Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 2016 Review

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro
Road Test

On screen, the new Audi Q7 appears a modest vehicle. Like politicians who claim to act on behalf of the people. However, this is merely an illusion because once parked next to other cars its size becomes readily apparent. It's a colossus!

So on one hand Audi's design team should be congratulated for hiding the vehicle's immensity, but on the other hand they should be criticised for the drab aesthetic.

In practical terms, I expected that parking Big Bertha would be as challenging as teaching a goat Pythagoras theorem. However, a reversing camera (with active guidelines), proximity sensors, rear collision sensing, rear cross-traffic alert and exit warning as standard take the stress out of gauging its considerable extremities.

Slotting the Q7 into car parks with assurance is far easier than it should be, with big mirrors and light steering making tight manoeuvres easier. Which is handy, because at 5.05 metres long it's often a tight squeeze to get the Q7 into position.

That said, it misses out on the 360-degree exterior camera and autonomous parking tech of the next model up, the 200kW Q7, but you'll pay another $7600 for the privilege.

Although it's not the most attractive vehicle design Audi has presented in its 106-year history, things improve drastically once seated inside the turbo-diesel V6-powered machine, a combination of classic luxury materials, modern design cues and acres of space conspiring to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Some of the advanced features on offer, particularly the touchpad, felt overwrought and gimmicky. There's no head-up display or full digital instrument panel (Virtual Cockpit in Audi-speak) in this model, but apart from that there's not a lot to complain about in the cabin.

Comfort and luxury levels are top-notch. Electrically-powered leather seats, mirrors and windows are welcome additions for this 'entry-level' rig and ergonomics are sound. Everything is where you'd expect it to be and figuring out the infotainment system input methods and menu structure is a doddle.

I really liked the marine-inspired gear shifter too. It felt lavish to rest your left hand on, plus the eight-speed automatic transmission it's connected to is a smooth and quiet but proactive operator. Likewise the turbo-diesel engine.

The 3.0-litre V6 delivers adequate acceleration in a creamy-smooth manner, with outputs totalling 160kW and 500Nm. The car motivates easily and with relaxed gait, thanks to loads of low-down torque and a soft accelerator pedal. It suits the car's nature.

My final fuel consumption figure, based on the trip computer, was 7.2L/100km which is entirely reasonable for a hulking 2310kg tub. That said, it was nowhere near the 5.8L/100km claimed figure.

The only quibble I had with the powertrain is the engine idle-stop system. It's great when you're stopped at a red light or in heavy traffic as the engine turns off to save fuel. But when it restarts it was rough and often took a while, resulting in impatient drivers tooting me… BMW X5 drivers more often than not.

There is a more powerful version of this engine available with the Q7. It costs around $8000 more and bumps power to 200kW and 600Nm. At times I wished this SUV had the fully-flavoured 200kW donk as the 160kW version sometimes feels a little undercooked, especially when you nail it off the line at the traffic lights to prove to all and sundry your 2.3-tonne beast is king of the road.

In its defence the softly rumbling V6 pulls strongly at freeway speeds, so when you have to gas it in a hurry at triple-digit speeds, response is prompt and acceleration is plentiful.

The Q7 is a comfortable cruiser for the main part, and there's oodles of interior room.  As a seven-seat vehicle, there's a wealth of cabin space and the third-row seats are electrically powered, so unless you're in a super-hurry this is a boon.

Indeed, if you need to transport extra people, hit the button and they rise up. Need more boot space? No dramas, tap it again and down they go automatically.

Boot space is ample at 770 litres with the third row seat folded away, expanding to a very useful 1955 litres with both rear rows of seats folded down.

Comfort levels are generally very good but at times the suspension felt too firm, even when the Drive Select mode was set to 'comfort'. It's the smaller, sharper cracks and ructions in the road that make themselves felt, whereas larger bumps were less apparent.

Audi's big rig is fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 255/55 Pirelli Scorpion tyres and commanding such a large SUV is remarkably easy thanks to the light but well sorted steering. It requires virtually no effort to turn the wheel.

The German machine could be accused of having a vague feel when set to Comfort mode, but it's a very minor issue and most drivers will find it easy to pilot. But on the SQ7 such quibbles could be pronounced.

During a late night country drive up the Hume Highway the Q7 proved an amicable companion but the automatic high-beam technology was hit and miss. At times it would recognise other cars very quickly but at others, such as approaching crests, it would take too long to switch, dazzling motorists.

Having used the more advanced Matrix LED system on Audis in the past, I can vouch for its effectiveness, and if you do a lot of country driving at night the $5500 outlay would be worth it in my view.

Audi offers nine colours for the new Q7, including the now-ubiquitous metallic brown. There's also diamond beige metallic for those wanting a quasi-gold tone.

Having spoken to a few of my colleagues about the new Audi Q7, I'd been led to believe it represents a paradigm shift for the luxury SUV genre. It's a supremely competent vehicle in many ways but in this particular guise, the 'cut-price' $96,300 160kW diesel, it's not without flaw.

The Q7 is significantly more expensive than many of its direct rivals, such as the BMW X5 and Benz GLE, and although it does move the game forward it's not by as big a margin as you might imagine.

2016 Audi Q7 160kW TDI pricing and specifications:
Price: $96,300 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 160kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 150g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> BMW X5 xDrive 25d (from $91,200)
>> Mercedes-Benz GLE 250d (from $86,900)
>> Volvo XC90 D5 (from $89,950)