If you want to experience high-end luxury without paying the high-end luxury price, you might want to consider getting behind the wheel of a 2017 Audi Q7 and taking this luxury SUV out for a test drive. With a starting MSRP of $49,900, you will be hard-pressed to find another SUV in this class that is as decked out with entertainment and safety features and without sacrificing comfort.
The 2017 Audi Q7 has been fully redesigned after its one-year hiatus, and the improvements that have been made to the Audi Q7 are worth the wait. New for this year is a much more spacious interior, revamped interior and exterior stylings, better fuel economy, an all-new 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, and numerous new tech features.
For 2017, you can take your pick between three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige –which is only available with the V6 engine option.
Performance Specs
When you go to buy the 2017 Audi Q7, you’ll have to choose between two powerful engine options. The first is the standard 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. If you want something a bit heftier, you can opt for the 3.0L V6 engine, which produces a stellar 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Regardless of which engine option you choose, it will be paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and comes standard with all-wheel drive.
This vehicle has a quick acceleration rate for a three-row luxury SUV. On the Prestige trim with the V6 engine and Adaptive Chassis package added on, the Audi Q7 will go from 0 to 60 mph in just under 6 seconds.
Additionally, the 4-cylinder Q7 can tow up to 4,400 pounds. If you are looking for higher towing capacity, you will want to consider upgrading to the V6 engine, which can tow 7,700 pounds – the average towing weight for a vehicle in this class.
The 2017 Audi Q7 has a curb weight of nearly 5,000 pounds, but it does not feel big and bulky while being driven. This vehicle is surprisingly light on its feet, handling rough terrain with ease. If you the four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension added on, you will feel as though you are driving a much smaller vehicle. The Q7 handles turns exceptionally well for a larger vehicle and have reliable brakes that inspire drivers’ confidence.
Safety and Entertainment Features
A major selling point for the 2017 Audi Q7 is that even the base trim is loaded with amazing standard safety and entertainment features. Safety features on the Q7 include child seat anchors, dusk-sensing headlights, a collision detection system, a remote anti-theft system, stability and traction control, tire pressure monitoring, 4-wheel ABS, and turn signal mirrors. An accident avoidance system is also available, but only for higher trim levels. The Premium Plus and Prestige trims also feature rear cross-traffic alert, an optional forward collision mitigation system, and an optional lane departure warning and assist.
The vehicle also has Audi Connect, which features services including automatic crash notification, emergency assistance, speed and valet alerts, and remote door locking and curfew.
The 2017 Audi Q7 packs a lot in the way of convenient infotainment. The vehicle has a 7-inch infotainment screen, an MMI infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, and an impressive 10-speaker sound system that features a CD player, satellite radio, and HD radio.
The optional Navigation System package will give you a handwriting recognition controller pad, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, voice control, emergency telematics, and total smartphone integration with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
2017 Audi Q7 vs. 2017 Jaguar F-Pace
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace offers a much more spacious cargo area than the Audi Q7 and offers a supercharged V6 engine at the price of a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The F-Pace is noted for being one of the best off-roaders in its class, but the V6 engine can be a bit boisterous for the everyday driver. The F-Pace also has reportedly stiff handling over gritty pavement, unlike the refined handling of the Q7. The F-Pace lags slightly behind in fuel efficiency with an EPA of 20 mpg combined and lackluster acceleration.
2017 Audi Q7 vs. 2017 BMW X5
While the 2017 BMW X5 boasts a strong performance, especially from its diesel engine option, and is one of the most customizable vehicles in this class. It lacks space in the third row of seats and doesn’t feature much leg room in the second row, unlike the spacious and comfortable Q7.
Fuel Efficiency
Most people who are looking to buy luxury SUVs will not expect to get great fuel efficiency. The 2017 Audi Q7 with the V6 engine gets a class average EPA of 21 mpg combined – 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The 4-cylinder engine gets slightly better fuel efficiency at 22 mpg combined – 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Pros and Cons
There are quite a few things to love about the 2017 Audi Q7. First and foremost, the V6 engine is jam-packed with power and can keep pace with many other vehicles on the road. It is worth paying the extra money to have and does not have many strong competitors in the vehicle class.
Also, as discussed above, the 2017 Audi Q7 has a ton of standard and optional safety features and driving assist technology and has high safety scores from IIHS. Its base trim has some of the most abundant standard safety options that can be found.
The cabin is extremely quiet and comfortable to ride in, and the materials give it a high-quality edge. Even the V6 isn’t as boisterous as you might expect from a supercharged engine. The cabin is well-insulated from road noise as well. The Q7 is every bit a luxury vehicle, inside and out.
The biggest downside to driving the 2017 Audi Q7 is that, unlike other SUVs in its class, the Q7 has limited cargo space. With all its seats in place, you’ll have roughly 15 cubic feet of cargo space remaining. With the seats removed, you get a fairly average 71.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Unfortunately, this might turn off some drivers who need to be able to fit a lot of cargo into their vehicles.
The 2017 Audi Q7 has a lot to offer for individuals and families. Those who are looking for a spacious, safe, and luxurious SUV that gets acceptable fuel efficiency and generates quite a bit of power should consider test driving the Q7.
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