Ahead of its launch here next month we went to the Verbier to drive Audi’s new second generation Q7 writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? With three rows of seating and room for seven the Q7 is a luxurious family hauler.
First impressions of the new Audi Q7: Audi’s molecular building blocks speak the language of understated elegance and the second generation Q7 is strictly urban contemporary.
What about the interior? The Q7 has an elegant, modern body and a spacious interior constructed with the same thoughtful attention to detail that is synonymous with Audi cabins. Reminiscent of the TT’s interior it shares the same digital instrument cluster and simplicity of design. It is also crammed with cutting edge technology and the sheer number of features can be a bit overwhelming and distracting at first. One of our favourites though is the raft of parking aids, this car will parallel park, forward park, reverse park and even stop the car automatically if you reverse out on to oncoming traffic.
And on the road? A drive through the Swiss mountains confirms the Q7 is the very last word in refinement. While it is not the most engaging car to drive you will be wafted along in such comfort you won’t care. Our test car was fitted with an optional four-wheel steering system that Audi claim can reduce the turning circle of this large car by up to a metre and as our Q7 hugged tightly the mountainous bends it was a reassuring feature.
How Much? Audi’s Q7 improves in nearly every way and this shapely model is more spacious, lighter and significantly more fuel efficient than before. The 218bhp 3-litre diesel version returns 5.7l/100km (50 mpg) and emissions of 148/km mean it will cost €390 for motor tax. Prices start at €72,125 for the entry level diesel.
How Safe? The Q7 gets top marks for safety with an abundance of cameras, sensors and safety aids to keep you and your brood safely on the road.
What about my options: There is a choice of three engines, a 3-litre diesel with with either 218bhp or 272bhp. If money’s no object the 3-litre petrol is the most powerful and hushed but the 218bhp diesel is much healthier for your bank balance. There are three trim levels: SE, SE Business and S Line.
3 words to describe the Audi Q7: Sophisticated; Comfortable; Refined
For more information check out the Audi Ireland website, the Audi Ireland Facebook page or follow them on twitter here
Geraldine Herbert
11th June, 2015
