The Audi Q7 started out its life in the 2006 model year. Since then we have only seen the Q7's second-generation which began in 2015. Receiving a facelift in 2020, the Q7 isn't as fresh as it was two years ago, but that is excusable. It took nearly five years for us to get a different face on this latest Q7.

But crucially, is this luxury SUV all that great? Over 330,000 consumers would most likely agree that the Q7 is the "bee's knees" - having sold that many times since 2006. Luckily for me, I was able to get the keys to a Q7 for a week and see if it is all of that and a bag of chips. So, I must ask myself: is the Q7 really, that good of a luxury SUV, or is it a dud? Let's find out, shall we?

Exterior Styling

The exterior styling of the Q7 is sleek and large with very few defining lines. The front fascia would look a lot better if it didn't have the camera and sensors in the grille, ruining its want-to-be-aggressive demeanor. The headlights are, as I would say, the most intriguing feature with the daytime running lights separated like teeth drawn by a child.

As I said before, there isn't much the Q7 offers with outer beauty. The most prominent line on the Q7 runs from the front of the hood and seems to fade away when it nears the middle of the rear passenger window, only to reappear in the back. Other than that, the design is pretty dull. Don't even bother looking at the rear. You'll only find it as boring as a piece of toast with no available spread.

For most folks, that is fine and it is the same for me as well. Luxury vehicles aren't supposed to be flashy. At least not on the outside. Dull and elegant is what most people would look for. If it isn't a Bentley or Rolls-Royce, chances are every luxury car will be boring on the outside. Talking about the size of the Q7, it is large in size. It is 199 inches long, 78 inches wide, and 69 inches tall. The Q7 has a wheelbase of 117.9 inches.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior Design

The rule with every luxury vehicle is that the interior design must have luxurious characteristics. The Q7 doesn't fail to embody that rule in almost every aspect. The technology, features, and design blend well to create an impressive sense of luxury. The trim and paneling with the ambient lighting offer that sense of luxury. But the ambient lighting adds to the Q7's character.

The seats in the front are comfortable as one should expect from a luxury vehicle. They're heated and ventilated while offering the best support for long-distance driving. The rear seats are different. While they offer plenty of support and comfort, they are not designed for those who have to shop at the Big and Tall or Torrid for that matter. As for seating, I can sit in a comfortable fashion in the front and second rows, but the third row has only legroom for children.

As much as I can't stand controls being touchscreen, the Q7 does a fine job with this feature. As responsive as the latest smartphone with some extra pizzazz, I was most impressed with this technology feature. Most manufacturers fail at installing a proper system like this. When I give my input in the Q7, not only does it registers what I want to do, the Audi gives me quick vibration from the screen that confirms my action.

The trunk space is quite abundant. If you want to go on a family vacation, the trunk doesn't have space for more than a couple of suitcases. Put the third row down with the electronic controls, and you can go away for a few weeks with several suitcases. With the seats up, you only get 14.8 cubic feet of space while having the third-row seats down gives 37.5 cubic feet of space. The entire seating area folded up or down creates 69.6 cubic feet. Seems like plenty for a family if you tell me.

Cargo Room

Comfort and Convenience Features That Stand Out

- Heads-up display

- Power soft-closing doors

- Infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius XM radio

- Bang and Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound (option)

- Comfort adaptive air suspension (option)

- Ambient multi-colored lighting

- Three-zone automatic climate control

- Powered, heated, and ventilated front seats with driver memory

- Tilt and telescoping steering wheel

- Panoramic sunroof and electric sunshade

- Power-folding third-row seats

- All-wheel steering ($1,500 option)

Safety Features That Stand Out

- Adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance (option)

- Advanced airbag protection system with 8 airbags

- Anti-lock braking system and brake assist

- Electronic stabilization control

- Front and rear parking sensors and cameras

- Audi pre-sense forward collision warning and avoidance assistance

- Lane departure warning

- Blind-spot monitoring

- Rear cross-traffic warning

- Intersection assist and traffic sign recognition (option)

Performance

The 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine under the hood of the Audi Q7 produces 335 horsepower and 369-pound feet of torque. Power goes to all four wheels through the 8-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. Acceleration from 0-60 in the Q7 feels slow until you're looking at the speedometer. The Q7 is as fast and smooth as the cameraman on "Maury." Changing through the gears with the paddle shifters should have had a faster reaction. Keeping the Q7 in automatic the gears still seemed to take a while to change through the gears.

With my driving habits, I was able to achieve a miserable 18 mpg. I did my best to get the most out of the Q7 but it wouldn't have it. Until taking a road trip, I was averaging a mere 14 mpg in the city. My fuel range was great having driven 250 miles on the trip meter and still have another 180 miles left in the range. The fuel tank can hold a whopping 22.5 gallons.

Ride comfort meanwhile, is great thanks to the adaptive air suspension and seats. The suspension helps make the Q7 feel like it is floating in the clouds on the harsh roads of New Jersey. Steering is as tight and heavy as the Q7 is big. Braking is quite surprising for how heavy this SUV is. They have a great bite and the weight transfers in perfect fashion, thanks to the suspension I am sure, like a sports car. From 70-0mph comes to a stop in 178 feet.

2022 Audi Q7 Prestige Specs

Key Issues I Had With The Q7

With every car, there is an imminent flaw of some sort. I either find something wrong by accident or it is out there in plain sight. I also sometimes find these issues through experience. The complaints I had with this Audi aren't overwhelming but make the Q7 a bit underwhelming.

The first of the problems I had with the Q7 is the choice of material used for the steering wheel controls. It feels cheap like a child's play toy. With a vehicle that costs what it does and knowing for being luxurious, everything on the Q7 should feel top-notch. The paddle shifters are the same quality as well.

The second and last complaint I had with this Audi is that when I try to start it up, I would have everything set up; doors shut and key inside, foot pressed on the brake pedal, and pressing the start button. The Q7 would go into accessory mode turning everything but the engine on.

I'd look like a fool trying to put the vehicle in gear only for it to say, I have to start her up, even though I had already done the procedure. So then I would have to start the car "again" to get it on. That shouldn't happen in any car, let alone on a high-tech luxury SUV like the Q7.

Pricing, Warranties, and Competition

So, how much does this Audi Q7 Prestige cost? With over $15,000 worth of options and destination charges ($1,195) added to the MSRP base price of $62,500, the total cost comes to $77,395. The Audi Q7 Premium has a base price of $57,500. That is a price difference of almost $20,000 from our tested model.

The Premium Plus Audi Q7 has a varying base price of $58,700 (four-cylinder variant) and $64,800 (V6 variant). That is a price difference of almost $19,000-$13,000 between the above variants and my tester.

2022 Audi Q7 Price

The "Prestige Package" on this particular Q7 is worth $10,800. It includes:

- 20-inch wheels

- All-season run-flat tires

- Adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance

- Bang and Olufsen sound system

- Comfort adaptive air suspension

- Convenience/executive packages

- Dual-pane acoustic glass for side windows,

- Heads-up display

- Intersection Assist

- Traffic sign assist

- Matrix LED headlights

- Illuminated door sills

- Soft-closing doors

The "Black Optic Package" is another option for $1,750 and includes 21-inch 10-spoke-star design wheels with a bi-color finish, all-season tires, high-gloss black exterior elements, and black roof rails. The all-wheel steering is an extra $1,500 option.

The warranties offered by Audi are dismal at best. The new vehicle limited warranty only covers up to 4-years/50,000 miles (or whichever occurs first). There is a 12-year limited warranty against corrosion perforation. Last but not least, Audi offers 4-year roadside assistance covered by a third-party supplier. Pathetic if you ask me.

2022 Audi Q7 Competition Prices

The main competitors of the Audi Q7 are the Volvo XC90, BMW X7, and the Lincoln Aviator. The Volvo XC90 has a base price of $50,900. The BMW X7 has a base price of $74,900 and the Lincoln Aviator has a base price of $51,780. Of the vehicles on this list, I would rather have the XC90 due to Volvo having an all-around better reputation for reliability and safety.

Conclusion

So, to answer my original question - is the Q7 a dud luxury SUV? - I can say it is not a dud. As much as I couldn't stand the issues I had with the Q7, I can overlook them. Plus manufacturers are continuing down the slope of using cheaper materials anyway. But as a consumer, I would never buy a Q7. Not when the competition is better in almost every aspect.