Audi Q7 3.0 TDI S-line automatic: Test Drive

Date: 09 September 2008   |   Author: Tristan Young

Audi Q7

Category: Large 4x4 P11d price: £40,875 Key rival: Volvo XC90

Audi has installed its new 3.0-litre diesel engine in the Q7, making it swifter without damaging the fuel consumption or CO2 emissions.

The new engine might only have 10PS more than the previous 230PS, but it has more torque, which makes the Q7 feel brisker than its official 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds suggests.

Official fuel consumption is still below 30mpg at 28.8mpg, and the CO2 emissions are still in the 35% BIK bracket, partly because the car weighs in at just over 2.3 tonnes. But a massive 100-litre fuel tank helps reduce the number of fill-ups, if not the actual fuel costs.

As ever with an Audi, the Q7 is incredibly well built inside. However, the third row of seats is really only suitable for small kids. And interestingly, the centre one in the middle row has a shorter seatbelt than the outer two, which means some child seats won't fit there.

Verdict: A high-class seven-seater 4x4 that's now a little bit faster

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