2014 Audi Q7

Moreover, the new Audi Q7 vaunts a stellar Quattro system which offers great traction on-road and off-road as well. But lately, competition has heated up and rivals such as BMW X5, INFINITI QX60, and Volvo XC90 are offering some amazing qualities which can even make one doubtful about the Q7. So does it still hold its prestigious spot in the segment? Only one way to find out.

Just like every other Audi, Q7 comes in the three traditional trim levels. i.e. Premium, Premium Plus, and S Line Prestige. Both premium and premium plus comes with a 280 horsepower supercharged V6 engine, S Line Prestige trim on the other hand gets an enhanced version of the same engine which churns out 333 horsepower and Audi also offers a 3 liter V6 TDI engine that runs in diesel. As for the features, all three trims are fully loaded and hold their own importance. 

Yes, even the base Premium trim, which loads leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, 11 speaker sound system, another tech, and exterior features. Opt for Premium Plus and your level of luxury gets increased as you get keyless entry and ignition, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, panoramic roof, and yes a BOSE audio system. The top tier S Line Prestige’ amps up the experience by adding few changes to the exterior, loads more luxury features including better climate control, ventilated seats, and niceties for your leisure.

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Although the base ‘Premium’ trim seems like an excellent choice to pick and nobody would judge if you did. But we would recommend going for the mid-tier Premium Plus’ as not only does it come with every feature from the base version but also loads more levels of luxury and technology. Priced at $54,595 it gets you a premium audio system with 14 speakers, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, keyless entry and ignition, updated infotainment system, navigation system, front parking sensors, and a panoramic sunroof. A warm-weather package is available as optional which includes features such as four-zone automatic climate control, deep-tint panoramic sunroof, and manual sunshades for rear doors and tailgate. All in all, it’s an excellent choice which fully justifies its cost.

By default, the 2014 Audi Q7 is powered by a 3.0 Liter Supercharged V6 engine which can be found inside both Premium and Premium Plus trim. It manages to produce 280 horsepower and a torque of 295 lb-ft. The S Line Prestige on the other hand gets an upgraded version of the same engine which produces 333 horsepower and a torque of 325 lb-ft. Furthermore, the 3.0 liter V6 diesel engine puts out 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. 

No matter which engine you choose, they are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which feels excellent no matter how complicated a situation you throw it in. And yes just like every other Quattro we mean the all-wheel-drive system is standard throughout every trim. The base engine might not be the fastest in its class; it managed to move the Q7 from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds and can finish a quarter-mile in 14 seconds. As for the engine’s characteristics, we must say it sounds amazing.

The Q7’s supercharged engine performs pretty well once put on the road. However, when stacked against its rivals, it falls behind BMW X5 but easily surpasses both INFINITI QX60 and Volvo XC90. However, the enhanced engine inside S Line Prestige can easily decimate its rivals when it comes to being fast. However, both BMW and Audi hit the same top speed of 130 mph but BMW is faster off the line.

We don't know what Audi missed while making the 2014 Q7. but the supercharged engine in the base model offers an average level of fuel economy. This means you will have to keep an eye on the fuel gauge or the road for gas stations as it offers a mileage of 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg when combined. No, it is not that bad, just take it on long route trips and you will have to stop a bit more than usual for refueling. 

However, Audi compensated the fuel economy by adding a 26.4-gallon fuel tank which is easily one of the biggest in its class. So combine that big tank with the medium-level fuel economy you get driving range which is pretty good. As for the long route trips we have already mentioned before that all you get to face are a bit more stoppages than usual.

When compared to its rivals, Audi Q7 falls behind the others as all three offer better fuel economy. However, Audi turns the table by adding a bigger fuel tank which is probably one of the biggest in its class. Together they result in a driving range that is pretty good and only comes second to BMW X5. It manages to cover a distance of 422.4 miles in the city and 580.5 miles on the highway.

Get inside the Q7 and you get welcomed by an elegantly designed interior that comes in premium quality. Every corner and joint has been covered properly and clearly demonstrates why Audi is known for making excellent cabin designs. As for the dashboard, unlike other vehicles in its class, the Q7 offers a very driver eccentric type of dash with most of the necessary functions and displays embedded in a metallic area. Go for higher trims and you will get genuine wood within the interior design that oozes with class. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is tilt and telescopic and one never feels any shortage of range. Oh, and yes inside of the cabin is fully loaded with luxury features that are further upgradable as you go for the higher trim. 

For occupants, there are power bucket seats on the front that can be ventilated or heated. A 40/20/40 split-bench for the second row and a 50/50 bench seat for the third row can be found in the back. All seats come with pretty good surface quality. As for the room, the front and second-row occupants offer adequate space however we think that the second-row seat needs to have a bit more thigh extension. The cargo capacity however is very limited which is a bummer but the inside of the cabin offers plenty of space for storing your small items.

Once again, the cabin of Q7 feels spacious on its own but compared to its rivals, easily falls behind the others. The story is somewhat the same for the cargo capacity, it surpasses Volvo XC90 but feels smaller in front of both BMW X5 and Infiniti QX60. Sure you can increase the volume by folding down second and third-row seats but still, that volume can’t match its rivals. Standout interior features include:

• Leather upholstery
• Power heated and ventilated front seats
• Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Panoramic sunroof
• Four-zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the 2014 Audi Q7s infotainment unit?

The infotainment system of the Q7 is powered by Audi’s MMI system. A 7-inch display is available on the front with physical controls to operate it. The display is smooth and the UI is clear plus the navigation system is pretty solid. The standard 11 speaker sound system is pretty good and yes even on extreme levels. 

However, if you’re not still not impressed then a 14 speakers Bose audio system is available. And those who have no shortage of money can opt for a 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system. Various features such as BlueTooth connectivity, USB ports, auxiliary support, SiriusXM, and 20GB internal memory are available. Standout infotainment features include:

• 14 speaker BOSE surround sound system
• SiriusXM
• Audi MMI system with 7-inch display
• Audi Connect
• Optional Bang & Olufsen premium audio system

We have already mentioned how impressive the Q7's interior is. The same can be said about the exterior design where you get a body style which certainly is big and heavy but still, everything has been joined perfectly. At the front, you get a big grille with adaptive xenon headlights and LED running lights. Which is standard throughout its lineup. 

 On the sides, you get body-colored parts with aluminum-trimmed windows and extended fenders. Roof rails and the panoramic roof is also available on top and the rear of the vehicle is equally good looking as the front. The top trim comes with few exterior changes including an extra sunroof over the third-row seat. Newly designed optional wheels are also available but one will have to pay extra to get those. 

Dimensions wise Audi Q7 is bigger and heavier than its rivals, perhaps this is the reason why Q7 comes with average handling around the corner. The 8.1-inch ground clearance is pretty good and when combining with air suspension you get enhanced ride quality. It also seems to be the largest car in its segment which further affects its driving dynamics and handling but the Quattro system will make up for it. Standout exterior features include:

• 20-inch 5-spoke design wheels
• Top trim gets Sunroof
• Front and rear fog lamps
• Adaptive xenon headlights

There is no doubt about how the 2014 Q7 is heavy and directly affects the vehicle’s handling. but Audi has made it in such a way that the level of safety it offers is pretty good. Parktronic Front and rear parking sensors with rearview cameras are available. And yes a blind spot monitoring system is also available on the Prestige trim. 

As for the vehicle’s body and its integrity, the Q7 is based on the Volkswagen MLB platform which is shared by Cayenne, Touareg and offers pretty good build quality. This is why 2014 Q7 received Good ratings from the IIHS. However, it has not been tested by the NHTSA. Standout safety features:

• Blind-spot monitor
• Electronic stability and traction control
• Roll stability control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Low Tire Pressure Warning

The Audi Q7 might have lost its charm in recent years but it is still a solid luxury SUV that offers excellent interior and exterior design, decent performance, and a great level of comfort and luxury which is tough to match. Sure its cabin gets smaller in front of the others and the limited cargo space makes it a terrible choice for long route trips but for daily usage. But as a hauler for seven occupants, the Q7 is pretty solid. So if you can ignore the limited volume then yes we think you should consider getting the 2014 Audi Q7.