What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says ‘luxury SUV’ to you? If you said Toyota Land Cruiser, then join the millions of other people who say that. The Land Cruiser has been the de facto king of luxury SUVs for decades now, so we’re not really surprised.
The thing is, there are other choices out there. Besides, what’s life without variety? If everyone got Land Cruisers, the lux SUV class would look, well, boring. That brings us neatly to the Audi Q7.
Hold up, why review an SUV that first came out in 2016? To put it bluntly, it’s more a personal quest. A recent trip to Spain had me interested in this model as these were absolutely everywhere. The Spanish lap these up like us Pinoys buy Fortuners, Montero Sports, and Everests. So, why isn’t it a more common sight here.
Yes, I’m well aware that there’s a massive price difference between the country’s favorite midsize SUVs and the Q7. Nonetheless, it’s still not a common enough sight on our roads. What gives?
Time for a test drive, then.
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Styling
Yes, I know, there’s a new(er) version of the Q7 now available in Europe and North America. It’s the second facelift of the large SUV and it has a new set of lights, a fresh set of bumpers, and a few exterior tweaks here and there. Despite that, the first facelift model we have here, still looks rather fresh.
The odd silver vertical slats on the grille aside, the overall look is subtle and subdued. It might not turn heads, but it’s a design that I reckon will age well. Heck, at nearly a decade old, it still fits in with its newer and flashier contemporaries. Audi may have a more brash image abroad, but here, it’s something of a low-key choice.
Couple that with the Q7’s no-nonsense lines and it’s a good choice for those who want to tell others that they have taste, but don’t want to shout about it. It’s a bit like a Lacoste polo shirt, then. You’ll only know it’s something special when you look at the badge.
Interior
The subtle and subdued theme carries over the Q7’s interior. You won’t find any extreme and acute angles in there. Instead, you’re greeted by a cabin that’s easy on the eyes. It’s clean, simple, and functional, and it’s a refreshing break from other luxury brands that have simply tacked on a screen on the dash.
But where the Q7 impresses most is in feel and quality. Cheap, hard plastics are kept well away from your fingertips, and almost everything you touch has a certain richness to it.
Granted, Audi has always had a solid reputation for having some of the best interiors in the business, but to experience it in real life is another thing. Dare I say it, it feels better than some of its competitors. Oh, and the aluminum trim inside is real, not just some plastic pieces made to look like metal.
Yes, it’s a bit of a screenfest in there, but Audi has laid it all down in a way that the dash looks like, well, a dash. The infotainment screen is exactly where you expect it, while the air con screen resembles that of a climate control panel. It’s no fuss and easy to use, and it helps that it has haptic touch to make you feel like you’re pressing buttons.
Space? There’s acres of it. At over five meters long, that’s to be expected. There’s no doubt about room at the front, while the second row has more than enough real estate. By the way, those seats can slide and recline individually. Yes, all three perches.
The third-row is tight with the second-row slid all the way back, but it’s nothing a few adjustments can’t fix. Either way, third-row seats in SUVs aren’t the most accommodating unless you’re in something like a gargantuan Chevrolet Suburban.
This being an SUV, it only makes sense to talk about cargo space. There’s 295 liters behind the third row, but that number jumps up to 780 liters if you stow the extra seats. Fold everything flat and you have a maximum of 1,955 liters, matching those of larger SUVs.
Engine performance
You can have any Q7 you like as long as it’s a diesel. The sole engine choice for the Philippine market is a 3.0-liter V6 that’s good for 282hp and 600Nm of torque. The horsepower figure doesn’t sound too impressive, but the torque more than makes up for it.
Audi claims a 0 to 100kph time of 6.3 seconds in the Q7, but honestly, it doesn’t feel it. Mash the throttle from a standstill and you’re greeted by turbo lag. After that, however, you’ll need to hold on as it delivers that punch in one solid woosh. On the move however, the lag is less noticeable, picking up speed quicker than you’d expect.
Its engine and transmission combination can best be described as relaxed and needs a little bit of poking and prodding to wake up. Once it does, though, you’ll never have to worry about overtaking on highways and byways.
For something that has a large engine and weighs nearly two and a half tons, the Q7’s fuel efficiency was a genuine surprise. In heavy traffic with an average speed of just 15kph, the Audi can still return 8.3km/L without much eco assistance. That number shoots up to 16.4km/L with a fair bit of overtaking.
It helps that it’s a mild-hybrid, although it wouldn’t make much of a difference on expressways. Still, strong numbers for a large seven-seater and the best part is, its 85-liter fuel tank means you can get over 1,000 kilometers per fill up if you’re gentle with the accelerator. Road trip, anyone?
Ride and handling
The relaxed nature of its engine extends to its chassis. Simply put, the ride is smooth, regardless of what mode you put the car in. It doesn't matter which one you select, this plush Audi never upsets its occupants. Granted, it feels firmer or softer depending on the selection, but it’s generally comfortable in there.
Oh, you want a more detailed review? There are six modes to choose from, namely Off-Road, Allroad, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual. In Off-road, it jacks up the air suspension to its maximum height for extra ground clearance and gives you a firmer ride. Allroad retains the ride height but softens the dampers a little bit.
Comfort is self-explanatory and lowers the SUV a notch down, while Auto lets the computers sort everything out. Dynamic sets the Q7 to its lowest ride height and gives the stiffest suspension setting, while Individual lets you mix and match steering wheel effort, suspension, and throttle response settings.
Personally, I’d just leave the setting in Auto and let the car’s active suspension deal with everything. It’s the best balance between handling dynamics and comfort, giving you enough feedback behind the wheel without the sensation of floating over wavy roads. Comfort might be a tad too soft for some but it was a dream on pockmarked roads.
Conversely, Dynamic made the Q7 feel sharper around the bends, but it’s no sports car.
Is it fun to drive? Honestly, it’s the roadholding that will impress you more than driver engagement. Composed and competent are the best words to describe the Q7’s chassis with Quattro all-wheel drive playing a vital part in that.
Extra features
I’ve mentioned the pretty much everything about its air suspension, but the Q7 has other tricks up its sleeve. That same suspension system can raise or lower the SUV from the back to make loading easier. For those who want to go off-road, there’s also an automatic locking differential if it’s set to Off-Road mode. It might not look like it, but the Q7 is willing to get its wheels dirty.
Inside, there’s the Bose surround sound system that pumps tunes in high definition, while the quad-zone automatic climate control keeps everyone cool at their preferred temperature. I was also amused by the four (yes, four) sun visors in the Q7. The main visor does the usual flip and swivel motion, but the secondary visor comes into play when you swing main one to the side windows. For those who absolutely do not want sun to hit their eyes, this might be the SUV for you.
Power folding third-row seats are a thoughtful convenience touch, and privacy is no problem as almost every window has sun blinds. Yes, even the tailgate.
It’s well equipped for the most part. The only thing missing here is adaptive cruise control. It does have lane departure and lane keep assist, though. 360-degree cameras are, of course, standard, and the front and rear cameras can even swivel when you turn the wheel. Neat stuff.
Verdict
At the start of this review, I asked why people aren’t buying more Q7s in the country. As you’ve read, there’s a lot of great things going for it. It’s spacious, luxurious, well-built, and comfortable. Not to mention that it’s well equipped, sips fuel, and as sensible as a pair of slacks. Sure, it’s not the most engaging SUV to drive, but you don’t hear people make the same complaints about Land Cruisers. Honestly, the Q7’s breadth of talent makes me wonder even more. This luxury SUV is a hidden gem hiding in plain sight.
It’s not the newest kid on the block, but it still feels as modern and contemporary as all the other luxury SUVs in the market today. Those seeking a (relatively) low-key lux 4x4 should consider one of these. Really, they should.
At this point, you’re probably wondering how much you’ll have to shell out for one of these. Local distributor PGA Cars often lists down their units as ‘Price on Application,’ but the Q7 hovers around the P7,000,000 range. It’s much more expensive than the evergreen Land Cruiser and some of its German competitors. Here’s the thing, though: Truck-based lux SUVs can’t touch the Q7’s dynamics and comfort, while the German rivals are limited to five seats or four-cylinders. In some ways, the Q7 is in a class of its own, at least from a local perspective.
So why aren’t enough people buying it? After much pondering, I might have figured it out. It’s not the price, the Land Cruiser, or even the BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE. The biggest problem of the Q7 is its own cousin, the Porsche Cayenne. Both these SUVs use the same chassis and a fair chunk of other hardware bits.
The Porsche is more inclined towards a sportier drive, though, and is much sharper to drive than the Audi. Yes, the Porsche is more expensive although it’s tighter inside and seats fewer people. It’s less practical than the Audi and, therefore, makes less sense. But in the world of luxury automobiles, it's not always about being sensible. Think of it this way, what sounds nicer to say, ‘I have an Audi’ or ‘I have a Porsche.’? Case closed.
That makes the Audi Q7 a bit of a connoisseur’s choice, then. Those who want one are dead set on getting one, knowing that they’ll get a damn solid luxury SUV. It might not have the same authoritative demeanor as the country’s favorite luxury off-roader, but it will get silent nods of approval from those who know. But if you are still undecided and still shopping around, give it a shot. You might just end up falling in love with it for all the right (and sensible) reasons.
Heck, I'd buy one if I could.
Specs: 2024 Audi Q7 50 TDI Quattro
Price: P7,500,000 (approx.)
Engine: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel
Power: 282hp
Torque: 600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Layout: all wheel-drive
Seating: 7
Score: 9/10
