Three rows of seats, family comfort and heaps of head-turning style are a must if the new Audi Q7 is to usurp its rivals in this competitive and highly lucrative class. Happily for Audi lovers, the new 2017 3.0 TFSI model offers all this and more. Add into the mix class-leading pace, stability and agility and the new Audi Q7 is one of the most desirable sports utility vehicles (SUV) available today.
° Style and Comfort
With almost identical overall dimensions as its predecessor (just 1.5 inches shorter and narrower by 0.6 inches), the new Q7 is more stationwagon than traditional SUV in its looks, resulting in a sleeker, lower, more modern general appearance. The shaped body panels hint at pace and whilst the large hexagonal Audi grille and LED lighting are reworked offering more presence, they retain the clear Audi brand image. The seating and interior are as sumptuous and fully functional as one would expect from any Audi. The stylish retro-modern polished chrome that debuted in the 1998 Audi TT is updated and blends seamlessly with the improved technology. The cabin is more spacious that the old model, made possible by a revolutionary seat design and a lower floor. Fitted with improved acoustic insulation, the Q7’s reputation for quietness is also enhanced.
The interior is more contemporary than its predecessor, but is still an instantly recognizable environment for anyone familiar with recent Audis. The dash is clean, sweeping and thin; the controls are minimal, allowing the infotainment system to take centre stage. Behind the sporty steering wheel, the instrument panel, or virtual cockpit as Audi likes to call it, is a large single high-res screen, able to display everything from traditional gauges and trip information to GPS navigation – controlled via the steering wheel.
° Performance
Since its launch, countless highly reputable independent test drivers have confirmed the 2017 Audi Q7 as one of the best-handling SUVs on the market. The supercharged V-6 and 8-speed are a great pair for this vehicle, achieving a top speed of 128 mph and zero to 60 mph in a stunning 5.5 seconds, but its superb handling is down just as much to a redesigned body that, depending on model, is up to 325 kg lighter, as well as to a multi-link suspension and fine chassis tuning.
Driving conditions change and the new Q7 offers a choice of five modes within the Audi Drive Select so you can choose the right option to suit the road conditions and your mood. Comfort mode offers the smoothest ride, while Dynamic sharpens the responses for all vehicle systems. Of particular interest in the rainy season is the Offroad setting that, amongst other things, automatically raises the ride height by 2.4 inches.
° Safety
The new Q7 offers enhanced occupant protection, a fact recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which awarded the Q7 its Top Safety Pick+ designation, its highest award. Among the advanced safety features offered in the new Q7 are adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, cross-traffic assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, lane-keeping assist, rear-end collision mitigation, parking assist and night vision. All versions of the Q7 have all-wheel drive and they have all the tough, all-weather capability most families would want for any weekend escape.
° Summary
The 2017 Audi 3.0 TFSI Q7 is impressive even in its basic trim and, of course, Audi offers a host of options such as massaging front seats, night vision, a Bang & Olufsen stereo with 23 speakers and rear-seat entertainment. The new platform has been years in the making and will also be used in upcoming Volkswagens and Porsche SUV crossover vehicles. The redesigned seven-seater is lighter and leaner than the outgoing model; it’s safer and has a more contemporary sedan-like drive and styling and fully deserves the plaudits it is receiving in the international auto press.
