Vs AutoCar: Audi Q7 vs. Mercedes M-Class.

[Merc1]

Mercedes fanatic here.........I'll take the Audi too. No ML63 in this contest.

M

 

[MoSs]

me cant live with the looks of this ........ hells no ( with a big L ) :=P ,,,black ml with AMG body for moi ....

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Good review. Seems pretty spot on to me. The one BIG questionmark over the q7 is its styling though. Will have to see it in the metal to make my mind up.

 

[GTA45E]

Nice review, but when the new GL comes around it will be neck to neck with the Q7. The Audi will have a good price advantage though.

I really don`t care for these types of vehicles but if I had to choose I`d go for the ML63. Still my favorite SUV on the planet now.

 

[ZicZachZo]

Audi may have the edge on build quality, but I think they are way to late in this SUV game to really have a hit on their hands, especially in the USA. Oh and by the way, they may have better build quality, but Audi's have a terrible reliability history in the U.S. And that is what Americans seem to care most about. So it may have the best build quality but if you never get to see your car because it is being worked on and fixed all the time, buyers are going to pass and buy the RX330.

 

[Kleemann_SL]

The ML is just too handsome for the Q7

 

[Choleric]

Audi may have the edge on build quality, but I think they are way to late in this SUV game to really have a hit on their hands, especially in the USA. Oh and by the way, they may have better build quality, but Audi's have a terrible reliability history in the U.S. And that is what Americans seem to care most about. So it may have the best build quality but if you never get to see your car because it is being worked on and fixed all the time, buyers are going to pass and buy the RX330.

I believe the only Audi that was worse than average in the reliablity department was the B5 A4(believe me I know) but despite that as long as you take care of your car you dont have to worry about that stuff, hell the car even tells you when to take it in for service.

I also remember hearing that Audi is getting more reliable than used to be.

 

[notic]

no surprise. hope they bring a v6 diesel to canada.

 

[Yperion]

I believe the only Audi that was worse than average in the reliablity department was the B5 A4(believe me I know) but despite that as long as you take care of your car you dont have to worry about that stuff, hell the car even tells you when to take it in for service.

I also remember hearing that Audi is getting more reliable than used to be.

Check last years TÜV Auto Report survey and you might be surprised:

http://auto.zoznam.sk/?article=3052

In the 2-3 year old cars Audi A4 and A2 were among the best cars overall.

 

[Deutsch]

I believe Audi is very much on it's way to becoming the jack of all trades in the future as far as cars go. Reason why the B8 A4 is on my list of cars to buy. Audi's electrical systems are probably the least complex of the German car lot, which makes them more reliable.

 

[bum-man]

Audi's electrical systems are probably the least complex of the German car lot, which makes them more reliable.

Where did you hear this? They are probably supplied the exact same or very similar electrical systems that both BMW and Mercedes use from Bosch.

 

[Deutsch]

Where did you hear this? They are probably supplied the exact same or very similar electrical systems that both BMW and Mercedes use from Bosch.

Freinds in the automotive industry. I doubt they're carbon copies of one another.

 

[audi_rudy]

the q7 looks great and real ellegant and bueatiful. My favorite suv along with the porsche. Congrats on teh win over the ml hahahaha im gona rub it in

 

[ZicZachZo]

If Audi wants to be as successful in the USA to the degree of MB BMW and Lexus they are going to have to concentrate on reliability. Not only to boost their image, but also to retain a customer base. Audi doesn't even come up on the radar of most luxury buyers. Which I find interesting because they are usually if not in all cases less expensive than anything from BMW and Mercedes. Something isn't adding up here, and it seems to me that their image is holding them back. Perhaps it is a lack of image really, I'm not sure. But they are beautiful cars they sell for thousands less than the competition, why are they selling better????

 

[Yperion]

But they are beautiful cars they sell for thousands less than the competition, why are they selling better????

Selling better in US you mean? In Europe last year both A4 and A6 were the best sellers in their segments leaving the German competition behind.
I agree that Audi has an image problem in US but that will change radically in the next few years as new models like Q7, R8, Q5 and A5 arrive.

 

[Yperion]

Audi's electrical systems are probably the least complex of the German car lot, which makes them more reliable.

Actually that's true. For example look at the electronic and electric systems Audi A8 uses and then look at S class which has a lot more.
When you are the pioneer in some systems you will pay the price. Audi uses only fully tested , reliable and proven parts and systems.Mercedes usually comes first and has to suffer the consequences.

 

[Merc1]

Not sure where you guys are getting this from, but Audi's are just as complex as Mercedes or BMWs in most cases. Audi's MMI system has caused a many U.S. buyer to hate their Audi, just as Comand and Idrive had problems upon their introduction. Sure Audi plays it safe in some areas of innovation compared to Mercedes, but this about them being more reliable overall is just pure fantansy (and untrue) in the U.S. And it doesn't have to be electronics. The DSG tranny in the TT has given grief to a many TT owners either. Audi may not push the limits with electronics, but their DSG tranny is more "complex" and sophisticated than anything from BMW and especially Mercedes.


M

 

[Deutsch]

Not sure where you guys are getting this from, but Audi's are just as complex as Mercedes or BMWs in most cases. Audi's MMI system has caused a many U.S. buyer to hate their Audi, just as Comand and Idrive had problems upon their introduction. Sure Audi plays it safe in some areas of innovation compared to Mercedes, but this about them being more reliable overall is just pure fantansy (and untrue) in the U.S. And it doesn't have to be electronics. The DSG tranny in the TT has given grief to a many TT owners either. Audi may not push the limits with electronics, but their DSG tranny is more "complex" and sophisticated than anything from BMW and especially Mercedes.


M

Please find an example of an instance where MMI has irritated a driver to the point of no return? I'll have to track down the gentleman that own an A8 that's always parked in the garage at the J-O-B.

 

[Merc1]

Please find an example of an instance where MMI has irritated a driver to the point of no return? I'll have to track down the gentleman that own an A8 that's always parked in the garage at the J-O-B.

Go to Edmunds.com and browse the owners boards and see yourself. You guys act like Audi is all of a sudden know for their reliability and that couldn't be farther from the truth, again in the U.S. Not sure what European buyers think/experience with Audis.

M

 

[Yperion]

I have seen many surveys and apart from E class and ML , all the other German cars in the same league in terms of reliability. Of course there are no data yet for new MB models like CLS and S class so we will have to wait a couple of years to know about those.