Audi Q7 review

Another SUV from Audi, this time the re-think of the full-size Q7. This’ll be the third-generation, offered in the UK (initially at least) with seven seats and air suspension as standard. It’s chunkier-looking, has a more minimalist feel to the cabin, offers up some interesting tech and comes with a 3.0-litre V6 with mild-hybrid bits and 295bhp/465lb ft of torque.

There’s a fair bit going on with the diesel, mind. It features an electrically-powered compressor (EPC) – an electric turbo – for extra grunt and response, which equates to 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and a 146mph top speed, which should be enough for a 2.5-tonne family car. Obviously quattro all-wheel drive is standard, and the UK cars get a slippy diff as standard as well as a whole data centre’s worth of tech and ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems).

At this point, we’re looking at S line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung specification options, with prices starting from £81,665 (OTR) for the S line, £88,965 for the Edition 1 and topping out at £101,655 for the everything-platter Vorsprung. Not cheap, but you do get an awful lot of car for the cash.

Hmm. It looks better than the previous version?

It’s the bonnet. The higher-set bonnet makes it look higher and squarer and much more lantern-jawed than the old one, complemented by the skinny daylight running lights right at the top of the front surface. The single-frame grille is reliably dominant, bracketed by the matrix LED headlights either side in the smoked out pods (standard fit, though the Vorsprung gets digital Matrix with OLED rears). Oh, and that grille and Audi rings can be illuminated if you like that sort of thing.

After that, the wheelarches now have some definition, wrapped around wheels that vary from 20 to 22 inches as standard, with an optional 23. Good luck with the re-mortgage to slap a new set of 23-inch boots on this thing.

But there’s subtlety here, too. The shoulder now runs up towards the D-pillar, with a more vertical element at the back of the rearmost window, and it makes the car seem more muscular. Less blobby. It works. At the back, there’s a neat little spoiler section on the roof, slim taillights, and a full-width lightbar, again with little pods on the sides for extra functions we’ll talk about in a minute. A couple of big tailpipes complete the look. It’s not shy.

Any notable technology?

Audi’s good at lights. Both the S line and Edition 1 get Matrix LED headlights, and the Edition 1 up gets the option of five different light patterns. The Vorsprung’s digital Matrix headlights project the indicators onto the road (both front and rear), apparently to warn pedestrians, cyclists and other road users more promptly. It’s a world first. They’re interesting, but maybe slightly distracting – does the world really need more distraction?

The ADAS includes adaptive cruise assist plus, which can do cruise control that recognises not just speed limits but rights of way and traffic lights, as well as do auto-lane changes if you tap the indicator on a motorway with the function enabled. There’s also Park Assist Pro with trainable parking, so remote control via the app for normal parking (both entering and leaving), plus the ability to show the car a parking situation – the trainable element – at which point it can remember up to five bits of parking choreography. Whether or not you then have to deliver the Q7 a small treat is up for grabs.

Then there’s the more usual stuff: head-up display – which is very well animated – collision avoidance including pedestrian and cyclist, side-assist and exit warning, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree and pan cameras, lane departure stuff but with the added benefit of emergency assist; basically if the driver fails to respond to repeated prompts, the car will head to the hard shoulder and stop on its own.

Only one engine?

For now. A 3.0-litre V6 TDI. That’s 295bhp, 464.6lb ft with an electric turbo that spools to 90,000rpm in 250 milliseconds and generates 3.4 bar of boost. The MHEV+ bit uses a belt alternator (albeit a big one), with a little lithium-ion battery and a powertrain generator to offer a limited chunk of extra power and torque to help with initial acceleration and in the mid-range. It also means that the Q7 can be EV-only when starting up and moving off, though in reality that’s about it – you can park and pull away silently, but this ain’t no plug-in hybrid.

How does it drive though?

Surprisingly well for such a big bus. Smooth roads are where it excels, and there’s a lot to be said for adaptive air suspension on big SUVs. There’s lots of grip, good brakes, and excellent body control in context. The steering is weirdly light – probably to make it feel more nimble – but there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a solid performer.

The issues come with the optional 23s (the only version we’ve driven at this point). Mainly because they don’t deal with smaller-frequency bumps ’n’ lumps, so if you cross a train track or expansion joint – or any set of smaller imperfections – they shudder. You’re getting the look over the most effective suspension.

Unsurprisingly, the big diesel really suits it, and with the eight-speed gearbox short-shifting the torque, it makes easy and undemanding progress. It’s also pretty good at light off-road: the Offroad+ mode is only really limited by tyre choice and the fear of knackering one of those massive wheels.

The Q7 is a good points car from Audi. The ride and handling have been improved, the look is more modern and there’s reasonable space. It’s not small, but disguises weight well and generally is very easy to use.

Big pluses on this one for the interior and tech – though the ADAS menus are long and involved if you want to switch any of it off, and the electric doors are absolutely pointless.

Also worth checking out those third-row seats if you genuinely need a seven-seater, because they’re tight, and it hasn’t got the volume of something like a pure EV. It’s also chunky money starting at £81,665 with this engine, though worth noting you can also spec a Q7 up to past 100 if you’re committed.

Generally though, it’s a big and useful set of changes, and if you liked a Q7 before, you’re going to like this one.