Easily one of the best sport-utility vehicles on the market today, the all-new Audi Q7 is an excellent driving machine. That's right, I said it. For me it's between the Volvo XC90 and the Q7 for king of the luxury SUV castle right now.
If you didn't like that you could only acquire a Q7 with a six-cylinder engine though, boy, you may be excited by today's news. That's because the four rings has officially announced that it will have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor up for grabs as well.
Producing 252 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, it's a capable engine. After driving with this powerplant in the all-new A4 I can tell you straight away that it is a very nice mill. Whether or not that's enough grunt for a large, seven-seat SUV is another story. But, as you may expect, Audi has numbers on its side. The U.S. press release proudly states that the all-new four-cylinder Q7 posts a half second quicker zero to 60 time than its last-gen V6-equipped Q7.
Oh, and it's also more than 20 percent more fuel efficient.
Pricing starts at $49,000* and the 2.0-liter Q7 goes on sale in early 2017.
- 2017 Audi Q7 with 2.0T engine is faster, lighter and more efficient than the previous generation 2015 Q7 3.0T V6
- New 2.0T variant can sprint from 0-60 mph a half-second faster, offers a 22 percent improvement in EPA-estimated fuel economy and has a curb weight nearly 500 pounds lighter than its predecessor
- The 2017 Audi Q7 comes standard equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive and seating for up to seven passengers
Audi of America today announced the new 2.0-liter TFSI® four-cylinder engine will now be offered on 2017 Audi Q7 models. This new model, when equipped with the 2.0-liter engine, is faster, lighter and more efficient than the previous generation Q7 3.0T V6.
With 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, the Q7 with 2.0T engine reaches 60 mph a half-second faster than the previous generation 2015 Q7 3.0T V6 model. The Q7, with standard seating for up to seven passengers and quattro® all-wheel drive, is 22 percent more fuel efficient, with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city/highway combined. And while it is nearly 500 pounds lighter than the previous model, the Q7 2.0T has 4,400 pounds of towing capacity, with the optional towing package.
The redesigned 2.0T engine stands out for its exceptional driving dynamics and efficiency. Enhancements to the exhaust manifold integration, improvements to the Audi valvelift system and the use of innovative thermal management, all help to reduce fuel consumption and improve overall engine efficiency.
The Q7 with 2.0T engine is a more accessible luxury SUV option, offering a robust level of standard and available equipment such as full-LED headlights, and benchmark connectivity and infotainment including a full-suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
Carrying over from the 3.0-liter engine, the Q7’s eight-speed Tiptronic® transmission melds efficiency with dynamic shifting characteristics to help optimize fuel consumption. Improved handling and comfort enhancements have been made possible through the reduced unsprung weight of lightweight aluminum control arm components and revised elastokinematic attributes.
While the exterior dimensions have remained similar to the outgoing model, all 2017 Q7 models offer substantially more interior space – with more headroom, legroom and shoulder room in the second and third rows. The Q7 also offers the latest MMI and infotainment options including Bose 3D Sound System and the available Audi virtual cockpit which helps make viewing and navigating via the large Google Map images supported with 4G LTE (where available) easier on the driver’s eyes.
In addition to infotainment and connectivity features, the advanced Q7 driver assistance systems are designed to help drivers navigate the road and traffic with confidence. Standard Audi pre sense® city, an automatic emergency braking system, can detect stationary vehicles and pedestrians and if necessary, initiating full braking at speeds of up to 52 mph when a potential collision is detected. Available adaptive cruise control with stop & go automatically maintains distance from the vehicle in front, including braking and accelerating. Between 0-40 mph, traffic jam assist combines acceleration, braking and steering guidance, which can help take the stress out of driving in congested traffic.
Pricing Detail:
Model year 2017 Q7 with available 2.0-liter engine starting manufacturer suggested retail prices; on sale early 2017.