Audi
Cars

Audi Q7 55TFSI Review

from ₹ 79,99,000

(ex-showroom)

Nishant Padhiar 19 Jan 2022 03:41 PM

If you’re a Bollywood biggie or a political heavyweight, chances are, you’ve owned (or at least considered) an Audi Q7 at some point. If you haven’t, this is the last call before the e-Trons take over! 
In its mildly refreshed mid-life facelift, the Q7 still looks portly and still looks like a Q7, but one that has been to the salon after a long lockdown. Sharper LED Matrix headlights, more defined grille with vertical chrome strips instead of horizontal, reshaped air dams and bumper and a nice botox job around the butt to lift things up too.

Design: Evolutionary

It’s hard to tell from the side profile if the Q7 has even changed, but Audi has always been a master of LED lighting and both, at the front and back, and the 2022 Q7 has been spruced up to bring it in line with the rest of the Q family. Even then, it’s only when you step inside do you really start noticing the difference. Embracing the buttonless future, the Q7 cabin now eschews physical climate controls for the dual-MMI set-up that uses the upper screen for vehicle and infotainment settings while the lower one handles climate control and also becomes an input pad for handwriting recognition if you search for a destination using the native navigation. 
What more carmakers should emulate though is the physical volume knob that Audi has retained, and is thoroughly satisfying and immediate in its function. Just like how it should be. Connected to that volume knob is also a great-sounding Bang & Olufsen sound system that has presence and definition, elevating the serene driving experience even further.

The screens also get haptic feedback, large touch points and is lag-free, alleviating some of the pains associated with multiple screens and in Audi’s defence, they simply haven’t replaced the climate control dials with a screen, it is also contextual so it can change the display in relation to inputs on the primary infotainment screen. Smart.

The cockpit quality is pretty much faultless with a high order of fit and finish, although I did wish that the trim chosen along with the gloss piano black was a lighter shade of wood and not the dark walnut as on the test car. From most angles, it doesn’t come across like two different materials at all and looks like a giant slab of glossy plastic. Ambient lighting has been spruced up though and the backlit Quattro badge facing the passenger seat is a neat touch. Like before, Audi’s virtual cockpit still leads the way for clear instrumentation, even in the customizable and digital world. Lack of wireless Apple CarPlay is a bit surprising though and you’ll have to resort to the many USB-C ports around the cabin to mirror your smartphone apps on the MMI screen.

Though the Q7 is largely free of radars, it does get lane departure warning and park assist along with a 360-degree camera view. The quality and stitching of the image from the multiple cameras around the perimeter of the Q7 is noteworthy, as it gives you a seamless birds-eye view of the car on the MMI screen with sharp details, accurate markers for distance and the ability to simply use your finger to rotate the virtual car on the screen for a better all-round view of your surroundings.

Drive: Almost like autopilot

Hot on the heels of the updated Q5, the facelifted Q7 shares a lot of the traits and exemplifies what modern Audis are so good at – effortless driving. And now with a heart transplant, the Q7 makes big gains on refinement, thanks to the creamy V6 petrol engine that makes a wholesome 340hp and 500Nm of torque. These numbers might look a bit anaemic compared to the size and class of the Q7, but Audi has done a stellar job of mating it to an equally fluent 8-speed gearbox that makes brisk progress without ever calling attention to itself. 

The Quattro AWD system always comes in handy to carry more speed around corners than you would with other large SUVs, but the Q7 embraces linearity. Everything from its engine response to its synapses feel calm and collected, just like Iron Man when it comes to saving the planet. 
Adaptive air-suspension and high-profile rubber also give it that “glide over everything” quality for most surfaces, but the alloy wheel design is decidedly boring and doesn’t do wonders for the side profile of this large SUV. The upside to the large size though, is that you do get 7-seating capacity with an electrically foldable last row and gesture-controlled tailgate. Fold the third row down and you could move houses without the need to call for professional packers as well!

The seats, especially the second row could do with better under-thigh support, but the compliant ride and generous leg and elbow room, not to mention the huge panoramic roof does make for a nice cabin for long drives with the family in tow. The Q7 also excels at maximising greenhouse with large windows and a low window line that work in tandem to give you great views of the outdoors should you have a full audience. But, the twin rear-entertainment screens for the backseat passengers offer multiple forms of keeping yourself distanced from the front row, including mirroring content from your phone.

Verdict

Regardless of what the updates in the new Q7 were, it would’ve continued to be a crowd favourite. Amongst the elite crowd that is. But thankfully, Audi has made key changes under the hood and in the cabin that give the full-sized SUV a sense of freshness without diluting its core, which is practicality and street cred.
It’s new face, shod with reprofiled matrix LED headlights and new grille, looks smart and brings it up to date with the rest of the Audi family look. Drive it over a short distance and you realise why people like the Q7 so much…it’s just so easy to drive without ever letting you feel intimidated by its dimensions and can be fun too when you’re in the mood. 
 

Stuff Says

Not the most flamboyant SUV, but with refreshed looks and an interior that still wins with its elegant simplicity.
Good stuff
Bad stuff

  1. Smooth and linear power from the V6

  1. Plush ride without being too soft

  1. Quality of materials and fit impeccable

  1. Some creature comforts and wireless tech missing

  1. Wheel design could’ve been more exciting