2010 Audi Q7 TDI: The power of diesel

More than a year after announcing they were coming out with a diesel version of the Q7, Audi Canada has finally put it on the market. The exterior boasts all the same aesthetic qualities that have made this SUV such a success. As usual, what catches your eye the most is Audi’s trademark rectangular grille; the Q7’s smooth contours run all the way from the grille to the back of the vehicle, making for a more refined look. Whether we’re talking about the diesel or the gas engine, this vehicle is certainly sturdy and impressive, but at the same time, somewhat bulky.

That being said, we don't feel that it deserves to be labeled as one of those mammoth vehicles you see on the road that are unpleasant to drive and unable to handle curves at high speeds. We’ve said from the beginning that this SUV has very good handling, because it’s been proven to us time and time again. Take it out on a windy road and you’ll find out for yourself how well it handles the road.

We recently had the chance to get behind the wheel of a North American TDI model, just to see if we got the same impressions as the one registered when we drove the European version.

What about the diesel engine?

Both the Q7 V6 and V8 have taken prime spots on the market thanks as much to their consistency as their performance. But what interests us more right now is its 3.0L V6 diesel engine with 221hp and 406 lb.-ft. torque, equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. As you might expect with a model designed to handle any kind of road conditions, the Quattro 4WD system is up to the task. But before we talk about engines, performance or road handling, let’s touch on the quality of the interior and the dashboard layout. Audi has made a reputation for itself in this department, and the Q7’s interior certainly lives up to it.

The quality of the materials used, as well as the colour scheme and the efficient controls all make for a quiet and comfortable driving experience. A downside, however, is that it takes some time to get used to the control that brings down the middle seat, allowing access to the third row of seats. Those are moderately comfortable, but offer limited leg room. Another downside is that the quality of materials used in the luggage compartment seems to be inferior to that used in the front.

Still, the most interesting thing about the Q7 has to be the diesel turbo engine, which posted an average fuel consumption of around 10.3L/100km despite driving without trying to save fuel on the highway as well as in the city. But it’s not only the fuel consumption that’s impressive. This engine demonstrates great accelerations: it can do 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds. The high torque of this TDI V6 engine is very noticeable at low speeds and is the secret to why it’s such a pleasure to drive.

Once you’re on the road, the Q7 proves to be a comfortable vehicle with smooth handling, which is all the more enjoyable when you remember that its fuel consumption is that of a much smaller crossover. We took several people with us when we test drove the Q7, and all of them pointed out how comfortable and spacious the interior was, as well as how smooth and quiet the drive was. The suspension, neither too soft nor too firm, makes for a smooth ride without any jerks or jolts.

On a side note, the shade of white that Audi offers is extremely white. Certain manufacturers offer this shade, but some have a prevailing bluish tint, while most others have a predominant reddish hue. With the Q7 model that we test drove, the colour was actually whiter than white.

Good Value

Regardless of which engine you go for, the price for the Q7 is pretty steep, but it's worth the money because it's a high-performance vehicle with good handling, luxurious interior and a highly efficient 4WD system. The TDI model is equipped with quite a remarkable engine. It's true that the smaller and plainer Q5 is cheaper and shares a lot of the same specs with its older sister, but it doesn't quite have the same panache and luxurious feel that the Q7 has. On top of that, only the Q7 offers the diesel engine.

It's worth noting that all German manufacturers that offer SUVs with the option of a diesel engine have placed a lot more importance on this engine type. Upping the ante, Audi has come up with a heavy-duty version of the Q7, which also sports a diesel engine, but a much more powerful one: a 6.0L V12 with 500hp and 700+ lb.-ft. of torque. Throw in some 20-inch wheels, ceramic brake pads and some great acceleration times (0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds), and you've got yourself a real gem! However, this model is only available in Europe and has a selling price of 210,000 Swiss Francs, which means that potential sales in North America would have been undoubtedly limited to say the least.

Even though Audi took a while to get on the diesel bandwagon, Ingolstadt’s engineers definitely did their homework, and it's clear that the Q7 is an even more attractive buy with the option of the high-performance diesel engine. In fact, Audi could simply offer the TDI V6 model and few people would lose out.

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