The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 27: Oct/Nov 2016 | Page 24

REVVED UP

Audi Q7 – Better Than Ever
The previous Audi flagship SUV, although perfectly fine, was starting to show its age. So the
replacement Audi Q7 - seen here in sporting S-Line Quattro form - is welcome and it makes its
predecessor seem like a potentate's barge. It has been given a complete overhaul.
Vorsprung
Progress in the all new Q7 is commendably
brisk thanks to the mighty 3.0L TDI 268bhp
engine. You can get the same engine with
just 215bhp but you would be missing out.
Key features of this seven-seat luxury SUV are
that it is a lot lighter and more efficient than
its predecessor, with a host of technological
advancements including the outstanding
'Virtual Cockpit' of which more below.
Our test car came with the optional
adaptive air suspension (£2,000 to you,
Squire), designed to keep the Q7 on the
level. It works too as the big Audi advances
untroubled over the lumpy, potholed roads of
modern Britain. It is, as stated, an expensive
bit of kit though, so air suspension and the
many options available for the Q7 will always
be budget dependent.
The now familiar 'Drive Select' modes
are available with the added benefit of 'Off
Road' and 'AllRoad' settings. You can choose
to set your own parameters for steering,
throttle and suspension in ‘Individual’ mode.
As mentioned, the Audi Q7 is certainly more
agile and better to drive than its forerunner
and by setting 'Sport' mode on the eightspeed Tiptronic gearbox (either in auto or

utilising the paddles) and Dynamic on the
selector, a really engaging drive is on offer.
The power comes in smoothly and it
is very easy to find yourself heading into
illegal realms of speed without noticing.
The Q7 is deceptively fast yet remains
quiet throughout. The test car was fitted
with winter tyres but I didn't notice any
deterioration in ride quality. Drive quickly
and you'll pay at the pumps though. 34Mpg
should be on the cards.
Durch
Through the week I made full use of the car's
abilities. The seats are great; in our car they
were upholstered in grey Valcona leather
which is a fab but costly (£1100) option.
As you would expect on a premium vehicle
the seats are multi-adjustable and even the
second row can be manoeuvred to suit.
There are two more child-friendly seats that
rise out of the cavernous boot electrically.
Despite being shorter and narrower than
the old Q7, the designers have done a good
job with squeezing more out of less with
extra head and legroom in all three rows.
With the third row down there is room in the
boot for, well, practically anything. All this

and a quality ride too. Even at speed the car
remains stable, showing only a touch of lean
when sprinting into corners.
The Audi Q7 would make a grand tow
car, especially with the 'Trailer Pack' with its
electric tow hitch which, when not in use,
stores itself magically under the car to save
spoiling the rear lines. Genius.
Technik
The extras available on the tested car added
an eye-watering £9,000 to the final tally of
£61,925. Some of what is on offer on the
option list isn't strictly necessary but some of
the very latest technology is outstanding.
Everything you would expect at this price
point come as standard. What really stands
out for me is Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit,
which adds a screen in front of the driver
that offers a variety of information and a
wide-angle view of the satellite navigation.
The central MMI screen that rises from the
dash on start-up is used to guide through all
the media choices as well as sat-nav.
The technology keeps on coming. There's
an excellent reversing camera and sensors
around plus a system called 'Pre-sense' which
warns of forward obstacles.

As they say in Germany
Ever since that impressive Audi advertising
campaign back in the 1980's we have been
made aware that 'advancement through
quality' was to be the German company's
catchphrase. Nothing has changed.
The Audi Q7 is beautifully built inside and
out. They are leaders in auto technology.
Sure, as a 4x4 it can't compete with other
prestige rivals like the Range Rover but I
don't think that Audi ever saw this vehicle as
an off-roader and I doubt that many buyers
would think of it as such. I would be very
happy to buy this new Q7; in fact the only
question preying on my mind would be, “Is
just one Audi enough?”
Written by
Geoff Maxted
www.drivewrite.co.uk

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