The 2017 model year marked a couple of firsts for the Audi Q7. The most important of which was probably the introduction of the e-tron badge. The e-tron model takes the 3.0-liter TDI and a 94 kW electric motor to churn out 373 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The first hybridized diesel from Audi is also the most powerful engine available. On the other side of the spectrum, however, is this new 2.0-liter, gasoline-drinking, four-banger. As the first four—cylinder to be offered in the Q7, it can’t be compared to the power offering from the outgoing model, but Audi Claims it is 22-percent more fuel efficient that the 2015 model with the 3.0T V-6.

This new 2.0-liter is backed by Audi’s eight-speed Tiptronic transmission that carried over from the outgoing model. To help reduce fuel consumption, Audi enhanced the exhaust manifolds integration, made improvements to the Audi valvlift system, and introduced some sort of “innovated thermal management” system. All told, the Q7 with the 2.0T is said to have an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg combined, is almost 500 pounds lighter that the outgoing 3.0T and can pull up to 4,400 pounds with the optional towing package.

The Q7 2.0T comes standard with Quattro all-wheel drive and will be available in Premium and Premium plus trim levels starting in early 2017. Pricing will be set at $49,000 for the Premium and will increase to $53,000 in Premium Plus form.

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Why it matters

Audi’s announcement about the new 2.0T includes a lot of PR talk, so let me break things down for you a little bit. The outgoing model achieved 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, or a combined rating 18 mpg according to fueleconomy.gov So, with this new model achieving a combined rating of 22 mpg, you’re getting 3 extra mpg combined. That doesn’t sound like much at first, but when you consider the Q7 has a 26.4-gallon fuel tank, you should get nearly 80 miles more out of a full tank with the new 2.0T. It can also hit the 60-second sprint a half second faster than the outgoing 3.0t, so expect to get there in 7.2 seconds instead of 7.7 seconds. On the other hand, it’s not all gravy here. Audi is boasting that 4,400-pound towing capacity like it’s amazing, when in all-reality, it’s down from the 5,500 pounds the outgoing 3.0T could pull with the same optional towing package. So, you get 3 extra mpg (assuming you do an equal amount of highway and city driving,) and 1,100 fewer pounds of towing capacity. Meanwhile, you’ll pay an extra $700 over the entry-level price of the outgoing model.

Type

3.0 TDI

3.0 TFSI

3.0 TDI

2.0 TFSI

Output

272 HP

333 HP

218 HP

252 HP

Torque

442 LB-FT

324.5 LB-FT

368.8 Lb-FT

272.9 LB-FT

0 - 100km/h (62 mph)

6.3 seconds

6.1 seconds

TBA

7.2

Top speed

234 km/h (145.4 mph

250 km/h (155.3 mph)

TBA

TBA

Fuel consumption

41.3 US mpg

30.5 US mpg

TBA

33 mpg (est)

CO2 emission

239.8 g/mi

288.1 g/mi

TBA

TBA


Read our full review on the 2017 Audi Q7 here.