Teresa’s View
You say you like the VW Touareg, but need a third-row seat? Love the high-performance Porsche Cayenne, but hate the high price? This year Audi — a member of the Volkswagen family, and by extension, Porsche — provides the best of both with its first SUV, the all-new Q7.
Audi is just about the last manufacturer to the SUV party and the timing isn’t great — with gas prices and all — but the results are impressive. Inside and out, the Q7 is a stylish Prada devil. It was Audi, after all, who introduced us to haute couture with interior schemes they called “atmospheres.” Although they’ve dropped the term, the concept remains — the cabin should evoke a sense of place, whether that is an elegant, leather-clad library or a sun-kissed beach on a Grecian isle.
The Q7 features buttery leather seating and tasteful wood trim with shiny, aluminum highlights for a rich and modern effect. An optional three-panel Panorama sunroof ($1,850) lets in a whole lot of sky.
The new sport-ute adds a number of high-tech gadgets, including the world’s first blind spot alert system. “Side Assist” uses radar to monitor the driver’s blind spot. Warning lights on the side mirror are activated when a vehicle enters. The good thing is that the system only operates at speeds above 35 mph, or you’d be batty with the lights.
The exterior is as aggressive as we’ve seen from Audi. From its substantial nose to the coupe-like backend, the Q7 distinguishes itself among the typical minivan-esque sport-utes. Although from some angles it looks disconcertingly like Audi’s Avant wagons walking on tiptoes.
Built on the Touareg/Cayenne platform, the Q7 is 13 inches longer and 2 inches wider than either one. The extra length provides just enough room for a third row and 28 possible seating and loading configurations.
Eventually the Q7 will be available in two engine choices: a 350-horsepower 4.2-liter V-8 similar to that found in Audi’s high-performance RS 4 sports sedan; and, later this year, a 3.6-liter narrow-angle V-6 that delivers 280 hp. Both are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and quattro, Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive system. Technological advancements help save bucks at the gas pump by burning fuel more efficiently. The savings, however, are offset by the vehicle’s weight. Our tester, with the larger of the two engines, is EPA-rated at 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.
What Is It?: The 2007 Audi Q7 is a five-, six- or seven-passenger, full-size sport-ute. The two engine choices represent the trims. Each is available in regular or premium. Prices start at $50K.
Gadget Rating: 9.5 of 10. Standard features include a Bose Premium 14-speaker surround sound audio system with a 6-disc CD changer; power tailgate and Bluetooth capability. A reasonably intuitive interface controls the gadgets.
Where Are Ya From?: The Q7 is assembled in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The Tease: Audi promises five more entirely new models coming in the next three years.