2015 Audi Q7

The Q7 has remained mostly unchanged for a decade now, since its launch back in 2005, and even after several facelifts, it looks dated compared to the modern competition. Available with two engine options, including an efficient V6 diesel, the 2015 Q7 is also very quick for its size. Over the years, the Q7 has inspired several other unibody three-row SUVs, and it currently competes with the Acura MDX, Lexus GX, and Infiniti QX60.

The 2015 Audi Q7 continues to be available in three distinct trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Starting at $49,225, the base Premium trim is very well equipped with features like 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, comfortable leather seats with power adjustability, dual-zone climate control, and a capable MMI infotainment system.

Next in line is the Premium Plus model, which gets plenty of luxury with features like a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, upgraded infotainment with 14-speakers, and more active safety features. With a price of more than $60,000, the range-topping Prestige trim further adds quad-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, and some unique features like a corner-view parking camera. 

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Available with both the V6 and a diesel engine, the mid-range Premium Plus adds a lot of luxury over the base model, including a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, Wi-Fi hotspot, an upgraded infotainment system, and a lot more for a modest price jump of $6,500. Because of its long feature list and choice of both engines, the Premium Plus trim is recommended over the others.

For 2015, the Q7 continues to be offered with two engine options: a powerful 3.0L supercharged V6 producing 280 hp and 295 lb-ft and an efficient 3.0L turbodiesel belting out 240 hp and an impressive 406 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to a slick 8-speed automatic transmission and also get standard all-wheel-drive. Performance is average for its class, and the transmission responds well with quick shifts on the highways. The maximum towing capacity stands at 6,600 pounds depending on the configuration.

The performance is very respectable for the segment as the Audi Q7 takes 7.6 seconds to reach 0 to 60 mph. The 2015 Acura MDX is the fastest car in the 0 to 60 mph sprint at 6.8 seconds. All the other SUVs in the segment also perform pretty well. When comparing the price tag of the SUVs in the competition, the 2015 Lexus GX comes out to be the most expensive option, although not much in comparison with Audi's offering.

Opting for the Supercharged V6 engine will return 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is below average for its class. However, customers who drive a lot can opt for the efficient turbo diesel engine, which delivers an impressive 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, giving it an impressive highway range of 739 miles with a massive 26.4-gallon fuel tank.

The biggest advantage of the Q7 is the availability of its diesel engine. While the regular gas model falls behind both the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60 in terms of efficiency, the V6 Diesel easily surpasses both and gets more than 700 miles of highway range. Even with the gasoline engine, the Audi Q7 manages to deliver the best range in the segment because of the largest fuel tank on offer at 26.4 gallons.

As expected with the Q7, the interior is carried over for 2015 with minimal updates. It still manages to look modern with a good build quality and premium materials used everywhere. The center console is tilted towards the driver with easy to reach controls and a well-integrated MMI infotainment system. The Q7 boasts of three rows of seating, which can carry up to 7 passengers, but like most crossovers, the third row is not fit for adults on longer journeys.

Features like leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, dual-zone climate control, and a lot more are available as standard. Cargo capacity is average at 10.9 cubic feet, which can be expanded to 72.5 cubic feet by folding both the rear rows flat. Loading of stuff in the cargo is also made easier, thanks to the standard power liftgate.

While the 2015 Audi Q7 offers plenty of space in the front and middle row, the third row is the least spacious in its class. The Infiniti Q60 takes the first spot, offering the most interior space, followed by both the Acura MDX and Lexus GX. The Audi Q7 also falls behind the other rivals in terms of the cargo area. When comparing the cargo space, again Infiniti QX60 takes the top spot with a space of 15.8 cubic feet. Some standout interior features include:

• Heated first and second-row seats
• Standard leather upholstery
• Quad-zone climate control
• Manual sunshades for rear windows
• Panoramic sunroof
• Keyless entry
• Hands-free liftgate

How intuitive is the 2015 Audi Q7’s infotainment unit?

For the 2015 model, the Q7 still doesn’t get Audi’s updated MMI infotainment system and is instead stuck with a smaller unit. However, it is still easy to use with intuitive menus and quick responses. The system also gets all the modern features like satellite radio, dual DS-card slots, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, and an 11-speaker audio system as standard. Higher trims also get an upgraded 14-speaker audio system from Bose, Audi connects telematics, navigation, and a bigger display. Standout infotainment features of the 2015 Audi Q7 include:

• Audi MMI infotainment system
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• 14-speaker Bose sound system
• iPod and Bluetooth connectivity
• Built-in navigation
• Satellite radio
• Audi connect services

After being on sale for a decade now, the Audi Q7 is showing its age despite the several facelifts over the years. The curvy and elegant design was never a crowd favorite, but from some angles, the Q7 does manage to pull it off with an elegant and sophisticated look that stands out among a sea of boxy designs. The huge grille dominates the front fascia flanked by LED headlights that look modern.

From the side and rear, the curvy design looks modern, especially when equipped with classy 20-inch wheels. While the Q7 won’t win any beauty pageants, it looks good overall and brings its own unique styling to the crossover game. For a more sporty design, customers can opt for the S-Line package, which also improves performance to match the looks.

The Audi Q7 is easily the biggest crossover in its segment and even beats the Lexus GX in terms of exterior dimensions and wheelbase. Both the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60 also fall behind the Q7 in terms of overall dimensions. The Audi Q7 is the heaviest SUV in the competition, followed by the Lexus GX with a slight margin. Some notable exterior features include:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive headlights
• Front and rear skidplates
• Roof rails
• Optional body cladding with flared wheel arches

The 2015 Audi Q7 is still based on the Volkswagen Group Pl71 platform, which also underpins various other crossovers like the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. Although the Q7 hasn’t been tested yet by the NHTSA, it managed a “Good” overall rating in the IIHS safety tests. The standard safety package is also impressive and includes features like 8 airbags, an electronic stability control system, and hill descent control. Higher trim levels also get Audi’s side assist system, parking assists with corner-view cameras, automatic wipers, and a lot more. Some standard safety features include:

• Rearview camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Hill descent control
• Tire pressure monitoring

Despite its age, the Audi Q7 is still one of the best luxury crossovers in the market with excellent handling, long features list, and powerful drivetrains. The optional Turbo Diesel powertrain helps it achieve both performance and efficiency for a reasonable price jump over the regular model. While the third row is still cramped and prices can rise substantially with a few options selected, the Q7 is still an excellent family hauler that will also please the driver with good dynamics and a luxurious interior. If you’re on the lookout for a comfortable luxury crossover that can comfortably seat two kids in the third row and still have enough space for 5 adults, the 2015 Audi Q7 should be strongly considered.