2020 Audi Q7: New Screens, New Smile
Competes with: Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350L, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Volvo XC90
Looks like: The Q7 raided the Q8’s closet and took a few things home
Powertrain: 335-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 making 369 pounds-feet of torque; eight-speed automatic transmission; standard all-wheel drive
Price: Starts at $61,795 (including a $995 destination charge)
The word “significant” gets thrown around a lot in regard to vehicle changes, so much so that reading it causes my brain to shut down temporarily. That’s why when Audi said that the refreshed 2020 Q7 received “significant updates,” I rolled my eyes and snickered a bit. But I was wrong — there are (gulp!) significant changes under the hood and in the cabin, along with an exterior freshening, as well.
Exterior
The Q7 borrows many of its updated design cues from the new Q8, including the octagonal grille with prominent vertical bars and new designs for the available HD Matrix headlights with Audi laser light and LED taillights. Those lighting details will be the easiest way to distinguish the 2020 version of the Q7 from the 2019 model. There is also additional aluminum-style finish on the lower part of the front fascia now, which adds more dimension to the nose. Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, with 20-, 21- or 22-inch wheels optional.
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Interior
Changes are more pronounced on the inside, where the Q7 ditches its rotary dial and many of its buttons for Audi’s latest two-screen setup. This arrangement is slowly making its way around the Audi lineup and our experiences with the system have been mixed after testing it a few times. The upper display measures 10.1 inches and the lower 8.6 inches, and are joined by another 12.3-inch screen in the instrument panel that is powered by a second generation of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto are standard.
To accommodate the new screens, the interior design up front has been redone with a new air vent strip that now crosses nearly the whole width of the dash. A panoramic sunroof, three-zone automatic climate control and power folding third-row seats come standard.
Under the Hood
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Q7 would continue to offer a four-cylinder engine, and a spokesman for the Volkswagen-owned luxury brand would only say that “we aren’t yet at a point to discuss additional powertrain options.” What we do know is that it gets a new turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, a different engine than the outgoing model but with the same displacement and still turbocharged. Power has jumped up to 335 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque, increases of 6 hp and 44 pounds-feet, respectively. All-wheel drive is standard and the engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Q7 offers an adaptive air suspension with five ride height settings and adjustable firmness for the dampers. An all-wheel steering system is also available to make the big SUV more maneuverable in tight spaces. With the power increase, the Q7’s tow rating tops out at 7,700 pounds with the optional tow package.
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Safety
The Q7 comes with the requisite advanced driver assist features you’d expect of a luxury vehicle in this day and age — though many of the best ones remain optional. New for 2020 is a feature that can detect if the driver is inactive or incapacitated and will proceed to slow the vehicle to a stop and activate the hazard lights.
No word yet on when the 2020 Q7 will make its way to dealerships, but we do have pricing information. The Q7 will continue to be offered in three grades: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Prices have gone up slightly compared to V-6 versions from 2019, which started at $60,945. For 2020, the Premium starts at $61,795, followed by the Premium Plus at $64,795 and finally the Prestige at $72,195 (all prices include destination).
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