Want to Drive Like a Superstar? There’s an Audi Q7 Luxury SUV for That
Erica Mueller
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The 2024 Audi Q7 Is Sleek and Powerful, Like a Shark
After spending a week with the SQ5 last year, I was very excited to try out the Audi Q7, a luxurious 3-row SUV that grabbed people’s attention everywhere I went. This is one sophisticated car.
In the ocean, sharks are known for being fast and furious. They are sleek, perfectly shaped for speed, and equipped with the teeth and jaws of an apex predator. That’s what the Audi Q7 is like. With 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the V6 Q7 55 TFSI quattro is extremely nimble. There is nothing subtle about this car, and you feel like a rockstar when you drive it.
The Q7, which starts at $59,500. is an all-wheel-drive car that provides solid handling on pavement or gravel, wet or dry. The Prestige trim we drove also comes standard with adaptive air suspension for an extra smooth ride. There is also a Q7 45 with a slightly smaller 4-cylinder engine, but both are turbocharged and in charge.
Can the Q7 tow? Yes. With a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, the Q7 has an available tow package for pulling small trailers. Think mid-size camper (class III) or small boat. For the size of this car, that’s pretty impressive.
This car has me thinking that moms can have it all.
Related: Audi SQ5: Sportscar Chic Meets SUV Capability
Rear view of the 2024 Audi Q7. Photo: Erica Mueller
Does the Q7 Lift?
Athletic and muscular, but not in a bulky way. We’ve all seen the bodybuilders who’ve gone beyond fit and fine and border on freak show. And we’ve seen SUVs so bulked up they resemble these circus acts. But the 2024 Audi Q7 isn’t like that.
It’s sculpted and fine, with just enough chiseling to be noticed by men and women alike. It’s not terribly masculine, but it’s not your mom’s car either. One of the things I really like about the exterior of the Q7 is the commanding front end with its large grille and wrap-around lights. These light packages are pieces of art all by themselves with lots of great angles and sequential lights.
I also like that the back end isn’t squared off and feels like a sophisticated hatchback wagon vs a tall SUV with a flat liftgate.
Related: 20 New Cars We Can’t Wait to Drive in 2024
Front row view in the 2024 Audi Q7. Photo: Erica Mueller
Enveloped in Luxury and Just a Little Tight?
The first thing about the Q7’s interior that grabs your attention is the seats. They’re sporty, quilted, buttery-soft leather, and they wrap around you, making you feel like this really is a sports car. Then, you’ll notice the brushed metal trim and wood accents. But once you settle in, buckle up, and start looking for a space to set your handbag or phone, you’re stumped.
There is literally no place to set anything.
This car is high on the luxury scale and low on storage. There is a wireless phone charging pad, but it’s inside of the very small center console and you’ve got to lift your arm to open that and get to your device. Other than that, you get two small drink holders that won’t even hold a phone upright. (Sorry, Stanley users, your 40-oz tumbler isn’t going to fit in this car.)
With the lack of cubbies and front-row storage out of the way, let’s get to all the things I loved about the interior of the Q7.
Related: Audi Q8 First Drive: This Flagship e-tron Electric SUV Refines the Definition of Luxury
Second and third rows in the 2024 Audi Q7. Photo: Erica Mueller
2nd and 3rd Row Superpowers
Let’s talk car seats. We have one for our 4-year-old, and it’s big, so I’m always worried about how it will fit in a more compact-looking car and how easy it will be to install. At first, I was confused about the lower LATCH hooks, but I quickly realized the reason I couldn’t see or reach them is the Q7 has a special little pop-out bolster that covers them when not in use.
This makes the seat more comfortable and stylish when the LATCH system isn’t in use. It comes out very easily so that the LATCH hooks are in plain sight for car seat installation. Once I figured that out, installing my daughter’s seat was a breeze. The second row is roomy enough to seat three across, even with the car seat installed. It also has a nice little fold-down cupholder and armrest in the center seat and charging ports for the passengers.
Because I have big kids, too; ease of entry to the third row and cargo space behind it are a big deal to me. The second row seats in the Q7 fold and flip forward to make accessing the third row fast and easy. There isn’t a whole lot of legroom in the third row, but I was able to sit back there, tuck my toes under the sliding 2nd-row seats, and be comfortable thanks to nice deep seats that are soft and comfy. And there’s so much space behind the third row that I wouldn’t need to lay the seats down to get groceries or take the kids for a quick overnight trip.
Comfort and convenience in the 2024 Audi Q7. Photo: Erica Mueller
Distraction-Free Driving Experience
Remember how I started my review with the complaint about the lack of storage? Well, there’s one upside to all the missing cubbies – you are left with an exceptionally clean, minimalistic dash and center console, which is really refreshing in its own way. No clutter. No overabundance of knobs and buttons. The built-in screen is flush with the dash and looks so easy just to dust off and not have to worry about all the little crevices to clean. And I kind of like that the multimedia screen is split in two, one for climate control and the other for music, navigation, and apps, cause you don’t have to navigate away from the map screen to adjust the climate.
I think this no-clutter mindset may have been behind the design of the steering wheel and column as well, because most of the controls are on 3 sticks off the steering columns instead of on the steering wheel itself. This leaves the steering wheel pretty basic and clutter-free, but it took me a bit to get used to using all the control wands.
Cargo space in the 2024 Audi Q7. Photo: Erica Mueller
What You Need to Know About the 2024 Audi Q7
The Q7 is packed with luxury and technology, but the very best part of the experience is the drive itself. This car feels solid, sounds great, and makes you look forward to driving it, even if you only need to get groceries.
- 335 Horsepower
- 369 lb-ft of torque
- 0-6 0in 5.6 seconds
- 3” HD drivers display
- Dual (split) multimedia screen for navigation and climate
- 730-watt premium sound system with 17 speakers
- Wireless smartphone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Available remote park assist
- 360-degree top-view camera
- Adaptive cruise with lane guidance
- Estimated Fuel Economy (Combined) 21 MPG
- Number of Seats: 7
- Total Cargo Space (with 2nd and 3rd browns folded) 69.6 cubic feet
- Starting price: $59,500
There’s a lot to like about the Audi Q7 and very little that I wasn’t in love with, so when people ask me about SUVs with three rows that don’t feel like a mom car, the Q7 will be at the top of my list.
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