Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: £38,560 to £94,255
Well-built, posh image, well-equipped, good V6 diesel engine, handles well for such a large vehicle, comes in five-, six- or seven-seat form
Not a hardcore off-roader, very complex, huge and heavy
Smart-looking and relatively easy to drive, it's a credible alternative to the X5 and Range Rover Sport crew.
The standard-fit layout gives seven seats: two supportive, armchair-like seats up front, a decently-proportioned middle three-seat bench and two smaller seats to the rear. The rearmost row of seats can be deleted as a no-cost option, or you can go for the six-seat layout, with two large seats in the middle and a centre console between them. Though the middle-row seats slide forwards on their base and tilt, access to the rear-most pair is for the agile only, and legroom in these really only child-sized unless the middle row is pushed forwards as far as it can go. The middle row is more comfortable, though it's still a bit of a squeeze. Audi claims class-leading legroom, but the long-wheelbase Mercedes R-Class feels a little more spacious.
The tailgate opens high (shorter owners will want the optional power-operated tailgate) to reveal a large-ish boot: it's deep in length, but shallow in height, giving 775 litres of loadspace and up to 2035 litres with the rear seats folded flat. The self-levelling suspension system includes a button to lower the height of the loading bay at the rear - a big help for loading heavy objects - and the loading aperture is wide. There's a small underfloor storage compartment, freed up as there's no spare wheel (instead, you get run-flat tyres).
The ride is generally very good, though it can get choppy in dynamic-suspension mode, and jolting in the off-road mode with higher ground clearance. Comfort mode, too, has its faults, with increased lean and a slight wallowing feel under hard cornering: those prone to car-sickness may get queasy if the driver's pushing on hard. Automatic mode is the best compromise for the majority of driving conditions. Otherwise, it's smooth and very quiet, with excellent sound-proofing and resistance to vibrations.
Full marks to Audi, too, for a high level of standard equipment. Though lower-spec models (including some with steel-spring suspension) are offered in some countries, all UK-market Q7s will come with the air suspension, dual-zone climate control, four electric windows, roof rails, 18-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers and auto headlights, fog lamps, a CD player, rear parking sensors and auto-folding door mirrors. SE models add different alloy wheels (still 18-inch, though, which look a bit too small for the huge flared wheel arches), heated/electrically-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, LED interior lights and body-coloured bumpers. S-Line models have the sportier-looking trim, with leather/alcantara upholstery, 20-inch wheels, aluminium detailing, black cloth headlining, headlight washers, different bumpers and rear diffuser, and a multi-function steering wheel. Options across the range include the side assist system, a full-length panoramic glass roof with two opening sections (which makes the cabin feel much airier), the advanced parking system with cameras and LCD screens, adaptive cruise control, the powered tailgate and adaptive xenon headlights. The Q7 could easily tot up to well over £50,000, but by the standards of this class of SUV, it's good value for money.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Audi Q7
wrote on 05 07 2007