2007 Audi Q7 Review Preview
I’ve spent a few hours so far in Audi’s new Q7 and have some initial impressions before I dig into writing my full review. For those of you who can’t wait, here are a few early thoughts.
I was expecting Audi’s rectangular grille to be overwhelming on the big Q7, but it fits in rather well with the rest of the bodywork; the horizontal bar that bisects the grille seems to make the design easier to digest. I wasn’t a fan of this grille when it debuted a few years ago on other Audis, but it’s grown on me. All in all, the Q7 is one sleek SUV and looks a lot like a bulked-up wagon.
Like many luxury cars, the Q7 can be loaded with technology, some of which is actually useful. There’s an optional rearview camera with trajectory indicators to make backing up easier, and the Q7 can have an enormous glass roof with a power sunshade. Very cool.
Not so cool is Audi’s Multi Media Interface, which manages vehicle functions like adjusting the radio, changing suspension settings and controlling the navigation system. It accomplishes this via a knob and a group of buttons on the center console. I imagine it becomes more intuitive with time, but MMI seems to introduce more problems than it solves. I’d be interested to hear what owners of MMI-equipped Audis have to say about the system as I continue my test.
