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Reviews and Road Tests
Road Test: 2007 Audi Q7
By by: Bryan Joslin
May 25, 2006, 13:29
Has it been seven years already since BMW X5 obliterated all notions of what an SUV can be? Indeed it has, and that means it won’t be long before an all-new X5 will take the place of the company’s landmark vehicle.
The premium SUV landscape has changed a lot since that first X5 rolled off the Spartanburg, SC, assembly line. Back then the biggest competition was Mercedes’ ML-Class and the BMW-developed Range Rover. Since then, the X5 has been challenged by Porsche’s Cayenne, Land Rover’s new Range Rover Sport, and even Volkswagen’s Touareg, not to mention numerous Asian competitors. It used to be lonely at the top, but not any more.
The newest member of the executive people-mover club, and perhaps the most serious competitor to the next X5, is Audi’s Q7. Like the original X5, it blends SUV appeal and functionality with a more car-like driving dynamic befitting its manufacturer’s reputation. Entering the market late this spring as a 2007 model, the Q7 will be available with a choice of two engines. A 3.6-liter V6 base-model will anchor the lineup in the fall, but we drove the 4.2-liter V8 version, the only one available at launch.
It would have been easy for Audi to simply re-dress VW’s Touareg with its signature four rings and call it a day. Instead, Audi opted for only the bare minimum in parts sharing and as a result the Q7 is only about 15% Touareg. It sits on a longer wheelbase, uses its own engines, and employs a unique all-wheel-drive system. And the styling is unmistakably Audi.
As with all of the latest Audis, photographs alone do no justice to the bold exterior design. That large horseshoe grille that looks ungainly and awkward in pictures is actually dramatic and handsome in person. Up close, the front end of the Q7 is somewhat reminiscent of an Art Deco-era locomotive- tall, ever so slightly raked, gently rounded and instantly expressive of the power that lies beneath. The visual power-play continues with a razor-sharp character line that runs high on its shoulders from the upper corner of the headlamps all the way to the tail lights. The look is clean, consistent, and exceptionally progressive.
While the exterior styling is cutting edge, the interior of the Q7 borders on conservative. However, every material in the cabin has been thoughtfully selected and masterfully melded to create an environment that is unmatched by any of its German competitors for warmth and sophistication. From the multi-tone loop carpets to the aluminum-framed olivewood veneers to the sumptuous Cricket leather, the inside of the Q7 competes only with personal yachts and Gulfstream jets for supreme luxury. Audi, it would seem, has out-Britted the Brits in the area of cabin appointments.
From the driver’s seat it’s easy to forget you’re even in an SUV- the scenery is nearly identical to that of an A6 wagon. That is, until you notice the additional row of seats behind you. All V8-equipped models will feature standard seating for seven, though a six-passenger seating arrangement can be ordered as an option, placing a center console between the two executive-class chairs in the center row. Adding to the ambience is Audi’s optional three-panel Panorama Sunroof, which opens up more than five and a half feet of the ceiling to the sky above.
In a rare twist of irony, the folks at Audi (native Germans, no less) were downright boastful about the quantity of cup and bottle holders in the Q7. In recognition of the fact that the United States will likely be the single largest market for their first SUV, Audi engineers have done an about-face on drinking (non-alcoholic beverages of course) and driving, bestowing no less than six cup holders and four 1-liter bottle holders in the various nooks and crannies of the Q7’s spacious interior.
The Q7 holds more than just cups and bottles though. Opening the massive, power actuated clamshell hatch, which wraps around and integrates the entire taillight assemblies, reveals a generous cargo area, especially when the third row of seats is folded flat. Even with all seats upright, the cargo hold will take nearly 11 cubic feet of cargo, expanding to 42 cubic feet with the last row dropped, and a full 72.5 feet with all seats stowed. Unfortunately though, the tailgate glass is fixed and does not open independently of the whole hatch, a feature that is handy when loading small loads, such as shopping bags.
Naturally, the Q7 is loaded with the latest in electronic conveniences and entertainment features. In the center of the dashboard resides an ominous 7-inch color monitor, the gateway to most interior functions. It serves not only as the display for the audio, climate, navigation and air-suspension systems, but also as a video display for the back-up camera. The back-up camera aside, all of these functions are controlled via Audi’s exceptional MMI (MultiMedia Interface) system. Simpler and more intuitive than BMW’s iDrive system, MMI features “jump” buttons for most major functions, and fewer drop-down menus to accomplish most functions. For instance, with satellite navigation on the display, changing the seat heater setting requires only pushing the seat heater button on the climate control panel, then using the MMI controller to make your changes. Once completed, the “Back” button returns you to the nav screen.
The styling and attention to detail will certainly impress prospective owners, but they won’t be sold until they drive it. Based on our initial encounter, the Q7 seems to have the goods to close the deal. A couple hundred miles of on-road driving combined with a backwoods jaunt left us convinced.
A sophisticated piece of machinery, the 90º 4.2-liter V8 features an aluminum block, sixteen valves in each of its two aluminum cylinder heads, a two-stage magnesium intake manifold, and direct injection fuel system. Output is a healthy 350 horsepower at 6800 rpm, with a peak torque figure of 325 lb-ft at 3500 rpm, 85% of which is available from just 2000 rpm.
Somewhat surprisingly, Audi has chosen to accentuate the intake and exhaust timbre rather than completely bury it. Docile and silken at low engine speeds, the V8 belts out a howl under full load, a subtle reminder that it shares its soul with the RS 4 über-sedan.
Channeling this power to the asphalt is a six-speed Tiptronic transmission connected to a permanent all-wheel-drive system. Audi’s torque-sensing quattro drivetrain has been tuned with a rear-wheel bias, sending 58% of the torque to the back wheels under normal conditions. The combination works very well, hurling the nearly 5500-pound Q7 to 60 mph in just 7.1 seconds. Once out of the gate, the transmission does a fine job of optimizing shifting for both driving conditions and personal habits. In normal mode shifts are nearly seamless, while the sport mode programming is crisp and more deliberate in its action. Manual selection is possible by way of the Tiptronic function, though it is not nearly as satisfying as true manual shifting.
Like the current X5, the Q7 is designed primarily for on-road use. Unlike the Touareg, for instance, the Audi is not even equipped with a low range. But that doesn’t mean it’s not impressive when the going gets tough. Off-road crawling is managed by the ESP system, which uses the ABS, traction control, and electronic differential lock to maintain stability.
Our test route included muddy, rutted trail that zig-zagged the backside of a small mountain peak. A week of non-stop rain prior to the drive meant the trail was slick, muddy, and in a couple areas deep. Despite being shod with modest all-season radials, our Q7 climbed the six-mile path with confidence. True, there were no severe break-overs or steep descents, and we never had to ford anywhere near the nearly 20-inch depth it is capable of, but this short drive asked far more of the Q7 than any owner will likely demand.
The V8 model starts at $49,900, and includes seating for seven passengers, leather upholstery, a six-speed automatic transmission, dual-zone climate control, and height-adjustable electrically actuated tailgated. The options list on the standard V8 is extensive, but buyers longing for all the bells and whistles will likely start with $59,900 Q7 4.2 Premium.
The extra ten grand for the Premium Package adds DVD-based satellite navigation, four-zone climate control, the massive Panorama Sunroof, upgraded Cricket leather, rear-view camera system, heated front and rear seats and steering wheel, and Advanced Key system. Adaptive air suspension is still an option, along with Sirius satellite radio, Side Assist system, and a towing package.
The Audi Q7 lacks the precise, dialed-in, sports-sedan-on-steroids feel of the current X5 4.8is, instead delivering a more refined and luxurious experience. Details about the next X5 are still unconfirmed by the folks at BMW, but the consensus is that it will most certainly be larger than the current model to allow for a third row of seating. So it remains to be seen whether the next X5 will be able to hold on to its overtly sporting character, or if it will soften a bit with maturity. Either way, it will face a worthy challenger in the Audi Q7.
