After years of resistance, Audi capitulates and produces its own sport utility vehicle. It’s a big one, too.
The Q7 weighs in as a full-size SUV competing with the big dogs, but with the classy refinement that has made Audi a favored brand among luxury-car buyers, status seekers and driving enthusiasts.
Audi has attracted the anti-SUV crowd for years with all-wheel-drive station wagons that feature the German automaker’s signature quattro little q drive system, one of the first for passenger cars. There was even an A6 All-Road, sort of a high-end equivalent for Subaru Legacy Outback.
Despite steep gasoline prices, Audi noticed plenty of interest – and profits – in large-scale SUVs, especially for top import brands.
Audi takes its distinctive styling cues up a size for Q7, which is based on a stretched platform from Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg. It comes off as a brawny überwagen with a slick layer of glittering trim.
As expected from Audi, the interior is beautiful and comfortable, though the myriad of functions, buttons and controls is cluttered and gets confusing.
I’ve always enjoyed the responsive drivability of Audi’s cars, but I was disappointed in Q7’s steering, which I found annoyingly twitchy. At highway speeds, the SUV felt like it was darting at the slightest wheel movement.
The throttle action was too abrupt, too, making it hard to ease away from a stop without a sharp jump. Neither is a good quality for an otherwise sophisticated ride.
PERFORMANCE: The test Q7 came with a 280-horsepower V-6 that provided decent pull even for this 5,000 pound-plus behemoth. The smooth-shifting six-speed automatic helps, no doubt. A 4.2-liter 350-horsepower V-8 is available for $4,000 more, but most people would find the V-6 more than adequate, aside from towing. Even with the small engine, mileage was paltry.
DRIVABILITY: Handling is surprisingly nimble for such a mighty craft, helped out by all kinds of electronic gizmos that keep it straight and true. As noted, the steering is too sensitive and the throttle hard to modulate. Nothing wrong with the brakes, though. They felt strong enough to stop the space shuttle in mid-orbit. Among the safety features, electronic stability control; four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and brake assist; side-curtain air bags; side-assist blind-spot warning; headlights that steer into curves; and reverse camera.
STYLING: A beefed-up version of Audi sedan styling, Q7 looks ready to rumble. Those 20-inch alloy wheels fit the image.
INTERIOR: Audi folk will recognize the dashboard and console as coming from the A6 sedan, which is a good thing. The soft-leather seats are attractive and comfortable, and the cabin rises to the level of Audi’s usual excellence. The rearmost seats are bigger than some but should be reserved primarily for tykes. The gadgety dashboard controls are a pain, with too many extraneous actions needed for such things as adjusting the climate control. There’s too much techno-gear in one place in an awkward array of dials and switches. The panoramic sunroof is pretty cool, with a skyward view both front and rear.
BOTTOM LINE: A stylish craft that will turn some heads. The price starts at a fairly reasonable $40,000 but climbs quickly with pricey options. A loaded V-8 models sails past $70,000.
Audi Q7 Premium
Vehicle type: Seven-passenger, four-door SUV, all-wheel drive. Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, 266 pound-feet torque at 2,750 rpm. Transmission: Six-speed automatic. Wheelbase: 118.2 inches. Overall length: 200.2 inches. Curb weight: 5,049 pounds. Towing capacity: 5,500 pounds. EPA rating: 16 city, 20 highway.
HIGHS: Luxury interior, distinctive styling, agile handling. LOWS: Twitchy steering, fiddly controls, abrupt throttle response.
Pricing
Base price: $45,900. Price as tested: $58,160.
SELECTED OPTIONS – Infotainment package, with navigation, Bluetooth phone readiness, satellite radio, $2,800. – Technology package, with rearview camera, side-assist sensing, keyless start, voice recognition, $2,400. – Panoramic sunroof, $1,850. – 20-inch alloy wheels, $1,600. – Power tailgate, Homelink, adaptive front lighting, seat memory, $1,000. – Shipping, $720.
