New Audi Q7 review: German brand goes big on tech

Audi’s new luxury family SUV does something it shouldn’t be able to do, thanks to new technology that effectively shrinks its footprint.

Audi is confident the updated Q7 feels much smaller than it should.

The first generation wore the nautical nickname “QE7”, as piloting the seven-seater felt like riding the seas in an ocean liner compared to the precision of sportier siblings.

That changed when the second Q7 arrived in 2015 as a smaller, smarter and significantly lighter answer to the luxury SUV question.

Due here in the first half of 2020, the updated Q7 benefits from mild styling changes including a new grille and the option of laser headlights.

The updated Audi Q7 is due early next year.

Clever tech under the skin includes rear-wheel-steering that cuts a metre out of its turning circle and clever electromechanical anti-roll bars, which hold the car flat when cornering.

On the inside, the Q7 follows the lead of Audi’s range-topping A8 — its digital cockpit has four electronic displays.

The 12.3-inch driver readout is augmented by a colour head-up display. In the centre console, there are stacked touchscreens, the 10.1-inch upper display handling satnav, communications and entertainment and the 8.6-inch lower readout detailing climate control.

Intuitive and eye-catching, the changes bring much-needed modernity to the cabin. High-resolution maps with 3D satellite images pinched from Google look sensational, though loyal customers will have to get used to life without a physical controller.

The Q7 gets a substantial makeover.

Tech is the main story for the new Q7.

European models get Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant, natural voice recognition, in-car Wi-Fi and digital keys for friends and family. As in its sharpest rivals, the Q7 encourages owners to make adjustments to cabin temperature with simple phrases such as “I’m cold”.

More luxurious than before, the Q7 can be had with leather-trimmed seats with heating, cooling and massage functions, four-zone climate control, power tailgate and soft-close doors that pull themselves shut.

Audi claims the Q7 is roomier than such rivals as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. There certainly is plenty of space with ample head and legroom for rear occupants, who also benefit from dedicated temperature controls and USB outlets.

In five-seat mode, the wagon has 865L of luggage space.

There is plenty of cargo space in five-seat mode.

There is an extra 10kW in each of the 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesels, now tweaked to deliver 170kW/500Nm or 210kW/600Nm.

We tested the more powerful Q7 50 TDI, a quiet and effortless performer with plenty of grunt for overtaking. Enthusiasts might be bothered by a slight lag in the diesel’s response when pressing on, though sharper stablemates address this.

The eight-speed automatic drives all four wheels with the goal of efficiency, choosing high gears to keep fuel consumption down. A new “mild hybrid”, amounting to sophisticated stop-start with a coasting function (it can’t propel the car), cuts fuel use by 0.7L/100km.

Our test takes place on Ireland’s Ring of Kerry, a tourist route with spectacular scenery melding mossy forests, rocky outcrops and coastal vistas along 180 winding kilometres.

The Q7 has a lot of digital screens.

It doesn’t take long to get accustomed to the Q7’s size, even when tyres on each side trip over reflective lane markers. Precise and responsive, the Q7 can be placed with confidence at all speeds.

Those clever roll bars keep it flat on the road and the rear-steering helps make the Q7 turn like a much smaller vehicle in the tight stuff. Upgraded cameras and sensors, including a natty 3D illustration of the vehicle, further assist in making super-tight parking easier than before.

Customers keen to go exploring can opt for air suspension that can lower the body by 40mm or raise it 50mm above regular ride height. Hill descent control and other aids feature in its dedicated off-road mode.

Verdict 3.5/5

The revised Q7 brings tangible benefits for buyers. It’s a textbook update, with a raft of changes to improve the looks, technology, driving behaviour and efficiency.

The update has made the Q7 an all-round better car.

Audi Q7 50 TDI vitals

Price: $100,000 plus on-roads (est)

Safety: Not yet rated, AEB, active cruise control, rear cross traffic alert

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, 210kW/600Nm

Thirst: N/A

Boot: 865L-2050L

Petrol power

Audi is considering a petrol V6 for the Q7 Australia. Packing 250kW/500Nm, the 55 TFSI is the quickest model in the range for now, bringing sharper responses and a sweeter note from the V6, shared with the S4 sports sedan. Performance enthusiasts might want to wait for the updated SQ7 V8 diesel with a walloping 320kW/900Nm — they will need $160,000-odd to get one.