appealing than many newer SUVs
Far from deleting diesel engines, Audi has kept and updated them as part of recent revisions for the big Q7 SUV. It’s a shame that the Volkswagen Group’s 4.0 TDI is no longer available. That V8 was a cracker in the SQ7 and it sounded sensational – OK, yes it had electronic assistance but so what.
The latest 3.0-litre TDI was below the bonnet of a facelifted Q7 Audi UK lent me, power being 210 kW or 286 PS. There is a 170 kW (231 PS) alternative, these being called respectively 50 TDI and 45 TDI. Torque is 600 or 500 Nm.
MHEVs and PHEVs but no EVs
Not so keen on diesel? No problem. You can instead have 3.0-litre V6 or 4.0-litre V8 petrol power: 55 TFSI (250kW/340 PS with 500 Nm) or SQ7 TFSI (373 kW/507 PS and 770 Nm) being the choices. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed torque converter transmission are standard for all. In addition, the six-cylinder engines have a belt-driven starter-generator 48-volt mild hybrid system.
Perhaps the worst bit about selecting a TDI with this model is the annual road tax bill. Best sit down before reading the following: in the specification sheet for the 210 kW press test Q7 this is listed at GBP1,650 (the CO2 average is 238 g/km). It might be worth it: the 2,967 cc V6 is a peach. Ultra-smooth, economical, and inevitably incredibly long lasting. On that last point, could we say the same for the battery packs in the Tesla Model X, Kia EV9, Polestar 3 or Benz EQS SUV? Who knows.
Announced on 30 January, the second facelift for the Q7 and SQ7 followed an equivalent update for the related Q8/SQ8 which debuted at the Munich IAA one year ago. Then in April, Audi told us about changes for the plug-in hybrids (290 kW 55 TFSI e and 360 kW 60 TFSI e versions of each). Next came the start of UK sales for the Q7 and SQ7 in May, with facelifts for the RS Q8 and RS Q8 performance announced in June.
First model for MQB evo, and still built in Slovakia
With so many high-priced variants, Audi must make a lot of cash from these cars. Plus, all are manufactured on the same line at the Bratislava plant, as is the VW Touareg. The Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Coupé as well as the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga use an identical platform and share many components. The facelifts also show that the Volkswagen Group is keen to continue the money-printing machine that such models surely are. Yes, electric successors will come, but not just yet.
You cannot blame Volkswagen for choosing not to throw vast numbers of skilled employees and contractors out of work – Toyota and Honda have the same enlightened approach to electrification. Lots of plants will be steadily retooled, workers retrained or offered early retirement packages and trends closely monitored for signs that EVs are becoming more desired. Which is why the Q7 will likely be around in its present generation until 2027, possibly longer.
Big but not that heavy (compared to electric SUVs)
Soon to be ten years old, this 5,072 mm long, 1,968 mm wide and 2,000-2,400 kg five or seven seater has always been one of the class leaders. All the latest technology is now present and the thing weighs far less than what we have had to become used to in this segment – e.g. the from-2,800 kg Volvo EX90, which, despite its length and width (5,037 mm and 2,039 mm), only kids fit comfortably in its third row.
The Q7 has decent room for grown-ups in every seat and even with the rear-most backrests up, the boot can take up to 740 litres of luggage. With both second- and third-row seats down, storage volume expands to 1,925 litres.
Still very good from behind the wheel
Something which I was not expecting is how good the dynamics are. Like the XC90, Range Rover Sport and X7, this was always a nice-handling SUV. Audi must have tweaked the steering and suspension settings though: the Q7 is very good still, never mind for such an aged vehicle.
The dashboard and centre console have been given a makeover, even if what was there before didn’t need too much attention when it came to updating things. Fresh features include a lane change warning within the digital instrumentation, distance warning, intersection assist and traffic light information.
The specifics of those new looks
Other updates include HD Matrix LED headlights with lasers as an extra high beam feature, along with digital daytime running lights. The owner is able to modify the lighting pattern, and the same applies at the rear with four patterns from which to choose for what are OLED lamps.
Audi has also provided a new grille, many new paint colours and redesigned wheels. The effect is to lift the looks even further upscale and new bumpers at either end somehow manage to help disguise the size of the vehicle. A relatively low ride height automatically selected by standard air suspension plays a part in this too. The maximum low-to-high range is 90 mm.
Conclusion
There is a lot to love about the Q7, especially with the more powerful of the two 3.0-litre diesels. It will surge forward rapidly yet with no drama, grip the road (or dirt or gravel) tightly at all times, stay steady in the bends, and keep all occupants in the lap of high-tech-without-intrusive-gimmicks luxury. Somehow Audi has also managed to make it look even more tastefully majestic.
British market trims are S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung with prices starting at GBP66,605. The as-tested 50 TDI Launch Edition – positioned between B.E. and Vorsprung – is priced at GBP80,250 before options. Top speed is 150 mph, 0-62 mph takes 6.1 seconds and Combined economy is 35.3 mpg.
Source from Just Auto
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