Late to the party, but dressed to impress
By Christian Wardlaw
|
February 28, 2006
Introduction
It’s about time Audi built the Q7. Until now, it had no SUV in its stable, unless you count the impressive but unfortunately overlooked Allroad, which was the German automaker’s interpretation of the classic Subaru Outback recipe – take one station wagon, add ground clearance, attach rugged design cues and knobby tires, and you’ve got an interim solution to market miscalculation. Trouble is, Audi waited so long to develop a real SUV that the trend passed. Ironically, today’s buyers want what the Allroad delivered: the looks of a truck with the ride and handling of a car. But today’s buyers also want jump seats in the cargo area that rob space, add weight, and are useful only for shuttling children – seats that remain folded down until Gram and Gramp come to spend the weekend. Thus, the 2007 Audi Q7 – it is alive.
Model Mix
When the first 2007 Audi Q7s arrive in showrooms in June of 2006, each will be equipped with a 4.2-liter V8 engine and a “4.2” badge on the tailgate. Standard equipment will include leather upholstery, a power tailgate, bi-Xenon headlights, a Bose audio system with 14 speakers, a navigation system, Bluetooth communications technology, and the all-important third-row seat in the $49,900 price. If you can wait half a year, and don’t mind losing the goodies listed here, a less expensive about $40,000 model with a V6 engine and a “3.6” badge on the rear end will go on sale for about $40,000. Even at that price, parking assistance, power folding and heated side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, and a full complement of safety features comes standard on every Q7.
Options
Audi offers a stunning array of options and stickers rise rapidly as you add complexity to the 2007 Q7. Starting simply, there are larger wheels and tires available, and metallic paint is going to run extra. Interior upgrades like aluminum-look trim and LED lighting, Alcantara headliner and pillar trim, a cargo rail system that helps to secure loads in the cargo area, and second-row bucket seats separated by a large storage console in place of the standard bench are also optional. Other goodies include heated front and rear outboard seats, the Open Sky three-part sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and manual rear side window blinds.
Technology
Technology geeks who sank every penny into Google’s IPO can add plenty of fun features to the 2007 Audi Q7. You can equip the SUV with a rearview camera for backing assistance, a navigation system with voice control, and a keyless locking and ignition system. Headlights that automatically swivel to illuminate corners are offered, as well as a lane-change warning system called Side Assist that monitors the Q7’s blind spots. Adaptive cruise control that operates between 0 and 90 mph and automatically adjusts speed based on traffic conditions is available, and the adaptive air suspension adjusts ride height for both off-roading and loading while managing cornering forces on twisty roads.
Engines
Thanks to a rather portly 5,269 curb weight, the 2007 Audi Q7’s 4.2-liter direct-injection V8 is tuned to deliver 350 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 325 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm. And, to make sure the Q7 feels sprightly off the line and around town up to 85 percent of peak torque is available at less than 2,000 rpm, helping to give what should feel like a ponderous machine a lively feel. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes about seven seconds according to Audi, and the Q7 4.2 reaches an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. Standard towing capacity with V8 is 5,500 pounds, but the Q7 4.2 can tackle a 6,600-lb. load with the proper equipment.
Though the V8 is the more suitable engine for the heavy Q7, the 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 coming in September manages an acceptable level of performance thanks to its 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 265 lb.-ft. of torque that’s available across a flat power band from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. Given its acceleration estimate of just over eight seconds to 60 mph, and a top speed of 130 mph that’s identical to the Q7 4.2, the lower price of entry and greater fuel efficiency of the V6 seems a worthy trade-off. Both engines require premium fuel.
Quattro
Each 2007 Audi Q7 is equipped with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission driving all four wheels through Audi’s legendary Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system. Quattro delivers traction in a 42/58 front/rear power split, ensured by its self-locking center differential. When the Q7’s wheels slip, Quattro can divert up to 65 percent of the engine’s power to the front wheels or, if necessary, as much as 85 percent to the rear wheels. Electronic differential locks brake individual wheels that are spinning to better control the apportioning of power and maximize traction. Audi says that by splitting power to favor the rear wheels, Quattro helps to negate torque steer when accelerating, and gives the Q7 a more sporting feel under normal driving conditions.
Air Suspension
With the 2007 Audi Q7’s adaptive air suspension, three primary modes are used for driving on the pavement: Dynamic, Automatic, and Comfort. Dynamic lowers the suspension more than half an inch for greater stability and less aerodynamic drag, and automatically engages at speeds over 75 mph. Comfort softens the dampers for a smoother ride quality. Automatic does exactly what its name implies; it automatically adjusts to create an optimal blend of ride quality, responsiveness, and stability. Dynamic roll stabilization manages the Q7’s weight transfer in turns by increasing outboard damping forces to counteract body roll. For off-roading, the adaptive air suspension offers Off-Road and Lift features. Off-Road can be used up to 60 mph, and raises ground clearance an inch. Lift adds almost another half inch for really tricky spots. For loading, a button in the cargo hold lowers the air suspension and the Q7’s load floor by 2.8 inches.
Exterior Design
Aiming to convey elegance, dynamism, and robustness, Audi designed its new Q7 to have what it calls the sportiest proportions in the luxo-ute class. Above the beltline, designers wanted the Q7 to be smooth and flowing. Below the beltline, the styling goal was to impart a more rugged and expressive appearance. Up front, Audi’s characteristic single-frame grille leaves no question as to which company makes this SUV, while at the rear the tapered roofline terminates in a lightweight aluminum hatch that is deftly integrated into the design with virtually no shut lines visible when viewed from the rear. Audi offers 10 paint colors from which to choose, six of which are shades of black, white, or gray.
Interior Design
Audi patterned the Q7’s cabin after its A6 and A8 luxury sedans. Inside, the Q7 oozes class and quality, abounding in muted colors, soft touch points, and tight panel gaps. Audi offers three kinds of wood trim: burr walnut, olive ash, or tamo (a Japanese dark wood). Optional aluminum inlays, decorative rings and strips on the controls and switches, and special LED interior lighting is optional. You can also decorate the air vents with aluminum-look trim, but we advise against this because it causes distracting reflections in the side windows, making it hard to view the mirrors. You can also dress your Q7 in Alcantara suede for the headliner and pillar trim, and Audi offers a choice of leather upgrades.
Safety
Safety is the price of entry in the 21st century automotive marketplace, and the 2007 Audi Q7 arrives with plenty of features and technology designed to keep you, and your loved ones, out of harm’s way. Standard equipment includes dual two-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, and Audi’s Sideguard system of side-curtain airbags that, in the Q7, inflate to protect occupants of all three rows. Audi offers side-impact airbags for the second row of seats, too. Seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters further protect against injury, and the Q7’s structure is designed to deflect crash energy away from the high-strength steel passenger cell.
Three Rows of Seats
The 2007 Audi Q7’s second-row seat is for people you like. It sits a bit low, but offers good thigh support once you get settled. Leg room is good, foot space is generous, and when you order the optional four-zone automatic climate system the rear seat riders get individual controls mounted on the back of the front center console. If you’re toting toddlers, the Q7’s optional manual sun shades are perfect for blocking light that might reach sensitive eyes.
Room for adults in the third-row is scant. If lanky adults occupy the second-row seats, forget about putting anyone much taller than five-feet back there. And if you can con anyone in your sextet to take the rearmost jump seats, make sure they’re limber, because entry and exit constitute a warm-up at the local gym. Once they clamber aboard, they’ll find the third-row seats very low and very flat, but with surprisingly good foot space.
Comfort
Obviously, the 2007 Audi Q7’s front seats are the place to be. You sit tall behind the steering wheel on a multi-adjustable driver’s chair, with clear sightlines everywhere except through the rear window, which is obscured a bit by the second-row head restraints and significantly if the third-row is raised but not in use. The driver faces a handsome instrument panel, and Audi offers decent storage space in the doors, center console, and glove box (check out the elegant opener for that last item). But the Q7’s control layout needs a major overhaul. For a vehicle touted to be a “performance SUV,” Audi asks the driver to lower her eyes too far from the road to operate the climate, audio, and MMI systems. Cognitively, finding the right MMI key, referencing the display screen, deciding what to do next, and how to do it, is far too distracting while underway. Good thing it’s a voice-controlled system, with selected auxiliary controls mounted to the steering wheel spokes. Does Berlitz offer a course in MMI?
Cargo Space
Audi hits a home run when it comes to using the Q7 for hauling cargo. The third-row seat quickly folds flat without removing the head restraints to create a sizeable 40 cu.-ft. cargo area, though vertical stacking is compromised by the fast D-pillars and tapered roofline. There’s a deep cargo compartment under the floor behind the third-row seat and above the spare tire well. Our Q7 4.2 test sample also featured Audi’s adaptive air suspension, which could be lowered 2.8 inches for easier cargo loading and unloading. Like the third-row seats, the second-row seats drop quickly and easily without removing the headrests. Maximum cargo volume is a healthy 88 cu.-ft., putting the 2007 Audi Q7 solidly in mid-size SUV territory by our informal standards.
What Q7 Means
In creating the Q7 – “Q” for Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, “7” for seven-passenger capacity – Audi focused on four goals: design, performance, versatility, and safety. Based on our day-long ride and drive covering hundreds of miles of Arizona freeways, city streets, twisty two-lane roads, and dirt trails, we’d say the 2007 Audi Q7 delivers on all counts.
Key Specifications
Test Vehicle: 2007 Audi Q7 3.6; 2007 Audi Q7 4.2
Price of Test Vehicle: $40,000 (est. 3.6); $49,900 (4.2)
Engine Size and Type: 3.6-liter V6 (3.6); 4.2-liter V8 (4.2)
Engine Horsepower: 280 at 6,200 rpm (3.6); 350 at 6,800 rpm (4.2)
Engine Torque: 265 lb.-ft. between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm (3.6); 325 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Tiptronic automatic with manual shift feature
Curb weight, lbs.: 5,269 (4.2)
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): NA
Observed Fuel Economy: 16.1 mpg (3.6 – included off-roading jaunt); 15.2 mpg (4.2)
Length: 200.2
Width: 78.1
Wheelbase: 118.2
Height: 68.4
Max. Seating Capacity: Seven
Max. Cargo Volume: 88 (10.8 behind 3rd row)
Max. Towing Capacity: 6,600 pounds
Min. Ground Clearance: 8.1 inches (standard); 9.5 inches (optional air suspension in Lift mode)
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX, Chrysler Aspen, Chrysler Pacifica, Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470, Lexus LX 470, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, and Volvo XC90.
When the first 2007 Audi Q7s arrive in showrooms in June of 2006, each will be equipped with a 4.2-liter V8 engine and a “4.2” badge on the tailgate. Standard equipment will include leather upholstery, a power tailgate, bi-Xenon headlights, a Bose audio system with 14 speakers, a navigation system, Bluetooth communications technology, and the all-important third-row seat in the $49,900 price. If you can wait half a year, and don’t mind losing the goodies listed here, a less expensive about $40,000 model with a V6 engine and a “3.6” badge on the rear end will go on sale for about $40,000. Even at that price, parking assistance, power folding and heated side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, and a full complement of safety features comes standard on every Q7.
Options
Audi offers a stunning array of options and stickers rise rapidly as you add complexity to the 2007 Q7. Starting simply, there are larger wheels and tires available, and metallic paint is going to run extra. Interior upgrades like aluminum-look trim and LED lighting, Alcantara headliner and pillar trim, a cargo rail system that helps to secure loads in the cargo area, and second-row bucket seats separated by a large storage console in place of the standard bench are also optional. Other goodies include heated front and rear outboard seats, the Open Sky three-part sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and manual rear side window blinds.
Technology
Technology geeks who sank every penny into Google’s IPO can add plenty of fun features to the 2007 Audi Q7. You can equip the SUV with a rearview camera for backing assistance, a navigation system with voice control, and a keyless locking and ignition system. Headlights that automatically swivel to illuminate corners are offered, as well as a lane-change warning system called Side Assist that monitors the Q7’s blind spots. Adaptive cruise control that operates between 0 and 90 mph and automatically adjusts speed based on traffic conditions is available, and the adaptive air suspension adjusts ride height for both off-roading and loading while managing cornering forces on twisty roads.
Engines
Thanks to a rather portly 5,269 curb weight, the 2007 Audi Q7’s 4.2-liter direct-injection V8 is tuned to deliver 350 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 325 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm. And, to make sure the Q7 feels sprightly off the line and around town up to 85 percent of peak torque is available at less than 2,000 rpm, helping to give what should feel like a ponderous machine a lively feel. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes about seven seconds according to Audi, and the Q7 4.2 reaches an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. Standard towing capacity with V8 is 5,500 pounds, but the Q7 4.2 can tackle a 6,600-lb. load with the proper equipment.
Though the V8 is the more suitable engine for the heavy Q7, the 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 coming in September manages an acceptable level of performance thanks to its 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 265 lb.-ft. of torque that’s available across a flat power band from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. Given its acceleration estimate of just over eight seconds to 60 mph, and a top speed of 130 mph that’s identical to the Q7 4.2, the lower price of entry and greater fuel efficiency of the V6 seems a worthy trade-off. Both engines require premium fuel.
Quattro
Each 2007 Audi Q7 is equipped with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission driving all four wheels through Audi’s legendary Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system. Quattro delivers traction in a 42/58 front/rear power split, ensured by its self-locking center differential. When the Q7’s wheels slip, Quattro can divert up to 65 percent of the engine’s power to the front wheels or, if necessary, as much as 85 percent to the rear wheels. Electronic differential locks brake individual wheels that are spinning to better control the apportioning of power and maximize traction. Audi says that by splitting power to favor the rear wheels, Quattro helps to negate torque steer when accelerating, and gives the Q7 a more sporting feel under normal driving conditions.
Air Suspension
With the 2007 Audi Q7’s adaptive air suspension, three primary modes are used for driving on the pavement: Dynamic, Automatic, and Comfort. Dynamic lowers the suspension more than half an inch for greater stability and less aerodynamic drag, and automatically engages at speeds over 75 mph. Comfort softens the dampers for a smoother ride quality. Automatic does exactly what its name implies; it automatically adjusts to create an optimal blend of ride quality, responsiveness, and stability. Dynamic roll stabilization manages the Q7’s weight transfer in turns by increasing outboard damping forces to counteract body roll. For off-roading, the adaptive air suspension offers Off-Road and Lift features. Off-Road can be used up to 60 mph, and raises ground clearance an inch. Lift adds almost another half inch for really tricky spots. For loading, a button in the cargo hold lowers the air suspension and the Q7’s load floor by 2.8 inches.
Exterior Design
Aiming to convey elegance, dynamism, and robustness, Audi designed its new Q7 to have what it calls the sportiest proportions in the luxo-ute class. Above the beltline, designers wanted the Q7 to be smooth and flowing. Below the beltline, the styling goal was to impart a more rugged and expressive appearance. Up front, Audi’s characteristic single-frame grille leaves no question as to which company makes this SUV, while at the rear the tapered roofline terminates in a lightweight aluminum hatch that is deftly integrated into the design with virtually no shut lines visible when viewed from the rear. Audi offers 10 paint colors from which to choose, six of which are shades of black, white, or gray.
Interior Design
Audi patterned the Q7’s cabin after its A6 and A8 luxury sedans. Inside, the Q7 oozes class and quality, abounding in muted colors, soft touch points, and tight panel gaps. Audi offers three kinds of wood trim: burr walnut, olive ash, or tamo (a Japanese dark wood). Optional aluminum inlays, decorative rings and strips on the controls and switches, and special LED interior lighting is optional. You can also decorate the air vents with aluminum-look trim, but we advise against this because it causes distracting reflections in the side windows, making it hard to view the mirrors. You can also dress your Q7 in Alcantara suede for the headliner and pillar trim, and Audi offers a choice of leather upgrades.
Safety
Safety is the price of entry in the 21st century automotive marketplace, and the 2007 Audi Q7 arrives with plenty of features and technology designed to keep you, and your loved ones, out of harm’s way. Standard equipment includes dual two-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, and Audi’s Sideguard system of side-curtain airbags that, in the Q7, inflate to protect occupants of all three rows. Audi offers side-impact airbags for the second row of seats, too. Seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters further protect against injury, and the Q7’s structure is designed to deflect crash energy away from the high-strength steel passenger cell.
Three Rows of Seats
The 2007 Audi Q7’s second-row seat is for people you like. It sits a bit low, but offers good thigh support once you get settled. Leg room is good, foot space is generous, and when you order the optional four-zone automatic climate system the rear seat riders get individual controls mounted on the back of the front center console. If you’re toting toddlers, the Q7’s optional manual sun shades are perfect for blocking light that might reach sensitive eyes.
Room for adults in the third-row is scant. If lanky adults occupy the second-row seats, forget about putting anyone much taller than five-feet back there. And if you can con anyone in your sextet to take the rearmost jump seats, make sure they’re limber, because entry and exit constitute a warm-up at the local gym. Once they clamber aboard, they’ll find the third-row seats very low and very flat, but with surprisingly good foot space.
Comfort
Obviously, the 2007 Audi Q7’s front seats are the place to be. You sit tall behind the steering wheel on a multi-adjustable driver’s chair, with clear sightlines everywhere except through the rear window, which is obscured a bit by the second-row head restraints and significantly if the third-row is raised but not in use. The driver faces a handsome instrument panel, and Audi offers decent storage space in the doors, center console, and glove box (check out the elegant opener for that last item). But the Q7’s control layout needs a major overhaul. For a vehicle touted to be a “performance SUV,” Audi asks the driver to lower her eyes too far from the road to operate the climate, audio, and MMI systems. Cognitively, finding the right MMI key, referencing the display screen, deciding what to do next, and how to do it, is far too distracting while underway. Good thing it’s a voice-controlled system, with selected auxiliary controls mounted to the steering wheel spokes. Does Berlitz offer a course in MMI?
Cargo Space
Audi hits a home run when it comes to using the Q7 for hauling cargo. The third-row seat quickly folds flat without removing the head restraints to create a sizeable 40 cu.-ft. cargo area, though vertical stacking is compromised by the fast D-pillars and tapered roofline. There’s a deep cargo compartment under the floor behind the third-row seat and above the spare tire well. Our Q7 4.2 test sample also featured Audi’s adaptive air suspension, which could be lowered 2.8 inches for easier cargo loading and unloading. Like the third-row seats, the second-row seats drop quickly and easily without removing the headrests. Maximum cargo volume is a healthy 88 cu.-ft., putting the 2007 Audi Q7 solidly in mid-size SUV territory by our informal standards.
What Q7 Means
In creating the Q7 – “Q” for Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, “7” for seven-passenger capacity – Audi focused on four goals: design, performance, versatility, and safety. Based on our day-long ride and drive covering hundreds of miles of Arizona freeways, city streets, twisty two-lane roads, and dirt trails, we’d say the 2007 Audi Q7 delivers on all counts.
Key Specifications
Test Vehicle: 2007 Audi Q7 3.6; 2007 Audi Q7 4.2
Price of Test Vehicle: $40,000 (est. 3.6); $49,900 (4.2)
Engine Size and Type: 3.6-liter V6 (3.6); 4.2-liter V8 (4.2)
Engine Horsepower: 280 at 6,200 rpm (3.6); 350 at 6,800 rpm (4.2)
Engine Torque: 265 lb.-ft. between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm (3.6); 325 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Tiptronic automatic with manual shift feature
Curb weight, lbs.: 5,269 (4.2)
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): NA
Observed Fuel Economy: 16.1 mpg (3.6 – included off-roading jaunt); 15.2 mpg (4.2)
Length: 200.2
Width: 78.1
Wheelbase: 118.2
Height: 68.4
Max. Seating Capacity: Seven
Max. Cargo Volume: 88 (10.8 behind 3rd row)
Max. Towing Capacity: 6,600 pounds
Min. Ground Clearance: 8.1 inches (standard); 9.5 inches (optional air suspension in Lift mode)
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX, Chrysler Aspen, Chrysler Pacifica, Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470, Lexus LX 470, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, and Volvo XC90.
Photos courtesy of Audi