Review: Will this Audi Q7 make it to the USA? We hope so!

Look out BMW, Mercedes and Volvo - premium SUV buyers could soon be queuing outside a different dealership! Audi has finally entered the large off-roader market, and has set its sights on class-leading models such as the BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class and Volvo XC90.

Based on a stretched VW Touareg platform, the new Q7 appropriately arrives at the very time the company is celebrating 25 years of the quattro brand. The SUV has an unmistakable Audi look, with angular lights and a bold grille that are largely unaltered from the Pikes Peak concept displayed at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show.

From the side, the trademark high shoulder line seen on other Audi models means the Q7 has a very similar appearance to the A6 Avant, although the large rear overhang and plain tailgate are rather cumbersome. But when viewed from the front, the sporty lines do a good job of disguising the SUV's size - which is important, as the German newcomer is certainly big.

Full review here

JUGNU - 2/2/2006 2:04:35 PM

+1 Boost

I still think X5 4.8is and RR SPORT SUPERCHARGED is still the prettiest.

JUGNU - 2/2/2006 2:04:35 PM

+1 Boost

I still think X5 4.8is and RR SPORT SUPERCHARGED is still the prettiest.

atomicbri - 2/2/2006 4:45:28 PM

+1 Boost

I think the Q7 is great! It is a welcome addition to the Audi lineup and I think it looks great! Yoga talking about the X5 being the benchmark....what bench??? LOL....The cabin is cramped and luggage space very small. and the design is ready for an update! No I think based upon what I have seen of it, the Audi will be a great SUV.

JMd71 - 2/3/2006 1:40:46 AM

+1 Boost

Overall, I think the Touareg is the best looking Euro SUV. The RR Sport is overpriced and underbuilt, the X5 is dated, the Cayenne is just ugly. And I test drove them all. The Q7 is nice from most angles except the rear -- trying too hard to look like the A4's rear when it should have went for the A6/A8's. My 2 cents. And it being the best value will surely make a splash in a drying (?) market!

Anim8or - 2/3/2006 6:41:14 PM

+1 Boost

I saw the Q7 up close....

....at the LA Auto show. Yeah, this truck certainly will be a huge hit for Audi.

It's obviously vastly superior to the current BMW X5, that's a no-brainer. But the X5 is quite old. It's replacement should stack up well against the Q7. However I have a feeling that the Audi will continue to rival even the new X5. The Q7 in person is gorgeous for such a large truck (even though I hate SUV's), and it has quattro, something BMW can't touch and probably never will. It's also priced quite reasonably for such a large, luxurious vehicle. It's a very good deal, especially in the US.

Also, Audi has established its own quality control department exclusively for the Q7 so that it doesn't have the same reliability problems as the Touareg. It's the largest QC investment that Audi has made so far. If you have been following Audi's new QC campaign, you would know that it has paid handsomely with late model Audi's (such as the latest A4 receiving top 10 placement for reliability in Europe, surpassing BMW and especially Merc, which did not make the list).

Audi's sales growth is incredible, especially in the US. I'm looking forward to this year especially, since no less than a dozen new Audi models or variants will be released.

JUGNU - 2/5/2006 11:52:02 AM

+1 Boost

brez12 u r right.

X5 is 7 years old now and it only started the trend of Luxury and sleek SUVs.
(ML is still ugly and trying)
I am sure still now X5 is the only successful mid-size luxury SUV.
Porsche,VW and AUDI are comin now to the competition and mainly u know WHY???
Reasons:MAYBE
1)THEY R PROVOKED
2)FELT DESIROUS WITH THE SUCCESS OF X5 THEREFORE BROUGHT A CONTENDER IN THE CATEGORY.
3)TO GAIN/GRAB A LITTLE MARKET.

U ALL KNOW WHY IT STARTED AS PORSCHE WITH A SUV,AUDI WITH A SUV,VW WITH A SUV(UNTHINKABLE)

IT STARTED ONLY BECOZ OF THE INFLUENCE OF X5 IN THEIR LIVES/BRANDS AND AFTER SEEING THE SUCCESS OF X5 THEY ALL COPIED AND ENTERED IN THE SEGMENT.
TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT WHAT X5 ENJOYED.SUCCESS
I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY ALL THESE BUT IT'S VERY TRUE.
GUYS LIKE 001BUSTER,RLK, WHO BELIEVE IN TRADITION,LEGACY OR GERMANS HISTORY OF CARS,WHO SAYS THEY(GERMANS) HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE BECOZ THEY R OLD AND HAVE MORE HERITAGE.JUST TELL ME WHICH IS OLD OR HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE X5 OR A NEWCOMER (FLOP OR HIT)Q7
THEN WHY PLACING Q7 ABOVE X5 OR RR.
PUT IT DOWN ATLEAST FOR NOW,DSFINATELY ON TOP IS X5.

OK FOR EXAMPLE:WHEN PORSCHE PANAMERA WILL BE OUT IN 2008/2009 WILL U GUYS SAY IT IS BETTER THAN A MERC S OR BM 7 SERIES,
IN YOUR LANGUAGE, PORSHE DOESN'T HAVE THE HISTORY,HERITAGE OR EXPERIENCE OF 4 DOOR SEDAN. PORSCHE IS ONLY MAKING THE CAR BECOZ THEY R INFLUENCED AND IMPRESSED BY THE SUCCESS OF MERCEDES'S OR BMW'S LUXURY/SPORTS SEDANS THAT'SWHY THEY R ENTERING INTO THE SEGMENT.

SAME CASE WITH Q7,TOUREG,CAYENNE...ETC

BUT THE LEADER IS X5 AND SOON IT WILL ENTER INTO IT'S SECOND GENERATION.THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE UNBEATABLE.

JUGNU

JUGNU - 2/5/2006 11:52:02 AM

+1 Boost