Audi has decided that, with SUVs, size really does matter. Andrew Hamilton reports
It was the big talk of the Frankfurt auto show last September, with all the emphasis on big. Audi's Q7 is the latest in luxury SUVs, moving into a fast-growing segment that's already well-established with the offerings of other German competitors like Mercedes-Benz M Class and BMW X5.
Of course there are non-Germans also seeking the attention of the luxury-minded: they include Range Rover, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volvo XC90 and Lexus RX which is also available in a hybrid petrol/electric version. Put them all in a compound with the new Audi arrival and the Audi seems to stand head and shoulders over most of them.
The visual impression of bigness is created strongly at the frontal area with a huge squared grille that's dominated by the familiar four-ring logo.
"We have the lead in the SUV contest," remarked Ulrich Mohr, head of the Q7 project at the international press launch last week. But why so big? "Luxury should mean comfort which should mean space. We can be more versatile, put in a third row of seats and offer no less than 28 different seating configurations." We will see Q7 in Ireland in about four months time.
Irish prices have just been announced. The 3.0 litre 233bhp V6 TDi will be €73,500. The 4.2 litre FSI V8 350bhp that will appeal to the minority petrol buyers, will be €100,000. Both come with more expensive SE and Sport specifications. For both, of course, Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive and Tiptronic transmission are standard. The seven-seat configuration is being marketed in Ireland but customers can forego the third row.
A word or two about the third row: Audi's claim that seven people can be accommodated is slightly misleading. Like most third rows, the Q7 isn't really fit for adults, more children. "But it will take quite big children," added Ulrich Mohr helpfully.
The seats in the second row can be individually adjusted while both rows can be folded flat, giving a voluminous luggage area of 2,035 litres. With five seats in place, luggage capacity is 775 litres which Audi claims is "best in class".
It almost goes without saying that Q7 delivers a commanding presence on the road. Both petrol and diesel models moved along with effortless urgency.
During our test last Saturday, it won attention from other road users, particularly those driving the BMW X5 and X3 and the Mercedes M-Class. At BMW, a new look X5 is being prepared to do battle with their Bavarian neighbour's bold newcomer: Audi people cheekily insisted that X5 owners accounted for a huge number of the 13,300 European orders taken since Q7 was presented in Frankfurt.
Sinking the pedal, the petrol Q7 drove with a meaty though subdued roar, while the diesel did what all modern diesels do well these days, provide a wide and splendid range of torque that gave lift off at all speeds.
The six-speed Tiptronic transmission gave all the flexibility of a manual box but such was our contentment that we didn't feel compelled to opt for the S or sports setting. Maximum speed of the 4.2 petrol model is said to be 244km/h (or 151mph) while the diesel 3.0 litre will get to 210km/h (or 130mph). Getting up to 100km/h from zero is claimed at a brisk 7.4 seconds for the petrol, 9.1 seconds for the diesel.
All sorts of options are available, like a panoramic sun roof that extends for almost the entire length of the roof area. A lot of big SUVs are into towing chores but the tow hitch can sometimes appear as an ugly obtrusion. On the Q7 it can be swung in and out of view. As for towing, both diesel and petrol versions are said to be capable of towing a weight of 3.5 tonnes braked and 750kg unbraked.
According to John Hayes, Audi's Irish sales manager, orders are already being taken. "Such is the level of interest that we are confident of selling around 150 this year."
It seems all set to shine in 2007 when Audi will be marking 40 years on the Irish market. Big luxury SUVs like Q7 are enjoying an inexorable rise in demand with over 2,500 sales projected for this year, up from 1,925 in 2005.