Overview & Reviews

One of the more attractive luxury crossover SUVs available, the Audi Q7 comes with all the quality and understated opulence buyers have come to expect from the respected German marque. The Q7's bloodlines are evident in its incredibly swank interior. Craftsmanship is first-rate throughout, and the big SUV is decked out with a wide array of sophisticated luxury and safety features.

The Q7 isn't without its flaws, however. The vehicle's full complement of features contributes to its ponderous curb weight, which strips some crispness from its maneuverability and makes its below-par cargo space and third-row seat room all the more disappointing. As such, there are more sensible large SUVs available, but there's certainly no arguing with its luxury credentials.

Current Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is a luxury SUV that seats up to seven. Audi's largest crossover emphasizes performance and luxury, as its car-based unit-body construction and flurry of high-end accoutrements attest. It is available in 3.0T Premium, TDI Premium and 3.0T S line Prestige trims.

Standard features even on the base "Premium" trims are impressive, with highlights including xenon headlights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, Audi's MMI control interface and a power liftgate. Adding optional packages or stepping up to the Prestige adds things such as an air suspension, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, a navigation system, a rearview camera, a surround-sound audio system and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 3.0T Premium is powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 3.0T S line Prestige gets a more powerful version of that engine, producing 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. An alternative choice is the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 found in the Q7 TDI. It produces 240 hp and a robust 406 lb-ft of torque, while returning a relatively frugal 22 mpg combined. All engines are mated to "Quattro" all-wheel drive and an eight-speed transmission with manual shift control.

The Audi Q7 shines on pavement. Its optional adjustable air suspension helps it navigate bumps and ruts with panache, and Audi's all-wheel-drive system keeps the wheels firmly glued to the road. The SUV is somewhat porcine, which of course hurts acceleration and fuel efficiency.

The Audi Q7's cabin manages to be both high-tech and warm at the same time. There's lots of burled wood on display, and come nighttime, the gauges light up with a pleasing red glow. The construction is arguably class-leading, while materials quality is first-rate. The navigation, climate control and audio systems are all accessed via Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI). Once you get up to speed on the system, it's fairly easy to use. Third-row seating is strictly for the kids, making rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti more family-friendly. Both the second and third rows may be folded flat to swallow 72.5 cubic feet of cargo, which is below that of most other competing large luxury crossovers.

Used Audi Q7 Models
Audi introduced the Q7 for the 2007 model year. Initially, engine choices consisted of a 3.6-liter V6 (280 hp and 266 lb-ft) or a 4.2-liter V8 (350 hp and 325 lb-ft), both matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. Neither was an ideal choice, as the V6 was underpowered and the V8 was thirsty. For 2009, the turbodiesel-powered Q7 TDI (225 hp and 406 lb-ft) debuted, while other trims saw a shuffling of features. The following year saw a mild refresh, with updated front and rear styling and an updated MMI system.

Extensive engine lineup changes occurred for 2011, with the previous V6 and V8 engines being replaced by supercharged 3.0-liter V6s known as the 3.0T (272 hp and 295 lb-ft) and 3.0T S line (333 hp and 325 lb-ft), respectively. This year also saw an eight-speed automatic become standard on all Q7s. For the next year, the base 3.0T's output increased slightly, to 280 hp. Other than a modest bump in horsepower for the TDI (to 240 hp), things stood pat for 2013. Other than some minor equipment shuffling, these latter Q7s are similar to today's version.

User Reviews:

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  New 2010 TDI Q7 - 2010 Audi Q7
  By anchor5072 - November 12 - 12:06 pm

  I have put about 1000 miles on the Q7 so far. The diesel performs very well and is relatively quiet and virtually smoke free. My combined mileage, manually calculated from my first full tank was been about 23mpg. When you are idling or stuck in traffic, the mileage really drops off. I drove through a heavy rain storm last evening and as expected the heavy vehicle and all wheel drive performed flawlessly. The ride and cabin accommodations are elegant and quite comfortable. The large panorama sunroof gives the interior a very comfortable feel. The TDI is classified as an "Advanced Lean-Burn Vehicle" by the IRS and is eligible for a $1150 tax credit. Info is available on the IRS website.

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  Owned for 2yr and 7mo, still love it - 2007 Audi Q7
  By Larry - October 25 - 5:40 pm

  This is a beautiful machine that still turns heads. You can see people looking intently when they are overtaking. This is our 3rd Audi and it is a pleasure to have. My wife drives it 50 miles a day 50/50 highway city. It has nearly 29000 mi on it. We have only had one hiccup, and it was with the oil pressure. A light would come on when first started. This is a lease vehicle and we are not looking forward to the day when it goes back. We have the option to buy but it does not really fit our life needs. Im not sure what to say about all the brake wearing problems people are having. The Q7 weighs over 5000lbs and it has brakes that stop on a dime. Maybe driving style helps.

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  SUV of the Future - 2010 Audi Q7
  By Karen - October 15 - 9:19 pm

  I owned the 07 4.2 Q7 before this and really enjoyed the car but wasnt thrilled with the lower gas mileage (18.5mpg). I tried the Q5-good mileage but too small. The TDI is terrific-am averaging over 25 mpg on hway and city over 28mpg on hway. Upgraded MMI (easy to use) LED lights when parking, warning sounds for front and back bumpers (plus rear camera). Ride is smooth and quiet and excellent pickup from start. Small delay in engine start when turning key. For fill up, had trouble finding diesel nozzle that fit-many are too big. The electronic stability control is a great feature that really works-slows car down when going downhill in slippery conditions. It is a pleasure to drive this car.

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  Love my Tdi - 2009 Audi Q7
  By wabisabi - October 7 - 1:48 pm

  I have owned this fine vehicle for about 8,000 miles and I absolutely love it. Aside from everything a luxury vehicle provides, this thing is quite frugal. On long highway trips, I commonly see 27 to 29 mpg. Driving from my home in Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul, I see MPG readings from 24 to 29 depending on how heavy traffic is. Although the HP is lower than the V6 gas or the V8 gas engines, the torque is quite substantial and I have never felt that the vehicle was underpowered in any way. Towing a 23’ fishing boat around really exemplifies the advantage of large torque numbers. The Q7 has a super quiet interior, very comfortable. If you are looking at the Q7, get the Tdi.

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  Roomy, sporty and not a minivan - 2010 Audi Q7
  By r8rcr8z - September 17 - 4:34 pm

  We just purchased the 2010 Audi TDI S- Line with the Prestige Pkg. It was one of the first to land here in the US. For reference, we traded in our 2006 Mercedes ML 500 - which we loved, but had many problems. First of all, the Diesel is absolutely great. It has the pickup of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V4. With 14 miles on the car, I drove it from Houston to Dallas. I averaged 28.9 MPG. The gauge barely moved off off F. It is very roomy, drives extremely smooth, is very quiet and has conveniences that not only make it safer (i.e., side assist), but more enjoyable to drive. Also, the 3rd gen MMI is very easy to use and practical.

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  q7 Diesel - 2009 Audi Q7
  By q7 TDI - September 9 - 3:43 pm

  Ive had this vehicle a little over 3 moths and really enjoy driving it. Fit and finish on interior are excellent. Seats are very supportive and comfortable. Handling is very good for a vehicle of this size. Fuel economy has been better than expected. I have about 5000 miles on vehicle and my combined average is 22.5 mpg - with mostly around town driving. Regularly get 27-28 mpg on highway @ 75 mph and I have actually achieved over 30 mpg on a couple of longer, purely highway trips. 3rd row is very tight on legroom - really just for kids. 2nd row does adjust fore and aft to provide some slight relief for 3rd row passengers.

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  Its a beaut! - 2009 Audi Q7
  By sjo - August 26 - 3:22 pm

  I bought this car 3 months ago and now have 5000 miles on it. Every one of those miles has been a pleasure to drive. Who knew an SUV could be so much fun? Weve taken it on a couple camping trips already and it handled beautifully on the windy roads headed in to the mountains. Its a feeling of confidence taking tight turns in a big car with very little body lean. Ill be turning it in for its first scheduled maintenance this week and I have not had any problems yet. This car also has plenty of room for our family of four with 2 little kids. We also use the 3rd row frequently while carpooling with our friends kids. Id recommend this car to anyone looking for a luxury SUV.

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  Q7 4.2 S-Line - 2008 Audi Q7
  By Q7 Stowe - August 24 - 9:29 pm

  Our Q7 has been at the dealer for the past 45 days and they have no estimate as to when they will return it. This car has been a nightmare. Brakes started screeching at 2000 miles and in the 2.5 years that I have owned this car, it has been at the dealer over 20 times (excluding scheduled maintenance). The starter has been replaced twice which requires the entire engine to be pulled from the vehicle (nice design). Audi does have roadside assistance which is nice since I have had to utilize this service 6 times to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The Q7 S-line is a cool looking SUV, if the cool design does not turn heads, the screeching brakes will!

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  A Lot of Time In The Shop - 2009 Audi Q7
  By Driver in Reston - August 23 - 8:41 am

  At the last minute we signed a lease on this car thinking we would pay it off at the end of the lease term. The first two years we had it, it was in the shop every other month. There was a problem with the AC and they kept breaking other things trying to fix it. By the time it was stabilized, I hated the car. I love the way it drives and the way it looks, but I did not pay all this money to put it in the shop and drive a Hyundai. We are eager to turn it in and put this experience behind us. We will most likely be going back to Toyota or Volvo. I felt like the interior had a lot of plastic parts for the price. All-in-all, my first luxury car did not turn out to be so luxurious.

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  OK Car - Wont Buy Again - 2009 Audi Q7
  By hoonie99 - August 17 - 8:04 am

  Car design and comfort are great. Service, reliability and build quality are weak. If you must have this car, you will be taking a gamble as it seems that most people will come across at least one or two issues. Maintenance is expensive. Cant complain about fuel economy as you know what you are getting into. Compared to other heavy cars, about the average. The Audi Care Maintenance package only covers scheduled maintenance. Loved the car for the first two years, then things started to fall apart.