The luxury SUV segment has existed for about 10 years
now. It's been a party for automakers and consumers alike. And just when there
are signs that the good times are starting to slow down a bit, Audi shows up
with its first SUV, the Q7. Considering the stakes, one would hope that Audi
thought to bring more than just the equivalent of a bag of discount tortilla
chips and some plastic cups.
The design brief for the 2007 Audi Q7 is familiar.
Like the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne -- vehicles with which the Q7
shares some mechanical similarity -- this is a crossover SUV, which means its
underlying architecture is car-based for better on-road performance and comfort.
It also has a V6 or V8 for power, can seat up to seven passengers and will no
doubt look very shiny and prestigious in the company parking lot. Seen it all
before, right? Well, sort of. Dig a bit deeper and you'll find that the Audi Q7
does have some distinctive attributes and features that should make it worth
your SUV shopping attention.
Compared to its VW sibling, the Q7 is about the same
width but rides on an extended wheelbase. Overall length is plus 13 inches in
the Q7's favor, and it's been put to use to provide a third-row seat. Audi is
offering the Q7 with a traditional suspension with steel springs and an optional
air spring system with electronically controlled dampers. The Touareg can also
be equipped with an air suspension, but the Q7 is tuned for better handling and
steering response. Furthering the Q7's distinctiveness is Audi signature
styling, an advanced adaptive cruise control system, a blind-spot monitoring
feature and a huge sunroof.
Overall, the 2007 Audi Q7 is very impressive and we
highly recommend it. Its collection of luxury features, its versatile interior
and its agile handling make it ideal for family-oriented daily use and
long-distance drives. It will also do fine for light off-roading, though
anything more will be a challenge given the SUV's lack of low-range gearing,
meaty tires or a mechanical rear-differential lock. Consumers serious about
off-road use would probably be better off with a Lexus GX 470. A truer
competitor for the Q7 will be the all-new 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which
also boasts an available third-row seat, V8 power and many similar
features.
The Audi Q7 is a luxury crossover SUV that can seat up
to seven passengers. For now, there are two styles available: base and Premium.
Standard features include 18-inch wheels, adaptive bi-HID headlights, a power
rear liftgate, automatic dual-zone climate control, Audi's MMI control interface
and a Bose audio system with an in-dash six-CD player. Leather upholstery, three
rows of seating with a second-row bench, power front seats and a memory function
for the driver seat are also included. The Premium adds 19-inch wheels, a
navigation system, park assist with a rearview camera, a large three-panel
sunroof, heated front and rear seats, second-row captains' chairs, an additional
rear air conditioning unit and satellite radio. Most of these options can also
be ordered individually on the base Q7. Other standalone options include an air
suspension system, 20-inch wheels, advanced adaptive cruise control and an
S-line exterior styling package.
Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes
with brake assist, a stability control system with hill descent control and
rollover detection, tire-pressure monitoring, side curtain airbags for all
outboard passengers and front-seat side airbags. Seat-mounted side airbags for
the second row are optional. Also optional is Audi's Side Assist. This feature
notifies the Q7's driver when other motorists have entered the vehicle's blind
spots by lighting up yellow LEDs in the exterior mirror housings.
The Audi Q7's interior is notable for its high-quality
construction and materials. Much of the dash layout is similar to that of the A6
sedan, and Audi's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) is standard. The Q7 has three rows
of seating and accommodates six or seven passengers, depending on what is
specified for the second row. As with many vehicles of this type, the third-row
seat is cramped and useful for children only. With the second and third rows
folded flat, the Q7 can hold 88 cubic feet of cargo, which is more than what's
available from most five-passenger SUVs and competitive with other large luxury
SUVs.
On-road performance is the Q7's specialty. Hard on the
throttle, the V8 engine emits a satisfying growl and revs cleanly to redline.
Traction is always on hand thanks to the all-wheel-drive system. Acceleration is
not particularly impressive, however, nor is fuel economy. Blame the vehicle's
5,300-pound base curb weight. More likable is the handling on Q7s equipped with
the adaptive air suspension. The driver can select from three main suspension
modes. Placed in "Dynamic" mode, the vehicle can be hustled easily on a curvy
road.
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