Jan 04, 2007, Lionel Kong

Is this a gentler giant?

Audi’s entry-level Q7 proves to be larger than life

Whichever way you look at it, the Audi Q7 is one gigantic car. With enough room for up to seven people, a roof line that towers over many regular sized cars, quattro four-wheel drive, proper SUV proportions, and stretching over five metres in length and weighing in at 2.2 tonnes, it is almost big enough to be classed as a small tank.

The Q7 is Audi’s much delayed first serious attempt at building a real SUV-sized vehicle from ground up, though it owes much to parent company Volkwagen’s Touareg (which incidentally also lends its platform to the Porsche Cayenne), with both models sharing similar transmission and suspension components. Beyond that, the Q7 is sitting on a chassis that is a fair bit longer than the Touareg’s.

The car was first made available with a 4.2-litre direct injection V8, a well as a V6 turbodiesel. The Q7 you see here is the new entry-level model, and it packs a 3.6-litre V6.

Audi claims that the Q7 was built to be driven off-road while still providing a sporty driving experience. This very same marketing angle has been used by BMW, Volvo and just about everybody else in between. So the question is, does the Q7 deliver, especially in entry-level guise?

Despite its height, getting into the Q7 is relatively easy. Control placement is logical, and it actually feels very similar to the Audi A6 sedan. Storage spaces can be found in just about every corner of the cabin, and it also has more 12 volt power sockets installed throughout than you could ever need.

The centre console also houses the Multi Media Interface, or MMI. It gives you quick access to vehicle setup options as well as controls for the stereo. Unlike its competitors, the MMI does not rely on a mass of tiny buttons or stacks of hard-to-find sub-menus.

The system is actually very easy to learn, even without studying the manual. Audi has always been known for its top notch interiors, and the Q7’s does not disappoint. The seating position is commanding, not just for the driver but rear seat passengers as well. The third row of seats is still quite tight though. Driving about town, the sheer height of the car means that besides lorries and large vans, just about every other driver will be below your line of sight.

Rear storage space resembles a small warehouse with the third row of seats folded away, but the rear hatch does not have an automatic closing system. With the car standing at nearly 1.7 metres in height, shorter drivers would find it very difficult to close the hatch once it is fully raised.

The front grille of the Q7 also seems to emphasise the fact that the car is bigger than just about every other regular car out there. The grille itself is larger then the rear window of most small hatchbacks, and the drawn-back headlights with integral ‘eyelids’ make it look like a hulking mechanical predator when viewed head-on.

The 3.6 litre direct-injection V6 engine shows its incredible versatility once the car starts moving. 360Nm of torque is available from a mere 2,500rpm, and the engine maintains consistent power delivery all the way to 5,000rpm. Maximum power output is 280bhp, available once the engine hits 6,200rpm. The amazing spread of torque means that there is no need to really rev the engine, but it does so willingly and with a smoothness that feels good enough to whip cream.

Overtaking with the Q7 is effortless, even without needing to downshift. At highway speeds, the weight of the car does not really show until you try a quick lane change manoeuvre. Then it feels top heavy, imparting a slight wallowing sensation.

Getting the car into our cramped urban carparks also requires a little more skill, but in this respect, the high seating position really helps to give you a better view of the space immediately around you.

Despite Audi’s claims that the car can negotiate gradients of up to 60 degrees, the Q7 is not really something that we would take through rough off-road trails, at least not without some major modifications. The extremely long wheelbase could see the car scraping its underbelly over very uneven terrain, and its plush interior does not lend itself to muddy excursions at all.

Yet for a comfortable long distance cruise or moving a large family around in luxury, the Q7 is worth a look. The 3.6-litre version is more than up to the task, but should you feel the need for more power, the 4.2-litre V8-engined version can be had for approximately $60,000 more.

NEED TO KNOW
ENGINE TYPE: 3597cc V6
MAX POWER: 280bhp at 6200rpm
MAX TORQUE: 360Nm at 2500-5000rpm
GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic
TOP SPEED: 225km/h
0-100 KM/H: 8.5 seconds
PRICE: $241,000 with COE
WARRANTY: 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT: Premium Automobiles
TELEPHONE: 6566-1111

Verdict: Passengers will have no complaints riding in the Q7, and the drive is pretty smooth too.

(+) Top-notch build quality, commanding driving position, smooth engine

(-) Size can make it difficult to park in tight spaces, SUV/MPV crossover styling means that it is a jack of both trades but master of neither

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