Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro 2010 Review

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $93,814
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Technik Package $6700; Xenon Plus headlamps $2095; Walnut inlays $895; High Beam Assist $325
Crash rating: Four-star ANCAP
Fuel: 95-98 RON Premium Unleaded
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 10.7 (combined)
CO2 emissions (g/km): 249 (Euro 5)
Also consider: BMW X5, Lexus LX570, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.5/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

While the Q7 might lack the go-anywhere appeal of some big offroaders, it is a formidable family hauler in its own right. And with the added incentive of supercharged V6 power, the argument for buying your very own high cachet high-rider is rock solid.

The Slovakian built seven-seater provides ample accommodation across its three rows and provides 735-litres of cargo capacity in five-seat mode or a total of 2035-litres with both rear rows folded flat. If you require even more luggage capacity, the Q7 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. There's the fundamentals sorted.

Add to that the plentiful practicality of an electrically operated tailgate, integrated sat nav, Bluetooth and just about every other modcon at which you could hope to poke a stick and the Q7 becomes quite an attractive prospect -- and that's before you factor in the powerplant.

Introduced to the range in September, the intercooled 3.0-litre supercharged V6 powering the Q7 3.0 TFSI provides surprisingly potent performance in spite of its diminutive displacement. Developing 245kW/440Nm, the direct injected mill is also seen in various A4/A5 and A6 models. Like its sporty brethren, it delivers acceleration that is both linear and brisk with the 0-100km/h sprint managed in just 6.9 seconds -- very rapid. Audi claims a top speed of 243km/h.

Some of the updated Q7's improved performance (both in terms of performance and fuel efficiency) is attributable to a now standard eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi claims it reduces fuel usage around 5 per cent.

With eight ratios to work with (ranging from 4.84 to 0.67), the Q7's engine speed is kept low when cruising but remains at its optimum operating point when duly summoned. As a result, responsive and decisive gear swaps offer masses of flexible in-gear acceleration. Sport mode and manual override -- in this instance from optional paddle shifts -- also contribute to a more involved driving experience, should the mood take you.

Continually driving all four wheels, Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system provides Q7 with acres of grip. The system can distribute torque asymmetrically and dynamically as required, though usually drives the front and rear wheels at a 40:60 split. In more demanding situations, and with the aid of a self-locking centre differential, this variance can range by up as much as 65:35 and 15:85 (front-to-rear) as required.

From the driver's seat, the big Audi's power assisted rack and pinion steering is bordering on light but not so much as to be totally devoid of feel. In spite of its length, the Q7 boasts a 12.0m turning circle.

Riding on 18-inch alloy wheels, the Q7 is suspended by a double wishbone arrangement at either end. And while some may find the ride compliance to be on the firmer side of comfortable, it does lend the large wagon an imposing degree of cornering tenacity.

Braking comes via four-wheel discs with anti-lock, electronic brake-force and emergency brake assist functionality. The pedal feel is progressive, and the stopping power confident but some more petite drivers may want for more assistance.

In addition to the electronic braking aids, stability control, traction control and a full house of airbags see the Q7 achieve a four-star ANCAP safety rating, though we hasten to point out it has not been tested since 2006.

If we had to nit-pick, Q7 does have one of those cumbersome foot-operated/hand-release park brakes and, despite every other conceivable media application, no iPod or auxiliary input connection, at least as standard.

The badging too is also confusing: 'V6 T' on the front guards hints a turbo might be involved in the force feeding process.

Considerably cheaper than same-sized rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, the Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI sits closer to Porsche Cayenne or Volkswagen Touareg in terms of price -- a curious coincidence considering their shared origins.

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