Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Receiving the news that Audi would be sending me the Q7 for review was a nothing short of great news. The Audi Q7 is a mid-size luxury SUV that was unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This was the first SUV offered from Audi and is now the younger sibling to the Q8 and the older sibling to the Q5, Q3 and Q2. The Q7 is part of the Volkswagen Group MLB platform and shares the chassis with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg. That is some pretty good company right there.
So let’s start off with the exterior. The model that we reviewed came in a Samurai Gray Metallic hue. Upon first look you will notice the prominent grille, front and rear bumpers, HD Matrix LEDs, Audi Laser Light side sills, chrome trim for the tailgate and the exhaust. I really enjoy the design of the Q7 as it is aggressive but luxurious at the same time as it sits on 20” 5-spoke-turbine design wheels that are part of the Prestige package.
The interior of the Q7 matches the style and quality of the exterior. This luxury SUV seats seven passengers, with plenty of head and legroom in the first two rows. The third row can get kind of tight, so I preferred folding those seats down and using it at cargo. The 2022 Q7 has 30.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 72.4 cubic feet in total. The only place I would have liked more storage space is in the driver’s armrest.
The Prestige model that we reviewed decked the interior out with the Luxury package. This added Valcona/Cricket leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, an extended leather package covering the dash, armrests and console. The Q7 also has 18-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, heating and ventilation and a power split-folding third row come standard. The head-up display, power soft-closing doors and night vision camera were pretty nice additions as well. The Lava Brown eucalyptus natural wood inlays really upgrade the look and feel of the cabin.
The infotainment system is pretty nice in the Audi Q7. There is a virtual cockpit that has a 12.3-inch display. The center console is complete with a dual-screen MMI infotainment system with 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower touch screens. I loved the look and feel of this setup. The infotainment system has handwriting recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth and USB ports. There is also a wireless device charging, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound.
The Q7 55 TFSI petrol model that we tested comes with a 3.0L TFSI V6 engine with an 8 speed Tiptronic transmission. Audi has given the Q7 air suspension and an active roll-stabilization system. The active anti-roll bars are controlled by a 48-volt electric motor that automatically adjusts to your driving style and the current road conditions. The Audi Q7 handles well and feels nimble with the air suspension and four-wheel steering. The Q7 gets 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined. In other words, the Q7 is thirsty when getting pushed on the road.
Audi is high on safety and the Q7 hit the mark. The Q7 comes with front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. There is also Audi Pre Sense Rear (blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert) and Audi Pre Sense Side, which uses sensors to detect an oncoming side impact. There is a vehicle exit warning system, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, intersection assist, lane keep assist, a surround-view parking camera system and traffic sign recognition.
As a parent of young children, the child car seats are extremely important to me. There are five complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats. This was a plus for me and very easy to use.
The Audi Q7 is in a competitive class going up against the Benz GLS-Class, the BMW X7, the Volvo XC90, the Cadillac XT6, and the Acura MDX. Audi backs the Q7 with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty, a 12 year limited warranty against corrosion perforation and 4 years roadside assistance coverage.
The Audi Q7 has a smooth ride, handles well and can get up to speed rather quickly. The interior is luxurious and the infotainment system is top notch. Audi definitely ranks near the top of its class. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
