The Audi Q7 is one of the best SUVs in its class and the company is looking forward to upping the ante with the 2017 variant of the vehicle. The second-generation Q7 might look more compact than the first-generation vehicle, but, on the inside, the space is almost the same.
On the outside, the 2017 Q7 bears chiseled outlines, giving it a beefy exterior, although, Audi has managed to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle by 325 KG. Even though the details regarding the upgraded features are yet to come by, the experts believe that Audi is using a new diesel block under the hood.
Judging by the exterior, the 2017 Audi Q7 is easily confused with the previous-generation Q6 Allroad. The front part is quite similar, which is the root cause for all the confusion, although, the Q7 is a tad longer, taller and beefier.
Audi has played along perfectly with the interior lighting as well and the coolest part about the design is that, the interior lines up with red LED each time you flick on Dynamic Driving Mode! Audi uses LED headlights, which offer more than decent view up front, even in opposing traffic while the vehicle rolls on huge 19-inch rims, giving you a clear view of the road up front.
Audi has cut down on the overall dimensions of the 2017 Q7 by 30mm x 15 mm (length x breadth) while some people are of the opinion that this is to make room for the next-generation Audi Q8. On the inside, the 2017 Audi Q7 has sufficient leg, shoulder and headroom, along with an adjustable middle and rear row of seats.
The dashboard is the coolest in the class, which has been borrowed from the Audi TT. Hence, the excitement level in the cockpit is quite high. The second and third row seats get proper air conditioning while the vehicle is filled with cup holders.
Audi is currently offering the 3.0-liter TDI engine block as the high power variant, which means that there is roughly 10% increase in power as compared to the previous generation variant. Current figures on the 2017 Audi Q7 are 270 BHP along with 440 ft-lb of torque, an increase of 27 BHP and 35 ft-lb over the previous model.
Audi claims that the 2017 Q7 accelerates from 0 – 60 MPH within 6.5 seconds, although, we presume that the figure was attained with the vehicle unburdened with the load. The engine block is hooked on to an eight-speed ZF transmission, which is responsible for the stable performance and the ground-shattering fuel economy figures stated by the company!
While the company believes that the upcoming SUV is capable of returning close to 25.5 MPG, we are not convinced by the figures. The Q7’s handling is superb for such a huge vehicle. The handling has benefitted massively from the reduction in weight and body dimensions, which has also increased the stability of the ride.
The 2017 Audi Q7 is packed with a huge array of gadgets, monitoring all of the electronic components that the vehicle is endowed with, making your life easier behind the wheel. There are a few driving modes that are designed to help the vehicle perform according to the needs of the driver.
For example, the Active Cruise works best within city traffic, although, some people are of the opinion that the steering is over-assisted. However, considering the target market that the Q7 is aimed at, the buyers will not have numerous reasons to complain about.