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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
July 19, 2006
But the four-wheel-drive specialist has finally yielded to consumer demand, joining its parent, Volkswagen, and its partner, Porsche, with a sibling to the Touareg and Cayenne utility vehicles that Audi has dubbed the Q7. We tested a lavishly furnished 2007 Audi Q7 4.2 with more than $13,000 in options and a bottom line of $63,770. SHE: Our weekends are always interesting. Invariably, we get a parade of affluent new moms at our door who are on a desperate mission to buy anything but a minivan. I ran into a couple of these gals as we were driving the Q7, and I actually discouraged them from taking a test drive in our vehicle, for a couple of reasons. There are some real issues with driver distraction, and that's not a good thing for new parents. The Q7 is compromised in terms of lousy visibility and a very complicated user interface, including a so-called MMI controller that looks and works like BMW's iDrive and forces you to take your eyes off the road. I can't imagine layering kids on top of that and trying to stay focused on your driving. In fact, the most comfortable I felt in the Q7 was earlier this year in the Southwest U.S., with an Audi engineer in the back seat constantly giving me detailed directions on the vehicle's operation. Too bad an Audi engineer doesn't come standard with the Q7. HE: I'm shocked. Mainly that you actually listened to a guy and followed his directions. I can't even get you to properly program your cell phone or your e-mail. I'm amazed you can actually run the dishwasher without my help. SHE: And I'm amazed that you can find two socks the same color every morning. HE: If you can get past the hideous exterior styling of the Q7, there is quite a bit to recommend. I love the twin-cam 4.2-liter V-8, which makes 350 horsepower and feels exceptionally strong in this vehicle. The six-speed Tiptronic transmission is also smooth and easy to operate. I'm even impressed with the cabin which, while not as appealing or attractive as the cockpit of the Touareg, is still quite tasteful, with real wood and nickel-finish metal trim. And the Q7 also rides and handles more like a sport sedan than a traditional SUV. SHE: But, boy, is it complicated, and I'm not just talking about the instrument panel. If those German engineers are so brilliant, why did they have to put the tonneau cover in a bag? I fought to get that thing in and out of the bag, and then get it set up. I felt like I was dancing with a robot. And when we loaded up all our new deck furniture, it took three of us to figure out how to fold the seats flat to fit it all in. HE: I have some fairly serious issues with the Q7, including some other compromises that make this vehicle much less appealing than many of its competitors. The second row is cramped, with insufficient head and leg room for adults, and it's difficult to access the third row. I was also annoyed that the mesh screen over the panoramic sunroof doesn't provide adequate protection from sun. SHE: But that second row is pretty fancy, with heated seats, pull-up shades, HVAC controls and individual map lights. And you can't argue with the standard safety features, which are top drawer and include active rollover protection and side curtains for all three rows. HE: Balance that against the dreadful fuel economy which, at 14 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 on the highway, is worse than a full-size Chevrolet Avalanche. For me, the bottom line is simple. Considering all the compromises in the Q7 and looking at the stiff sticker price, you're better off looking at a BMW or a Mercedes. Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, seven-passenger utility vehicle Price: Base, $50,620 (inc. $720 shipping charge); as tested, $63,770 Engine: 4.2-liter V-8; 350-hp; 325 lb-ft torque EPA fuel economy: 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway Where built: Slovakia Estimated 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,892 ANITA Rating: 3 Likes: Comfortable ride. Sunroof extends to all three rows. Bigger than sibling VW Touareg, with three rows and seating for seven. Remote start. Terrific safety features. We loaded lots of deck furniture in the cargo bay. Good second-row amenities, including heated seats, pull-up shades, HVAC controls, maplights. Dislikes: Extremely complicated, tech-heavy vehicle. Have to fight with tonneau cover to get it back in the carry bag, and it doesn't cover the whole cargo bay. Lousy visibility. Dreadful fuel economy. Side-view mirrors are too big. PAUL Rating: 3 Likes: Tasteful cabin, trimmed in wood and nickel-finish metal. Powerful V-8 engine. Smooth six-speed Tiptronic transmission. Handles well for a big utility vehicle. Second- and third-row seats fold flat. Dislikes: For the money, Mercedes and BMW make much better utility vehicles. Homely exterior design. Cramped second row, with insufficient head and leg room for adults. Mesh screen over sunroof doesn't provide adequate protection from sun. Complicated MMI controller requires driver to take eyes off the road. Difficult to access third row. Rear center armrest needs pullstrap.
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