2007 Audi Q7 Review

Specifications

Hitting Jackpot on the First Strike

Whether you like it or not, sport utility vehicles are taking over the world, and whats more is that theyre here to stay. SUVs to the left, to the right, in North America, Europe and Asia, in jungles, on deserts and in your local grocers parking lot. Sport utilities up to our eyeballs. Theyre all over the place, but its not as if this is a problem; we like them, and the reason theyre filling up the landscape is that theyre replacing a lot of traditional automobiles. Instead of a limousine, the wealthy go for a Range Rover. Need something thatll gun down a sports car, but still able to tow a boat? Try a Cayenne Turbo on for size. And even for some of the more mundane kinds of automobiles, such as people-moving minivans, station wagons, or compact cars, theres an SUV or a crossover that fits the bill. The worlds population just cant get enough of these machines, and automakers just cant seem to crank them out fast enough. All this talk has even managed to sway Audi, a brand that has never built an SUV before, into creating one.

Late is a word that would most accurately describes the arrival of the Q7, and not just casually late or the type thats considered fashionable, but the kind of late where all the food at the partys mostly eaten and what isnt is now cold. Nevertheless, theres good justification for Audis tardiness; during the early days of the SUV boom, the German luxury division kept a keen eye on the marketplace and has observed an entire generation of SUVs from the very beginning. Instead of jumping into the fray from the beginning, it invested the time to observe. It was time well spent, unlike some others its had the opportunity to see that body-on-frame chassis configurations only work for traditional off-road-specified 4×4s. For most owners that heavy-duty running gear designed to take you deep into Gods country isnt necessary, and at the end of the day people want the flexibility of a tall wagon-like structure combined with sport-sedan-like performance. Such is the power of the thinking brand.

So, with mounds of information at its disposal Audi set out to create what would be the perfect modern performance sport utility vehicle - the kind of machine thats sure to make inroads within one of the markets most desirable categories. But, instead of doing things from scratch, its saved time and money by using the architecture thats currently employed by Porsche and Volkswagen for their SUVs. Audi is quick to say that this isnt just another clone; the Q7 is significantly different than the others due in part to Audis less excruciating demands. Less? Keep in mind, that unlike the Touareg or Cayenne, which have to perform equally well both on and off the road, the Q7 isnt designed to take you up sheer rock faces on the trails around Moab, Utah, where VW introduced its off-roader. Not only is its suspension lighter, but its made of daintier aluminum, and thanks to its soft-roader duties, its the only member of the VAG SUV family not to feature a transfer case.

By volume, youll find more aluminum in the Q7 than its stable mates - yes, even more than the sporty Porsche - the majority of which is in place to lighten the body. Although Audi is one of the masters of aluminum, capable of whipping up aluminum space frames for everything from a micro city car and stretch limo to ones for Bugatti and Lamborghini, it just wasnt financially viable to convert the existing unitary chassis into a space frame like the one you might find under the skin of an A8 or A2. What theyve done instead is stamp the hood, the doors and tailgate out of aluminum, changes easy to adapt, but crucial for saving weight. These modifications make a difference, but, to the unobservant, the effort seems somewhat futile: kilo for kilo the Q7 is still as heavy as the off-road-ready Touareg (or a V8 Porsche Cayenne, for that matter). Why? Well, the Q7 is a giant; it dwarfs the aforementioned vehicles, not to mention BMWs X5 and Volvos XC90.

If you happen to spot the Q7 from the front, or any quarter angle, the first thing that youll notice is how distinctive it looks. Its buff shape, and clever looking lights make it a handsome looking machine, particularly when it rides on its split five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels. But as you move around, something else strikes you about the Q7 - this thing looks huge, rather, it is huge at nearly 5,086 mm (200.2 inches) in length. At this size, Audis sporting approach, which is part sports coupe and part Avant, get lost within the sheer visual bulk of the machine. Nevertheless, the Q7 is a clean looking crossover, with the body organized into two distinctive segments above and below that character line, giving it a chiseled look. I have a feeling its going to take time to adjust to the look of this SUV, but things could be worse. It could be a Cayenne.

While Im undecided about the Q7s styling, Audi never fails to get me railed up over the details, of which the Q7 has plenty. Check out the tailgate, which, aside from lifting and closing by itself, has the entire LED brakelight assembly integrated into its amorphous shape. More importantly is the fact that when the tailgate is open, theres an additional set of low-mounted taillights which offer the same brake, signal and reverse light functions for all to see. Clever, no? The Q7 also happens to be the first Audi with turn signals integrated into the side-view mirrors, removing the quarter panel indicator lights. The new Audi is also available with a full-length panoramic sunroof with two panes that open - the one overhead the driver slides, while the one over the third row tilts.

Without any reservations, the Q7s interior is by far the finest in its class, with all of the usual high quality plastics, glossy wood, lashings of matte-finish aluminum and glove-soft leather expected in any top-line Audi. You sit up high over the road, but the driving position is perfect, facing a dash and console thats heavily inspired by modern driver-focused design; its like being in an A6 with a balcony view of the world around. All Q7s feature a similar flowing look to the A6, with teardrop-style gauge surrounds and the MMI system surrounding the gearshift gate. Bar the base model, Q7 buyers get rugged, loop carpet, color-coordinated in earthy tones, plus big, one-liter bottle holders in the doors, and on vehicles with the third row, a neat, collapsible cargo bay cover that can be stored in a cubby under the floor.

For using a pre-existing platform not designed for three rows, the Q7 is a pretty commodious vehicle, although those who have creaky knees, bad backs or are just tall in general should avoid the third row. Anyone under 57″ will be comfortable, even for extended driving periods, but if youre taller you risk subjecting yourself to claustrophobia, or rubbing into the roof liner. Entry to the third row comes through a fairly complex second row seating mechanism, which is mounted on rails. Pull a handle at the seats bottom and it tilts and slides, allowing an access route thats somewhat similar to a coupe. The only problem is that with limited space, and a climb into a cabin, I found myself both knocking my head and scraping my knees as I clambered on board. Nevertheless, even with all three rows of seats firmly in place, you can still stow aboard some luggage, which cant be done in, say, a Volvo XC90 when the third row is in use. Both the second and third row of seats fold flat into the floor, which turns the Q7 into a 88.7 cu-ft cargo hauler. If it werent for the padded pillars and supple roof liner, you could hear an echo inside of the thing.

Tech-junkies will be pleased to know that the Q7 comes with some brain-scratchingly clever gadgets. Theres the new Side Assist which harnesses the license-snatching properties of radar, and puts them to good use to let you know when a vehicles sneaking up in your blind spot. If you signal for a lane change, or start to drift over when a vehicle is next to you, an amber-colored LED mounted in the sideview mirror will illuminate, or flash to gather your attention. In practice, there are few flaws with the system, and it adds an extra bit of security.

Also available is Audis second-generation adaptive cruise control system, which is now capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop on its own, taking most of the brainwork out of maintaining a safe distance. Oh, and lets not forget the rearview camera, which ever so usefully shows your planned course on the MMI screen using the direction of the front wheels. I could go on and on, but you get the point: the Q7 can be had, jam packed with goodies.

If you must have a Q7 when it goes on sale during the second week of June, youll have to have one with the 4.2-liter V8. Its not quite the same engine that youll find wedged under the hood of an S4, an A6 or an A8, mind you, as its got more in common with the new RS4. To keep up with the competition, Audi has adapted its award- and race-winning FSI direct injection technology and a dual-plenum intake manifold to boost performance while cutting back on consumption. In its first mass-market application, power has been boosted to 350 horsepower, while the engine produces 325 lb-ft of torque, both of which are commendable figures; enough to allow the Q7 to tow up to 6,600 lbs. Thats much more than an XC90 or an X5, by the way. While good for towing, at the end of the day the Q7 is still a very large vehicle, so dont expect it to be any quicker off the line than its V8-powered rivals.

The grunt of the new V8 is routed through a six-speed Tiptronic automatic, which is distributed to the ground via an adapted version of Audis acclaimed quattro all-wheel drive system. Although its capable of shifting power from axle to axle when the going gets tough, in normal driving conditions the split is rear biased with a 42:58 power split, a major contributor to the Q7s excellent road manners. The main controls - throttle, steering and brakes - bear a similar weighting and consistency that will be familiar to anyone who has driven an A6 or an A8, but what really helps set the Q7 apart from others in its class is the optional adaptive air suspension system. Controlled through the MMI interface, the suspensions height and firmness can be adjusted to suit the conditions of the road or your inner desire, yielding a ride that ranges from grand tourer firm to a grand total of 9.1 inches of ground clearance, but the best results come from the Automatic mode, which always seems to find the perfect blend, giving the Q7 a ride akin to a magic carpet.

But just because the Q7 is better on road than most SUVs, its not to say that you cant have a bit of fun in the filth when opportunity arises. The planned tour route through the Rocky Mountains saw a variety of driving conditions, including a 15 mile stretch of winding, tight gravel roads, complete with several roadside stops to test its mettle on the unpaved stuff. On grass, and even rock, the Q7 is able to strut its stuff; working traction and power distribution out all on its own. Standard on all Q7s is a center-locking differential which automatically engages when the going gets rough, though, this is governed for the most part by an advanced ESP program which adds hill climb and hill descent control.

Audi has big plans for the big Q7: starting this September, the off-roader will be available with a secondary powerplant to supplement the eight cylinder unit in the form of a new 3.6-liter narrow angle (11-degree) FSI V6 engine that generates 280 horsepower. Thats the same motor thats currently fitted to the Passat V6, and, incidentally, will also be available in the Touareg. For those with a taste for sport, Audi has already prepared an S-Line package that includes a body kit, larger alloy wheels, sporty interior trim and paddles for the automatic gearbox. Later in the year, Audi will also offer the Q7 in a luxury six-seater style, with second row bucket seats divided by a large, wood-trimmed console. With all the different options, luxuries and performance goodies available, its almost certain that the Q7 will be found on the list of anyone whos in the market for this kind of vehicle.

Though Audi is a detail kind of company, the Q7 has demonstrated that it hasnt lost sight of the bigger picture. Instead of trying to do too many things at once, independently run VW division scaled back, focusing instead on the main goals of anything branded as performance: reduced weight, improved agility and a better connection between driver and road. And for that, I think its going to be the next big thing - in performance SUVs, at least.