The Audi Q7 is a sharp, powerful vehicle, and we recently had the chance to test a European iteration of the quad-rung crossover. Drivers in the States currently have their choice of two direct-injection engines: a 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 280 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, or a 4.2-liter V-8 making 350 and 325. While both of these engines have ample power, they do not come close to the turbo-diesel V-8-equipped Q7 coming to the U.S. in 2009, which pumps out 320 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque.

The torque rush in this machine comes on strong at 1800 rpm and lasts well into the upper rev range. This allows the 5401-pound crossover to move from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system eliminates the torque steer that comes with turbo vehicles, especially since most of the power is sent to the rear wheels in dry conditions. This allows for a clean boost of acceleration that was greatly appreciated in runs from 40 to 80 mph. Many Michigan highway entrance ramps require that you push the pedal to the metal in order to get up to a proper merging speed, but this was not a problem in the diesel Q7. At one point, a person riding shotgun exclaimed a very hearty “Wow!” when he saw how easily the Audi shot up to highway speeds.

As a whole, we really like this engine, especially since it has a powerband that none of the American Q7s provide. The available V-8 is nothing to be sniffed at, but this turbo-diesel variant sure knows how to impress. We recently tested an MTM-tuned Audi Q7 (named after German tuner Motoren Technik Mayer), which is like a Porsche Cayenne Turbo in speed and agility. While we appreciated the 500 horsepower the MTM produced, we found the diesel Q7 to be more manageable and everyday-friendly.

Despite our enthusiasm about this Q7’s performance, we do have a gripe about initial acceleration. The gas pedal needs to be pushed in a bit farther than it does in normal vehicles, and this causes the Audi to lurch forward and then begin to skyrocket up to driving speeds. One of the most frustrating driving scenarios in the Q7 was rush-hour highway traffic when speeds only ranged from 5 to 15 mph.

We really liked the added visual touches on this Euro Q7. Our test vehicle was outfitted in S Line trim, which included a few exterior cues such as a revised lower front fascia and fully painted side skirts. There was also some additional interior badging as well. Our test vehicle had an extra-stealth appearance aided by the removal of all Q7-related badging on the exterior. The back end only donned four silver rings below the rear window, with no “Q7” or “TDI” in sight.

The interior refinement was typical Audi, with fine leather and plastics throughout the cabin. While we weren’t able to take full advantage of the adjustable air suspension, it did allow us to impress a few bystanders at rest stops. This suspension leveling has five different settings, including an automatic mode. We left it in how-low-can-you-go dynamic mode for most of our drive.

The big story here is fuel economy. Our friends at Honeywell tell us that the vehicle will average in the low twenties, and after a week in our test fleet our reading of 22 mpg didn’t stray too far from their calculations. That might not seem like an impressive figure, but the gasoline-engined American-spec Q7s don’t achieve numbers like that. The V-6 Q7 has a combined rating of 17 mpg, and the V-8 model drops the figure to 14 mpg.

Americans can look forward to Audi bringing more diesel-equipped models stateside in the next couple of years, beginning with the Q7 3.0 TDI, which will arrive here in early 2009. Other diesel models coming to America include this Q7 4.2 TDI and the A5 3.0 TDI.

The diesel Audi Q7 isn’t something you’d tune up for weekend race days. Instead, it’s a comfortable, usable all-wheel-drive crossover perfect for all driving situations in all seasons. The real joy, though, comes from knowing you have the ability to leave many tuned-up boy racers in the dust.

2007 Audi Q7 4.2 TDI S Line
Engine: Turbo-diesel V-8, 4.2 liters, 32v
Output: 320 hp/561 lb-ft
0-60 MPH: 6.3 sec
Top Speed: 147 mph
Weight: 5401 lb
Fuel economy, city/hwy: 16/26 mpg


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