Review
/5
- Pros:
- Spacious cabin
- Strong performance
- Imposing looks
- Cons:
- Cumbersome size
- High running costs
- Not great off-road
reviewed by Carbuyer
"The seven-seat Q7 is more about performance, space and status than it is about going off-road.”
At a glance
- The greenest
- 3.0 TDI 204PS quattro SE 5dr
£42,975 - The cheapest
- 3.0 TDI 204PS quattro 5dr
£40,010 - The fastest
- 3.0 TFSI 333PS quattro SE 5dr
£49,665 - Top of the range
- 4.2 TDI quattro S line Plus 5dr
£60,180
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Audi's enormous Q7 is imposing to look at, while its high driving position offers a commanding view of the road ahead. The seven-seat interior is huge, although the rearmost seats are a little short on legroom. The Q7 wafts along quietly at speed, although the suspension is quite stiff and the ride is firm. The gutsy V6 diesel and V8 petrol engines never feel short on power, but the diesel versions have the upper hand, as they're cheaper to run and good for towing. The interior is hard-wearing and well built, as all Audi cabins are.
Drive
On open roads the Q7 feels responsive
The Q7 is huge – it weighs over two tonnes and takes up a serious amount of space on the road. It's tough to park, and is a struggle to manoeuvre down narrow city streets. However, there's plenty for long-distance drivers to celebrate. The car corners well and offers plenty of grip, and the driver can choose between Comfort and Sport settings, too. Twisty lanes aren't really where the Q7 belongs because of its bulk, but on open roads it feels controlled and responsive.
Comfort
Rear chairs are short on legroom
Adjustable air-suspension means that the Audi's firm ride is at its best on smooth surfaces. Set it to Comfort mode and it glides along with no fuss whatsoever. There's plenty of space for those in the front seats but, as with most seven-seaters, the second row of chairs is less generous, while the final row is aimed at children more than adults. As an option, you can specify a Q7 with five seats, but this dents its versatility.
Reliability
Audi's Q7 feels tough
Reliability is a byword at Audi and the company prides itself on building tough, dependable cars. With that in mind, the Q7 is a safe bet. It's a good idea to test all the electrical gizmos in the car though, as they can be expensive to fix if you only notice a problem after your warranty runs out.
Practicality
Cabin offers good versatility
No car the size of the Q7 could be called impractical. In five-seat mode, there's a 775-litre boot. The space expands to 2,035 litres with rear chairs folded flat, so whether you are moving anything from suitcases to pieces of furniture, there's very little that the Q7 won't swallow. There's plenty of cabin cubby space, too.
Value for money
Standard versions are well equipped
Make no mistake – the Q7 isn’t cheap. Even so, entry-level 3.0 V6 TDI models do offer a value for money entry point into this upmarket class of cars. It's worth pointing out that you also get a reasonable amount of standard equipment. Resale values are strong, too, so the Q7 will retain its value better than rivals such as the Land Rover Discovery 4 and BMW X5.
Running costs
Diesels are best
The diesels are by far the best choice when it comes to economy. Audi introduced a Clean Diesel TDI version in 2010 that returns an average of 31.7mpg – not bad for such a big machine. The petrol models make less sense, as most of them return little more than 20mpg on average. Road Tax costs are hefty, whatever version you choose, as all models fall into Band L or above.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
