Audi Q7
New from £78,245
Is the Audi Q7 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Autotrader
"Not only has the Q7 the distinction of being the first SUV Audi ever put out onto the public market, but it is also the most accommodating of all its SUVs – which presently run from Q2 to Q8 – in terms of sheer bums-on-seats: it’s the only three-row, seven-seat family carrier Audi produces. The incoming, even larger and all-new Q9 will change that status, but the Q7 is powering on into a third generation regardless. It initially comes only with mild-hybrid power and a V6 turbodiesel engine as part of that set-up, so has the latest Q7 got enough about it to see off the likes of the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and Volvo XC90?"
Green Rating
All the Volkswagen Group’s European plants – including Bratislava, where the Q7 is built – operate with 100 per cent renewable energy, with the conglomerate claiming it is on target for full carbon neutrality by 2030, fully ten years ahead of its original schedule. However, for all that, Audi makes no specific mention of any sustainable materials or processes used in the construction of the new Q7. Audi has at least fitted a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to the V6 TDI variant to marginally trim its CO2 emissions, but the diesel will still be a more-polluting vehicle from its tailpipe than either a plug-in hybrid (there’s one of these on the way for the Q7) or a full EV, naturally.
Read the review by category
Running costs for an Audi Q7
Despite Audi adopting mild-hybrid power for the turbodiesel propulsion system in the Q7 TDI, it will have significantly elevated running costs compared to a plug-in hybrid or electric alternative – made worse by diesel costing a lot more per litre than petrol these days. All versions of the Audi Q7 TDI fail to beat 40mpg for official fuel economy, while the two grander specifications are much closer to 35mpg. Add in CO2 emissions of almost, or more than, 200g/km on all three trims – leading to higher taxation – and the big Audi SUV won’t be that cost-effective to run.
Reliability of an Audi Q7
Audi is a premium brand, and German car companies tend to have a perceived reputation for reliability among the public, but that isn’t always the case. While Audi itself performs reasonably well in customer-satisfaction surveys, the old Mk2 Q7 frequently came bottom of all prestige seven-seat SUVs when it came to reliability assessments. In fairness to the Audi, faults with the Q7 were rarely terminal to its ability to complete its journey, but they were numerous and expensive to sort out. Here’s hoping that Audi has got to grips with this question mark over the dependability of its products with the latest Q7.
Safety for an Audi Q7
Large and stolidly built, the new Audi Q7 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP at the time of writing, but we’re expecting it to record top marks when it is put through its paces. The Q7 comes with a wealth of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, with a view to keeping its occupants as safe as possible – with even a base S line featuring adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with emergency assist, a surround-view camera system and all-round parking sensors with distance display, a predictive speed limiter, front cross-traffic assist, collision avoidance assist incorporating swerve assist and turn assist, side assist with exit warning, a driver attention and fatigue monitor, and front emergency brake assist. You have to fork out on the priciest Vorsprung model to build on any of this ADAS gear, that car further adding a head-up display for the driver, plus park assist pro with remote functionality and trained parking capability, adaptive cruise assist plus, full 3D cameras for the 360-degree set-up and front and rear emergency brake assist.
How comfortable is the Audi Q7
The main strength of the Audi Q7 is how quiet, comfortable and refined it is. You can option up some truly goliath alloy wheels, but no matter which model you go for, it comes with adaptive air suspension as standard. This does a good job of smothering out any road-based imperfections, long before they have a chance to thud through the wheels and enter the Q7’s passenger compartment. It’s also really subdued for both tyre and wind noise, so the Audi Q7 is a thoroughly graceful car to ride in. As to passenger space, it’s vast in the second row but a little more bijou in the very back, while it can also take a while to wait for the electrically powered seats to whirr out of the way and fold themselves down when you want to reconfigure the seating arrangement. Top tip, though: in five-seat format, with chairs six and seven tucked away, the boot in the Audi Q7 is the very definition of cavernous.
Features of the Audi Q7
<p>All three specifications of the new Q7 are expensive, but in mitigation even the lowliest S line versions come crammed with some proper delights for technophiles. Matrix LED headlights and LED rear lamps with dynamic ‘direction-sweep’ indicators, a powered tailgate, three-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting with a dynamic interaction light, electrically adjustable and heated front sport seats, electric adjustment, folding and tumbling for the second- and third-row seats, twin 25-watt inductive smartphone charging pads, a digital key, and a ten-speaker Audi Sound System are part of the standard bundle. That’s on top of the three huge screens that make up the Audi Q7’s dashboard interface. </p><p>Stepping up to the time-limited Edition 1 specification brings in selectable front and rear light signatures for the Audi’s exterior clusters, as well as a heated steering wheel and heated armrests, ventilation and massage functions for the front seats, and heating elements for four out of the five seats in the rear. Top-grade Vorsprung cars are loaded with all of Audi’s latest lighting technology, including an illuminated grille and the rear Audi emblem, as well as powered doors, a panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate and a thumping Bang & Olufsen 22-speaker 4D ‘Premium Sound’ system with front-seat bass actuators that pulse in time with the musical rhythm – but you pay a big premium for a Q7 TDI Vorsprung, obviously, though.</p>
Power for an Audi Q7
There’s something almost refreshing about driving a big-hearted turbodiesel in this day and age, and it’s a large part of the overall appeal of the Audi Q7 TDI. That said, despite some impressive on-paper outputs from this engine, the massive weight of the SUV does somewhat blunt its forcefulness out on the road. Audi reckons it’ll do a 0-62mph run in 6.2 seconds in the solitary specification we get in the UK, but we timed it twice and it didn’t get near that figure. This couples to a weird sensation where, on part-throttle and at lower speeds, the Q7 TDI feels muscular as it burrs effortlessly along. But if you put your right foot down to elicit more performance from the engine, you don’t really get an awful lot more acceleration from it – almost as if the throttle has been calibrated to give its all at the slightest feathering from the driver. Still, by the same token the Q7 doesn’t feel underpowered or lethargic, and it comes with the traction advantages of all-wheel drive plus a super-slick-shifting eight-speed auto as well.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Audi Q7 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
Related articles and reviews
Audi Q7 SUV (2026 - ) review
Audi’s big seven-seat SUV is back for a third outing, and it’s still packing V6 diesel power
Video | New Audi Q7 first look
Alex Legouix takes a tour Audi’s new diesel-powered luxury SUV
Audi Q7 SUV (2024 – ) review
The updated Audi Q7 still has a lot to offer, but it is feeling its age a bit now compared to newer (and cheaper) Audi stuff
Audi Q7 Plug-In Hybrid: Electric-Only Range Test
Rory Reid tests Audi’s claim that their Q7 plug-in hybrid can drive up to 29 miles using electric only. How far will he get?
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
Autotrader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Autotrader Limited introduces you to Autotrader Leasing Limited, which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autotrader Leasing Limited, No.3 Circle Square, 3 Hawkshaw Street, Manchester, M1 7BL (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of leasing companies. Autotrader Leasing Limited will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the leasing company as a result of this introduction.
Autotrader Leasing Limited is an Autotrader Group Plc company.
Vehicles are subject to availability and may vary from images shown.