2007
Audi Q7

by Steve Schutz, MD

Three long years after Audi teased us with the gorgeous Pikes Peak Quattro SUV concept vehicle, the production version, now known as the Q7, is finally here. And it was worth the wait. Sporting a distinctive design, gorgeous interior and seating for—what else?—seven, the Q7 hits all the right notes for upscale parents and grandparents alike who desire a luxurious driving experience but need more room than a sedan can provide.

For starters, the Q7 drives more like a car than any other big SUV I’ve driven, and that’s saying something with the very well turned-out Mercedes GL, BMW X5, and Lexus GX available to cross shoppers. In town, the Q maneuvers and parks easily, on twisty roads it turns confidently and on the highway it cruises serenely. Its highway manners in particular are impressive.

I drove the Q7 on the open road extensively and was always very pleased with its confidence and poise. Actually, I was surprised. The Q7 is derived from the Volkswagen Touareg/Porsche Cayenne platform, neither of which is very car-like to drive. But it’s true.

One of the reasons the Q7 drives so well is the extra six inches of wheelbase it’s got over the Touareg and Cayenne. That space has been used for an optional fold-flat third seat for two that’s a godsend for sleepovers and car pools.

If you —like most Q7 buyers — choose the third seat, you can select either a bench second row that seats three or captains chairs for two. Another nice touch my wife Elisa appreciated — you slide across onto the front seats of the Q7, not way up into them.

Naturally, the Q7’s interior is well trimmed out, as are all Audis these days. The plastics and controls seem richer and more substantial than in other luxury automotive brands, and the esthetics are superb. I especially like the gauges with their bright white numbers and red accents.

Of course, a rundown of the interior of the Q7 wouldn’t be complete without a discussion of the MMI (Multimedia Interface). Like BMW’s iDrive, the MMI uses a big knob located on the central console coupled with menus you read on a screen to work the audio system, climate control and GPS navigator. The MMI is more user-friendly than iDrive —which is better than it used to be, by the way — but is not as intuitive as Lexus’ touch screen system. Elisa, who drives a Volvo XC 90 and prefers buttons without a screen, was put off by the MMI. But Jackie Fern, a Dermatologist friend of mine who recently replaced her Lexus RX 330 with a Q7, loves the high tech device. When I asked her how long it took to adjust to the MMI, she said, “About fifteen seconds, and that’s without reading the manual.” Still, try before you buy is pretty good advice.

The exterior design of the Q7 is attractive and fresh. On the one hand it incorporates edgy design elements like an aggressive, almost angry, front end highlighted by a big grille and angled headlights. On the other hand the Q7’s sides and profile are a study in soft curves and gentle contours that soothe the eye. While merging edgy and soft in one vehicle seems contradictory, it works, and it would take a deep anti-Audi bias not to call the Q7 handsome.

There are two engine choices available, a 3.6 liter 280 HP V6 and Audi’s familiar 4.2 liter 350 HP V8. A smooth, six-speed transmission with Tiptronic is standard on both, as is Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Thanks to a curb weight of 5,000-plus pounds, don’t expect road-burning performance; published 0-60 mph times come out to about 8 seconds for the V8 and 10 seconds for the V6.

Both V6 and V8 Q7s can be outfitted with Base or Premium packages. Base versions include 18-inch wheels, adaptive HID headlights, power rear hatch, Bose audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer and a memory function for the driver’s seat. Premium Q7s add 19-inch wheels, navigation, park assist with rearview camera, a huge three-panel sunroof, heated front and rear seats, second-row captains’ chairs, a second rear air conditioning unit and Sirius satellite radio.

An optional “S line” package adds sportier seats, unique exterior trim elements and 21-inch alloy wheels with performance tires. Most of the Premium features can also be ordered individually on the base Q7, if you don’t mind waiting. Other stand alone options include the third row of seats discussed above, an air suspension system, 20-inch wheels and adaptive cruise control.

Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control with rollover detection, tire-pressure monitoring, side curtain airbags for all outboard passengers and front-seat side airbags. Seat-mounted side airbags for the second row are optional. Also optional is Audi's Side Assist, a feature that notifies you when another vehicle has entered one of your blind spots. My tester didn’t have this option, so I’ll wait to decide if it’s a lifesaver or annoying pain in the neck.

So there you have it, the production version of the Pikes Peak Quattro. Yes, Audi was late to the luxury SUV party, but they produced a gem that’s ready to take on the Mercedes GL 450, BMWX5 and Lexus GX 470. Which is best for you? Only a test drive will tell.