driving new Audi Q7 I thought that there is a certain sense in giving bloggers a test expensive cars. Well, think for yourself what they can write about premium car seasoned journalists? That's right, they will turn on their trademark skepticism, start comparing this car with early modifications, or talk about high. Where is the excitement, you ask? How can you stay cool when writing about your experience driving the new S-Class, for example? It is necessary to tell your friends and subscribers what features are hidden in the tested machine! :)
So, the Audi Q7 is the most expensive and powerful car which I have ever run for a long time. And he's great! Still, you might think. It's hard to be indifferent when driving a car costing two-room apartment. Yes, new Q7 prices start at 3.630.000 rubles, only I had a car with a bunch of additional options like air suspension, a multifunction steering wheel with gearshift paddles and heating, four-zone climate control, an S-line package ... .. the S-Line package alone adds 154,325 rubles to the price. The total cost of only options on the test machine more than 1.200.000 rubles. But this is not all that can be equipped new Kushka. For example, in our copy there was no hatch in the ceiling. Here's another thing I found in the Audi configurator: the most expensive package - Audi design selection murillo brown which will add to the cost of the car as much as 723.215 rubles! This package includes upholstery of the entire interior with leather and Alcantara, velor inserts and an emblem on the doors ... Something I got hung up on numbers in rubles.
The new Q7 is currently delivered to us in the only configuration with gasoline engine 3.0 TFSI with as much as 333 hp For the European market, they make a diesel version of this car with a power of 272 hp. And it is not yet clear whether it will be delivered to Russia or not.
Owners of the previous generation Q7 may have questions about what has changed. I was not familiar with the Audi Q7 before, so I can not compare them. If only visually, because this difference is directly evident: the new Q7 seems more compact than its predecessor. So it is, judging by the technical characteristics. He really became a little shorter, a little narrower, at the same time and lighter. The car no longer looks like a kind of solid behemoth, now it is a modern urban crossover. There will definitely be someone who will say "now it looks like all other SUVs" or "the individuality has disappeared." I will just say that the new Q7 looks modern and appropriate. I like. Kushka's appearance, like the VW Touareg, is calm, without ostentatious elements. This is not "get out of the way!" and "who's the boss here?".
The headlights are now fully LED. During the day, in AUTO mode, stripes are lit that resemble those in new Volvo XC90. The turn signals are also LED, and at the back they burn in a unique way - a running line.
In the cabin, mostly German practicality reigns. The torpedo resembles the one in BMW, the same horizontally elongated lines. The large screen on top is not touch-sensitive, it can automatically retract down into the torpedo and exit along with the ignition. Although this can be done on the go, there is a dedicated button above the climate control unit for this. From non-standard I will pay attention to the gearshift lever. The fact is that it has only one fixed position; when shifting gears, it returns to its place. The engaged gear can only be seen by the indicators at the lever and on the instrument panel. And the parking is activated by a separate button on the lever. Because of this, a couple of times, out of habit, instead of parking, I turned on reverse gear and was about to get out of the car. And then I wondered where this car was heading, only a second later it dawned on me what was the matter. But then I got used to it.
There are not very many buttons on the dashboard. The main functions are hidden in the settings on-board computer, are controlled by a rotating lever and a touch panel with buttons on it. There are fewer settings than you would expect from a car of this class. Climate control here is 4-zone. The buttons under the screen are two-position, pressed up and down. Moreover, they are also touch-sensitive, they recognize the approach of a finger and show possible options modes. Drive select will be discussed below. The last button in the row is the one that removes the top panel with the screen.
Here is this touch panel with 12 buttons on it and a rotary knob under the panel with the function of pressing, as well as with a block of buttons for switching modes. The touchpad, as it seemed to me, is almost useless thing, it only works in navigation mode.
Passengers in the rear seats are not deprived of climate control settings. They have a separate unit for separate adjustment of temperature, power and blowing direction. There are also deflectors + buttons for separate seat heating. A compartment with a cigarette lighter was hidden under the climate control unit. There will be no fight with people in the front row about sockets for charging gadgets. They have enough outlets.
At the bottom of the torpedo there is a tray with a lid, in which there was a cigarette lighter socket. There were two USB slots in the armrest (thanks to Audi for that!) and a line-in (AUX), and in the glove compartment there was a 1CD / DVD unit and two SD cards, like in the Tuareg. Full set multimedia interfaces!
I also liked the audio system in KuSem, especially with the 3D sound setting turned on. I wanted to listen to all my favorite mixes. In the test Audi, a Bose system was installed with a bunch of speakers and a subwoofer in the spare tire. Only on the front pillars and the torpedo, I counted 5 of them.
In addition to the rear view camera, parking sensors are built into the car in a circle. The function of communication with the phone via Bluetooth can carefully warn you when you need to charge the device. System speakerphone I connected quickly via Bluetooth, except that I didn’t like the work of the voice search for subscribers. The control interface does not immediately become clear, like the VW, but it will not take much time to get used to. For all the enviable functionality listed above, you have to pay 76.684 rubles. But if you think that this is the maximum possible, then you are sorely mistaken. Instead of a BOSE audio system, if desired, you can install a system from Bang & Olufsen, and this desire will cost 409,887 rubles. Oh how!
Navigation around St. Petersburg is not bad, there is even three-dimensional models buildings. The voice of the aunt in the navigator can lower the volume of the music.
The interior has a very pleasant night illumination:
Along the torpedo runs a luminous blue strip transparent plastic. It looks cool, only the color is a bit inappropriate, but I couldn’t change the color in the menu, I didn’t find such an item:
The front seats are very comfortable, equipped with all conceivable electronic adjustments. In addition to the usual back and seat adjustments, here you can change the position of the cushion on the edge of the seat (on the left in the photo) and the lumbar support in the back.
There is no need to talk about legroom in the rear seats, there is plenty of it. As well as the volume of the trunk, which is 890 liters with the seats unfolded and 2075 when folded into a flat floor. And the presence of the electric drive of the fifth door is perceived here as a given. Oh, I would like to go to long journey the whole family on Q7!
Roma managed to get into the car and buckle up before I moved the car seat from our Nissan.
The car is already basic configuration Equipped with keyless entry. The key can be put in a pocket or bag and removed only to change the batteries. The doors open and close with a simple touch on the door handles, and the engine starts with a button in the cabin.
I really liked how the car drives on roads with broken asphalt. I would even say that it does not pass, but flies. No discomfort, the suspension works out small and medium bumps with a bang. And speed bumps can be safely driven at 30-40 km / h. Handling is good, thanks in part to the 20-gauge wheels and low profile tires. A branded four-wheel drive quattro we had time to experience on a wet and level field, with the stabilization system turned on and off. The brakes are great, and you don't feel the weight of the car when you slow down.
On the test Q7, it seems like some kind of electronic assistants were built in, such as active cruise control. But only a passive picture on the dashboard reminded of this. Once the picture changed to something else, it happened during a sharp acceleration. But as it changed - it disappeared, I did not have time to read what it was. I did not understand what kind of assistants they were.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the air suspension, coupled with the settings of the gearbox and steering wheel. In the Q7, this is all configured through the Drive Select modes, of which there are 6 pieces. The most "calm" mode is called Efficiency. The most interesting thing in this mode is that the car acquires the ability to roll by inertia, as with the clutch pedal depressed on a manual transmission. At least, it seemed to me so when I saw that the number in the gear designation disappears on the dashboard display. In addition, in this mode, the eight-speed gearbox changes gears very early, keeping the speed in the region of 1000-1500 with a calm acceleration.
Tangible changes occur after switching to Dynamic mode, when the box and steering wheel are set to accelerate quickly, and the air suspension is lowered to the lower position. The car, by the way, accelerates to hundreds in 6.1 seconds. However, the figures are figures, but the dynamics are not felt as sharply as it seems from the figures. It's all to blame for good sound insulation and environmental settings. That's right, it's not for you Porsche Cayenne:)
And the most spectacular thing happens with the suspension if you switch the mode from Dynamic to Offroad. In this case, the pneumatics, slowly and step by step, begins to increase the clearance to an impressive size. After that, you can storm light off-road and not be afraid that you can hook something with bumpers. As much as the overhangs and road tires will allow:
Behind the wheel it seemed that tin-tin, but you go out, you look - there is a considerable supply
The Q7 body stiffness test was excellent.
I remember that I was unpleasantly surprised high flow fuel. Although, let's be honest, a car weighing about two tons, with a 3-liter engine producing 333 horsepower and three people on board, cannot consume less than 10 liters per 100 kilometers. Something else bothered me. In the factory specifications, fuel consumption in mixed mode is 7.7 liters per hundred, and in urban mode 9.4. The on-board computer showed a consumption of about 13 liters per hundred after resetting the indicators and a quiet ride in different modes car (let's write it off for a small mileage and the lack of a normal engine break-in). However, there was a strong feeling that the expense was even higher. I refueled for 600 rubles, went to Sosnovy Bor (about 100 kilometers) and upon arrival the car asked for refueling again. It turns out that the real consumption is more than 15 liters per hundred. A lot for a car that has a lot of technologies, the purpose of which is fuel economy, including. But when the on-board computer determines the power reserve is less than 80 kilometers, it carefully displays a suggestion on the monitor to find the nearest gas station through the built-in navigation :)
Of the obvious disadvantages, the most annoying is the incessant squeak when opening the driver's door with the engine running. which I tested two years ago. For what??? Well, I want to stand with the door open without turning off the engine, talk to a person or get some air.
And here's another. I mentioned above that the car gives the impression of a leisurely one. This feeling is reinforced by power windows, which do not work immediately, but half a second after pressing. And the windows are also moving imposingly, as if hinting “where to hurry, relax!”. Slowness is also felt during the awakening of the engine from "sleep" in the Start / Stop mode, at a traffic light, for example. Simpler cars could start faster, I remember.
That's over with the cons. I was pleasantly surprised by the maneuverability of the Q7, the turning angle is very small for full-size crossover just over 5 meters long. Light handlebar also do not expect to see in such a car.
So, back to the excitement. I really liked the new Audi Q7. I got real pleasure from driving this car. Yes, I did not have the opportunity to compare it with competitors in the face of the BMW X6, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes GL, Asian colleagues and other premium crossovers. But this is the case when I am ready to cast my vote for Audi, turning a blind eye to other cars in this class. We are similar in character, he is just as calm and unflappable.
Behind the wheel of the seventh Ku does not want to drive, you want to drive it calmly, with dignity, looking at everyone from top to bottom, but without show-offs. On the contrary, I am kindness and politeness itself. At the same time, I understand that if necessary, you can stomp bolder on the gas pedal, thereby mobilizing all 333 horsepower and make a quick overtake. And then return to your lane and continue to calmly sail on.
Whole photoshoot
After nine years of conveyor “life”, the Audi Q7 has been radically updated, one might say, reborn. The new premium crossover looks different from its predecessor, like heaven from earth. And internally? And what has changed in the technical stuffing?
To tell the truth, the appearance of the first "Ku-seventh" did not impress me at all. Moreover, even scared. It seemed that this car was designed for those owners who are used to putting pressure on opponents, but what's there, just on interlocutors, with mass and authority. I wonder if I was the only one who thought rear lights this model resemble huge red clenched fists?
Neither behind the wheel, nor just in the cabin of that version, I have never been. Somehow it did not work out (yes, to be honest, there was no desire). I heard something about the good handling of this mastodon, and this caused sincere surprise: sports with such body outlines did not fit in any way, in general, the Q7 of the first generation in design simply got out of model range Audi. I also knew nothing about the interior, except that it could be seven-seater. But for whom were the "children's" places? For those in whom a “bulldozer” pressure is brought up from an early age on everyone with whom you have to communicate?
Image change
In general, there was a case when a car was developed with the expectation of a purely specific stratum of society, I do not exclude that the Russian one too. The hit on the target was so accurate that they tried to steal the Q7 even during journalistic test drives, and my colleagues were forced to get acquainted with the model in the literal sense under guard.
It is known that some automotive firms tried different ways and ways to disown the negative plaque that their products acquired in Russia during perestroika times. It seems that Audi has also thought about it, because the new Q7 does not make the slightest “concrete” impression. Not at first sight, not from the second. The big businessman changed his sizeless raspberry jacket for a tailor-made suit. Made by a famous tailor, from expensive fabric. In strict accordance with the corporate style of the company. Without a hitch and a hitch. Appearance was a success one hundred percent. It makes you want to banally smack your fingers gathered in a bun.
Luxurious and "inside". By chance, I first get acquainted with new model, being on back seat. The space is incredible. The quality of the finish is outstanding. The smell of leather is literally mind blowing, just like in Sting's song about a car thief. At the same time, you don’t feel like a thief, realizing that, having stolen this luxury, you will perceive it as undeserved, not your sleigh and hat not for Senka. You need to grow up to such a car, to do something big in life. Or, as in my case, to be a passenger of corporate transport, taste a piece of delicacy and think about your step on the social ladder.
Naturally, getting a new Q7 for a test, I sit behind the wheel with reverence. Oh, really, everything here exceeds my expectations, and many times over. Although I am familiar with Audi models including the expensive ones. But you have to meet them infrequently, therefore, closing the massive driver's door, out of habit, I apply insufficient force, and it does not slam shut. I don’t have time to slam the second time - the door automatically retracts into the opening. Wow, there are "suckers" here!
Everything, I'm smitten. Here you will definitely feel like a thief. Or the boss's driver? Or actually the boss, the director of the company? No, more like an airline pilot. Because there are an incredible number of buttons and knobs around, all, of course, different, so as not to get confused and use by touch. The transmission selector is simply fantastic. Management, it seems, is logical, but it’s not immediately possible to start moving. And all because the onboard computer, even in D mode, shows the “current” gear: D1, D2 ... It seems to me that I got into manual mode, and you need to somehow return to automatic. I inhale deeply and take myself in hand, as, in fact, control. So, after a few seconds I come back to full normal.
The second time I have to do this is when the 249-horsepower diesel enters the takeoff mode, as soon as I leave the parking lot on the street. A motor with a 600-Nm torque is able to accelerate a massive crossover to the first hundred kilometers per hour in less than 7 seconds. Calm down, calm down! Power - sufficient to furnish neighbors downstream, but you need to behave (and such a car) with dignity. Look, they are looking at you - from Mercedes, Cadillacs, BMWs. Because the new Q7, although “corporate” outwardly as much as possible, at the same time catches the eye just like the new Q7, stands out unmistakably. The pinnacle of creativity ... sorry, model line Audi can not stop the attention of others.
The attractiveness of works of art is in their proportionality, whoever has managed to correctly grasp the proportions and give them to the subject, owns the world. This perfectly describes the design of the new Q7. Its body is a standard, which should be stored in the form of an exact copy under a glass cover in the chamber of weights and measures. All designers should start to “dance” from it. But, no matter what they “dance”, it is the current Q7 that will remain the standard. At least for many years.
According to the owners and those who were just familiar with the previous generation Q7, the car received a softer suspension (what was it then ??). And according to company data, the new Q7 “feel better” by more than 300 kilograms due to the use in the design more parts made of aluminum and high-strength steels. This could not but affect the dynamics and efficiency premium crossover which are now among the best in the class.
It has become smaller than its predecessor by a few millimeters, but it seems that it is very significant. Just plump from a well-fed life, the boss pumped up, gave shape to every muscle, every line of the body. And thanks to this, he freshened up for ten years that way. Q7 no longer needs to be approached with age, it is enough only with career achievements, it will make an excellent company for a young and early businessman and in no case will “age” him. Just like a pair of mountain bikes mounted on a trunk won't look alien. Not a bar business? Today - exactly what is lordly, not without reason eminent car brands offer bikes under their own names: Porsche, Land Rover…
It is better to take off the bike gloves only when driving an Audi. To feel all the nobility of finishing materials that are used in the cabin. There are a great many details and controls, which are not only worth touching, but also have to be touched constantly. Because this car can and should be transformed for yourself, even daily, even every minute. It is not only "corporate" and "reference" - it is very diverse, use and enjoy it if you already have such an opportunity!
I see that they are looking at me from the windows of other cars, and therefore I deliberately slowly direct my right hand to one or another button, key, regulator. Does the MMI system communicate with my smartphone immediately? Okay, let him think, I'm not in a hurry. For now, I'll take care of the sound settings of the Bang & Olufsen "music". Yes, look, I'm a capricious music lover, and I don't like everything about this sound. I can’t immediately understand what exactly I don’t like, so I scroll through the sound settings menu. Yeah, someone has already turned the "bottom" and "top" controls almost to the limit. And still something is missing. It becomes much better when you shift the “focus” of the sound a little back. Volume, of course, volume - that's what was missing.
And by the way, from there, outside, do you see what I have here playing? The MMI screen that popped up from the dashboard has so much a high resolution that it will not be difficult for a vigilant person to “count” information from the outside. Did you spot the chanson performer? But this genre, in my opinion, is reproduced by the on-board audio system better than classical or rock, it seems to prefer working with voices, and not with musical instruments. Chanson out of status? Perhaps yes. Let us dwell on Russian romances.
From there, because of the glass, you probably noticed small "fungi" on the right and left of the dashboard. These are Bang&Olufsen tweeters. And they, by the way, have the ability to hide in the dashboard, like the MMI display. If I don’t want to see it all the time, by pressing a button you can “drown” it, while the music will not stop sounding, and the adjustment will remain available, since there are mechanical controls. The screen is still non-touch. At the same time, it will certainly pop up on its own when you need to maneuver. in reverse, and the front one too, because only here, on this high-end display, are the readings of the parking sensors sensors displayed. And, of course, the picture from the rear view camera.
And here is the menu that I would hide from prying eyes: the MMI screen can play messages that come to my smartphone. Reproduced superbly, unmistakably! Having adapted, you can send a response. There are several options. First, you can select a stereotypical phrase from the list in the device's memory, for example, "OK", "No", "Please call back", "I'm driving in the car, I'll contact you later" (there are about ten in total). Secondly, dictate the answer aloud, the system will translate it into text. I confess, I did not succeed in doing this, I got confused in the settings. But I managed to connect with the subscriber in a third way: by “handwritten” letters on a small touchpad located on the floor tunnel. The system parsed my scribbles quite well, translating them into block letters on the screen and duplicating them in voice for fidelity. Sending from the car was successful, all my messages reached the addressees. However, while already at home, I found that these SMS on the screen of my smartphone were listed as unsent - such a paradox.
You can use this service in Q7 only when the car is stopped, you won’t get any speed advantage compared to a smartphone, but you can entertain yourself in traffic jams. But the driving modes can be changed precisely while driving, and not only possible, but also necessary. To feel the difference...
One in many faces
Immediately make a reservation that we have on the test - diesel car in special version S line. So far, only cars with a three-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 249 liters are delivered to Russia. with., or with the same displacement and configuration V6 gasoline compressor engine, developing 333 liters. With. The gearbox is an eight-band automatic, the drive is only full, with an interaxle differential that is blocked by the electronics command.
In fact, the Q7 combines three cars in one: a station wagon executive class, a crossover with variable clearance (!!) and - in our case - also a sports car. What is the sum total?
The functions of the station wagon are performed brilliantly. The trunk is huge: 890 liters with five seats and 2075 liters with two passengers. For the convenience of loading things, the "stern" of the crossover can be lowered and then raised, the drive buttons are located on the left side of the upholstery. Sixth and seventh seats (with power folding) are available for a surcharge, they are not in the test car. I check the capacity of the trunk by chance: four boxes simply fly into it, each of which packs a 15-inch alloy wheel. The wheels are not intended for Q7, their future "owner" is much more modest in class and size, only one such box is included in its trunk. Now these wheels will remember for a long time in which car they had a chance to ride as passengers.
To a long list of standard Audi equipment Q7 you can add a lot of interesting things additional equipment. Offered for an extra charge: air suspension with the ability to "lift" the body at the command of the driver; rear axle with steering function in turns; third row of seats; removable multimedia monitors attached to the headrests of the front seats.
And they will certainly begin to exchange impressions: but it was harsh. Yes, and it's noisy! Not otherwise, the carrier was not from the specialists in the transportation of VIPs, from the possible modes drive systems Select chose the most rigid - Dynamic. Or maybe he added sports settings to the Individual option. Using this mode, you can "soften" and "tighten" the suspension, add sharpness to the steering wheel, change the engine dynamics plus or minus.
No, citizens passengers, you are mistaken. I have been moving to the Q7 for the second day, fixing the Comfort mode. And not at all because other modes do not suit me, they seem tough. They don't seem to be, that's the point! There are settings, you can change them on the go, only the difference between them is barely noticeable. Unless, the engine is really reconfigured and becomes “more responsive”, adding dynamics to the car, and a pleasant feeling to the driver. But I personally do not feel any changes in the “character” of the suspension and steering.
Ride the back again, maybe then you will be able to catch the difference. But now I don’t have such an opportunity, and those whom I invited to the role of passengers do not belong to especially important people. The comfort and coziness of the new Audi Q7 seem beyond them. They are not accustomed to "suckers" and therefore try to slam heavy doors harder. A music system is called a built-in receiver. receiver?? Yes, its price certainly exceeds the cost of the budget "our brand"!
I have one of my classmates to compare the Audi Q7 with, and the German crossover does not excel in comfort. The leaders, in my opinion, are the Swedish and American models of comparable cost. And in terms of ergonomics, the “Boeing” number and variety of buttons and keys on the dashboard hardly outweigh the minimalist ones. touch screens a la tablets.
Comfort and comfort
Maybe the difference in settings is imperceptible on asphalt, especially smooth? I move to the track, where the coating is smashed to pieces - no, the same thing. Even with the Comfort position selected, the Q7 is not particularly comfortable. If I went to this corner of the Moscow region with the goal of riding a mountain bike - it’s not a question, I wouldn’t even remember about the suspension. But if I were taking rich buyers to a nearby cottage village, they would reasonably ask me if I was abusing "sports." After all, good year tires Eagle F1 on the S line version, which have an almost slick tread pattern, are perfectly audible in the cabin.
Obviously, with such tires there is nothing to do on the roads, for which the premium "universal" crossover, it seems, is also intended. And "armed", by the way, with such an option as lifting the body, moreover, to a considerable height - from 175 to 235 mm. Of course, lifting is only possible if the suspension is air-conditioned. Oh, something tells me that spring suspension Q7 is even tougher...
I crawl out onto the country road that runs through the field with caution, trying not to slide into clay ruts filled with water. There is nothing to do with “my” tires in them, even though they have the designation “SUV 4X4”. I wonder if - hypothetically - equip the Q7 with more "off-road" tires, how much more safely can you move off the pavement? And what will it be like on the pavement, because the noise from toothy tires in the cabin will certainly be no less than from sports tires, or even more?
From the driving modes I choose Lift / Offroad and I feel how the body “pops up”. Lift indication is on the right bottom corner display of the MMI system. On dry sections of the road, it would be possible to slightly add “gas”, since the bumps pass freely under the bottom of the crossover. But the rigid suspension quickly "cools" this desire. There is no question of any comfort, and besides, the car is simply a pity. This element is not his.
On the border of a newly built holiday village, two guys with a cross-country motorcycle are looking at me with surprise. It is obvious that a car like the Q7 does not belong in these conditions. But maybe this crossover will reveal its true character on sandy road where you can accelerate without the danger of digging? Indeed, he does not dig in, but behaves risky. In a turn, it slips out with the front axle, after a moment it picks up the rear axle, it feels good, only the “gas” has already been released and the ABS is chirping with might and main. Having added traction at this moment, I risk throwing the car off the track and somehow I don’t feel at all that the stabilization system intends to counteract this. I repeat the race - the same thing.
Maybe the safety electronics are ready to intervene if I increase the speed? Dude, I won't increase it. I do not want to end the test with the comment "Lost control." By the way, there is a chance not to cope with it even when accelerating on a straight section of a sandy track. The car desperately scours even when accelerating to 50-60 km / h, and the stabilization system is still silent. But ABS works beyond praise.
So what do we have in regards to the new Q7? I managed to run a “cross” off the asphalt on it, but, frankly, without pleasure. Initially it seemed that german car, especially, premium brand, should more actively insure its driver against deliberately risky actions.
In terms of overcoming off-road, the Q7 is also clearly not a champion. Even if there is a powerful "lift" of the suspension. I am sure that only the second, or rather even the third owner of this car will finally decide to “shod” it in off road tires and go to your favorite fishing spots or to the fields, to watch the work of tractor drivers on arable land.
The initial price of the new Audi Q7 is 3,750,000 rubles. A more targeted search for a car on sale leads to slightly different figures: from 4,260,000 rubles to 4,996 rubles, moreover, three-liter gasoline and diesel versions cost about the same. A lot of offers special series, at prices exceeding five, six and even eight million rubles. A car with the S line package is distinguished, first of all, by sports trim elements, it does not have any special differences in “technology”. Regularly the package includes 20-inch alloy wheels 5-Parallel-Spoke design (the test car had just that) with 285/45 tires (in our case, Goodyear Eagle F1 SUV 4X4), but you can retrofit the car with 21-inch wheels with 285/40 tires.
Behavior on the pavement - that's what you can definitely praise the new Q7. Excellent directional stability, clear reactions to steering wheel movements, low center of gravity, slight rolls in corners, optimally stiff suspension, torquey and at the same time very economical three-liter turbodiesel (only 5-6 seconds of acceleration from 80 to 120 km / h, 7.5 liters diesel fuel per hundred for the entire time of the test) - pluses, pluses and almost only pluses. Of the minuses - diesel engine it can sometimes be late with a reaction to a sharp increase in fuel supply, and the machine sometimes “kicks”, not often, but noticeably.
For an executive car, the large crossover from Audi is a bit harsh and noisy. The finish of the huge cabin is magnificent, the materials are beyond praise, the list of options is prohibitively long. However, when driving, something is missing (comfort), and something is too much (noise). In the S line version, sports tires worsen the sound picture. It turns out that in the “bottom line” we have a very high-quality universal car for a young nouveau riche, active and sporty, but either who has not yet tasted true luxury, or who believes that it is not compatible with youth and sportiness.
| Specifications Audi Q7 3.0 TDI S-line |
|
|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS, MM | 5052x1968x1741 |
| WHEELBASE, MM | |
| TURNING DIAMETER, M | |
| GROUND CLEARANCE, MM | |
| CARGO VOLUME, MIN./MAX., L | |
| CURRENT WEIGHT, KG | |
| ENGINE'S TYPE | V6 diesel |
| WORKING VOLUME, CUBE CM | |
| MAX. POWER, HP / RPM | |
| MAX. TORQUE, NM / RPM | |
| TRANSMISSION | 8-band automatic |
| MAX. SPEED, KM/H | |
| ACCELERATION 0-100 KM/H, S | |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION (AVERAGE), L/100 KM | |
| TANK VOLUME, L | |
The second-generation Q7 retained permanent four-wheel drive, but the transmission was lighter by 20 kilograms due to the self-locking Torsen center differential built into the body automatic box gears. Under normal conditions, traction is distributed along the axles in a ratio of 40:60, but depending on the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface, it can vary from 15:85 to 70:30. Air suspension with electronic adjustment shock absorbers are well adjusted ground clearance: in the system menu, you can select one of five operating modes: comfortable, automatic, dynamic, off-road, and even a kind of "lifted" - with a maximum clearance of 235 millimeters.
And inside? Inside - familiar techno from other Audis. The salon here is exactly the same as on passenger models: the same buttons, displays, touchpad with a washer. The virtual instrument panel is colorfully drawn, but strangely installed - with an inclination in the opposite direction. There are a lot of straight lines and there is a branded deflector air conditioner from side to side, but the wide center panel seems too empty, although someone likes it - it seems like nothing more. But the central screen, contrary to the current fashion, does not stick out with a tablet, but quietly leaves for the panel as unnecessary.
The interior is typical for modern Audi- everything is in its place
The seats are comfortable, and the length of the cushion is adjustable in a huge range.
Plenty of space in the back row, sit comfortably, a roof with a panoramic view adds comfort
The steering wheel is cool - so much so that we will soon see it with the Lamborghini emblem
The flattened gear selector fits the right hand perfectly, but itching from work diesel engine feel good on it. It is a pity that the cup holders were removed far forward - you have to reach for them. The steering wheel is cool, especially the volume control drum - nothing more convenient for this function has yet been invented. But for some reason the heating of the rim is rather weak. I was alerted by the height difference of the pedals and the unexpectedly small, almost flat glove box. The contour lighting in Audi is not the same as in other "Germans" - instead of soft, muted light, bright and rich colors are here. I like it, but in terms of the totality of impressions, the mood of the interior is much closer to a cool business hi-tech than to home comfort.
The driving position in the Audi Q7 corresponds to the appearance - low and one hundred percent "passenger". The rear is spacious, and a relatively large doorway provides passengers with convenient entry and exit from the car. However, all the advantages and disadvantages of the crossover fade before he rides. And that's great, because today it's more often just the opposite - it looks cool, it's just super inside, but it rides ... well, so-so. Here the story is different: the appearance of the Q7 cannot be called memorable or at least bright, but driving performance can be considered outstanding without exaggeration.
The retractable screen is a brilliant solution, which for some reason is not available in other models.
If I had been a little less attentive on the road, I would have had to pay a tidy sum for fines for a few days of testing the Audi. Because in this car it makes no difference whether you are driving at 70 km/h or 170. And only when you press the gas pedal, and you are pressed into the back of the chair in complete silence, does the understanding come that the Q7 not only can do a lot, but also wants it. It would seem - a dream, not a car, but before buying this crossover, you need to think carefully: do you need this particular car? Because I have never seen anything more controversial.
A little more sports
And the udi Q7 is far from a novelty, there are a lot of such cars on the roads. Therefore, I will not describe it in words, you can go outside, wait a little and consider this car as much as you want. But I will definitely say that now we are testing not just Q7, but Q7 in the S line configuration. This explains some distinctive features car. For example, 21-inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels.
A little more aggression to the exterior is given by the front and rear bumpers, slightly different from simpler versions. And on the edge of the roof there is a spoiler, probably the sportiest of all accessories.
If you open the doors, then on the thresholds you can still see the S line overlays, but this is later. Until we get the keys and see the car from the inside.
By the way, I haven't held such keys in my hands for a long time. You can immediately see: the real thing, heavy and solid. It’s nice to take such hands in your hands, and you can reason with them if you wish. Even two. Why are there two key fobs? Because we have an independent heater, the option is not cheap, you have to pay almost 105 thousand for it, but with the total cost of the car and if you want to get into the cold in warm salon, you can put. So: one of the key fobs is from the heater.
So, open the door and sit inside.
You know, sometimes you get into a car for three or four million, look around and think with animal longing: why? What is this money for? And I noted with great pleasure that in Audi this question did not arise. In the age of aluminum-look plastic, wood-look plastic, and even soft-look plastic, the Q 7 interior seems really high quality and expensive in the best sense of the word.
Of course, it is large, and it would be strange if in a car, the length of which is 5,052 mm with a base of 2,994 mm, it would be cramped. Another thing is important: everything looks very good here.
The panel seems laconic, but it adds austerity to the interior. It turned out to get rid of unnecessary buttons and “twists” in the traditional way: you can enter the car menu through the driver information system, which is already in the basic equipment. That's where you can delve into the settings of lighting, pendants and much more, which we'll talk about later. And the second feature of ergonomics is the location of some hotel settings buttons on the steering column switches. And we'll talk about that later too.
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On the front seats, you can see another sign of the S line: an imprint on the backs of the front seats in the form of the letter S. The seats themselves are upholstered in Valcona leather with diamond stitching. Before you get behind the wheel, let's see what is behind and in the trunk.
Rear row passengers also live richly: they have their own air conditioning zones, and a good armrest with cup holders, and adjust the angle of the separate seatbacks. By the way, for 78 thousand you can put a third row of seats here, but this is so, food for thought.
Locations in luggage compartment too many, and this also does not need any explanation. The only thing of interest is the dokatny spare wheel with a collapsing tire. At the same time, the list of accessories for this car is simply huge: from snow chains (though only for 18 and 19-inch wheels) to ... an ultrasonic rodent repellent for 16 thousand. However, a rich set of additional trifles can only be approved, there really are good things, but inexpensive ones.
We're going, we're going, we're going to distant lands
Acceleration to 100 km/h
6.9 seconds
You can't imagine what anguish I experienced, reseeding after the end of a long Q 7 in my personal car! And it doesn’t even matter that it costs 26 times cheaper than this Audi, but it’s important that the chair there is 26 times worse than what was in the Q 7. It seems that a person of absolutely any build and absolutely unique seating preferences can fit in it.
You can stretch out your arms and legs, you can - only your arms or only your legs, you can sit upright, like a gymnasium student on a stool, or reclining. It’s always convenient here, no matter how you set up the chair. Moreover, steering wheel adjustment (of course, in both planes and with a joystick) is enough in any situation. And there is also a separate adjustment of not only the lumbar support, but also the lateral support and even the length of the seat cushion. Here the headrest will have to move your hands, there is no escape from this, but otherwise the seats are incomparable.
The second wave of delight is the steering wheel. It is clear that the skin, that the automatic transmission petals, that a bunch of buttons ... But something completely different causes delight - the profile of the steering wheel. It looks thin, but it actually has a very wide profile, the rim seems to be stretched from the driver towards the panel. It is very comfortable to hold, and even the “sported” thinning over the side spokes actually turn out to be comfortable and not annoying. In a word, the creators of the steering wheel and seats need to be given an order, two can be at once.
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Now let's start the engine and see what we have here in terms of technology.
And we have a three-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 249 hp. And just with a killer moment of 600 Nm at 1,500-2,910 rpm! We also have Quattro permanent all-wheel drive, eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, Audi system drive select and adaptive air suspension with stepless electronic damping control and with the possibility of changing the ground clearance. It certainly sounds beautiful. And how does he drive?
At the moment of starting the engine, attention is drawn to how a display appears from the panel into the light of day information system and Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System speakers. And if some still believe that the screen coming out of the panel is some kind of blunder and monstrous bad taste (for me, it’s very good), then acoustics for 350 thousand sounds amazing and no one will argue with that. Subwoofer, 22 speakers, almost two kilowatts of the purest sound with 3D effect... Delight for the ears.
Max speed
The first thing that surprised me about Q 7 was the strange craving for it by traffic police officers. The first time they stopped after five kilometers, and for the whole journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg - three times. Well, okay, I didn’t break the rules, I didn’t set speed records. Although it could.
Yes, a turbodiesel has one advantage - very good torque. It seems to be a power of 249 hp. - this is not so much for a car with an allowable gross weight 2 750 kg. But 600 Nm is a completely different story. If the gear selector is in position D, then you can drive the Q 7 slowly, only occasionally depressing the accelerator pedal to overtake on the highway. But if you translate it into S (s, as everyone understood, this is “sport”), then all her bestial insides wake up in Audi. It is worth pressing the trigger, as the car literally rears up, lifting up the front, and in the projection on windshield numbers start flashing. Thanks to excellent sound insulation, there is no engine sound in the cabin, and the size of the car does not make it possible to estimate its own speed “by eye”. It is not always clear how fast you are going, you often have to look at the speedometer.
However, there is another way not to break the rules: set a limit top speed or set up a warning about exceeding.
By the way, the control of numbers on the projection is the most convenient way to monitor the speed. The dashboard in the Q 7 is digital, but it was not always convenient for me to look at its instruments, for this I had to tilt my head down, which I do not like to do while driving. But by pressing one button, you can change the format of the image output to the panel. In one mode, the tidy looks quite traditional: a speedometer, a tachometer, and in the center - the readings of the on-board computer. In another mode, the panel turns into a second display. The speedometer and tachometer become smaller, but in the central part you can display, for example, an image of a map, and it will not be at all flawed, the quality of the picture and its size allow you to see everything you want.
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Well, if you don’t want to look at anything anymore, you can “sit on the tail” of the car in front by turning on adaptive cruise control and lane control. All this works so adequately that you want to drop the steering wheel and pedals and just enjoy how the Audi itself accelerates, slows down and taxis. Unless you have to turn the steering wheel a little to overtake, after which the car will make sure that the lane ahead is free and will begin to pick up speed. Of course, for intense acceleration it is better to press the gas, although if you are not in a hurry, the cruise control will accelerate the car itself.
And it should be noted that access to some of the functions that engineers often hide somewhere deep in the menu is implemented here easier than expected: with separate buttons and joysticks.
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However, some controls are made somehow illogical. For example, if you push the steering column lever with the “wipers” controlled away from you, then the rear “broom” will turn on simultaneously with the washer, and if you just need to wipe the glass with a “wiper”, then you need to press a small button from the end of the switch. Not in Russian somehow. And not even in German. Wiper blades, by the way, are so-so, which is strange. And the claim is the same: everything is fine on the spot, but by 50-60 km / h they only smear water on the glass.
The suspension has several modes. I cannot say that there was any monstrous difference between them. For me, the comfort position is quite satisfactory on any road (there is offroad for off-road), but you can indulge in lowering or raising the car as you wish.
In general, the suspension left just the strangest impressions about itself. And I still don't know if it's good or not. On the one hand, the ride is comfortable, soft, quiet. On the other hand, I could not feel the road as I would like. I never left the feeling that I was on my own, and the road was on its own. Perhaps these are my personal cockroaches in my head, but I don’t like this state of affairs.
Even more surprising (another word would have been more suitable here, but they cannot be used) was caused by the way the car reacted to changing lanes. She was almost thrown out of the lane by force, and the amplitude of the swing of the body made her cling to the steering wheel and then be careful all the way. And all this - at a rather "turtle" speed, less than 100 km / h. It is clear that the matter is most likely in the 275th rubber, but still. By the way, this fact alone would be enough for me to refuse the purchase. It's a pity, of course, because it's not in the car, but in our roads.
It is impossible not to note the work of the eight-speed "automatic". Switching is imperceptible, no jerks or just delays. But when starting uphill without the auto-hold function turned on, the car still rolls back a little, so it’s better to release the brake pedal smoothly, allowing the car to start “creeping”.
In the city, you will have to get used to the fact that nothing is visible from the side, especially right next to the side. Therefore, a good eye is needed so that when maneuvering in a cramped yard, one does not catch, for example, a curb. But electronic assistants in this situation are almost useless: they yell out of fear all the time, although there is room for maneuver. The only thing that can help is the cameras, since turning on and changing the view options is a matter of seconds.
I made the following conclusion for myself: on this car - at least to the ends of the world, but only on a good country road. Although if you like big crossovers, then you can get used to the Q 7 in the city.
And don't believe what they say about the expense. On the highway in a very economical mode, it is far from the declared 5.7 liters per hundred, in fact the consumption is 7.7-7.8 liters, although this is also not much. Everything is sadder in the city: they promise 7.3 liters, in fact - 12-14 liters, and in traffic jams it is easy to exceed twenty.
Audi Q7 TDI Quattro S Line
Claimed fuel consumption per 100 km
How much?
The most "simple" Q 7 can be bought for 3,750,000 rubles. But the S line will cost more, its starting price starts at 4,980,056 rubles for a car with the same 3.0 TDI engine. And if the car is equipped approximately the same as ours test car, then its price will reach about 6,400,000 rubles.
Whole photoshoot A third row of seats is also available as an option. But getting on it is not very convenient, and in order to stay there, you need to move the second row of seats forward (it moves 11 cm). At the same time, you have to sit with your knees up, which practically rest against the backs of the second row seats. But there is room for the feet, and there is enough space above the head. Even two adults can move here for short distances, but for children there will be expanse at all. By the way, the Audi Q7 is the only car in the world in which you can install as many as 6 (!) child seats (in the 7-seater version).
Hovercraft
I get behind the wheel of a 333-horsepower petrol modification and start moving. A broken path with patches and potholes leads to the freeway - almost like in Russia. I did not know that in Switzerland there is such a terrible asphalt. But the Audi Q7 rides only gently swaying like an executive sedan. Light steering (even in "dynamic" mode) enhances the feeling of comfort.
I know well how the previous generation Q7 rides. The crossover had a dense suspension. Its large mass was felt at fast driving winding road, but tight steering wheel and the assembled chassis left no doubt - the car is tuned primarily for sports driving, and not for relaxed movement in space, like in some kind of limousine. Moreover, even the representative Audi A8 is now the most sports car in class. However, the new Q7, on the contrary, seems to be striving to be the most convenient among big crossovers.
Driving on the motorway enhances the comfort component in behavior
cars. On high speeds silence reigns in the cabin, and even when driving in a tunnel, the crossover is unrealistically quiet. The suspension is soft and in "sport" mode. And on the second row it is very comfortable - if it is tougher, then just a little bit. And when driving in a straight line, you have to steer a little, which I hadn’t noticed before with an Audi. On a winding road, the car handles easily, precisely and predictably, but there is no sense of sportiness here either. And rolls even in the "dynamic" mode, though not frightening, but noticeable.The test copy was on the base 18-inch wheels and winter tires(in the mountains of Switzerland on our route there was still snow), and this, of course, softened his reactions. Then I tried the variant on 20-inch wheels. Straight-line yaw has virtually disappeared (though not entirely), and the crossover's behavior has become more accurate in tight turns. Irregularities, he passed denser, but still very comfortable. That is, in general, the sensations from the versions are the same. The brand's engineers say that handling will become more sporty on summer tires. Of this I have no doubt, but it is unlikely that the difference will be significant.
As for the engine, its thrust for a lightweight crossover is more than enough. And thanks to the mechanical compressor, the Q7 has exemplary fuel responses. And the auto works great. The turbodiesel modification is generally similar to the gasoline one, only it reacts a little more slowly to pressing the accelerator pedal. Neither vibrations nor sound, this motor gives out that it is working on diesel fuel, and in some modes it basses even more solidly than gasoline unit.
As I was told "in secret", these power units quite enough for the clientele, and 8-cylinder versions are not yet planned. Even the future Audi SQ7 will be 6-cylinder and, apparently, turbodiesel. Actually, I don't see anything wrong with that. In general, I really liked the car. Because it is not proper to rush headlong on big crossover. It is much more pleasant to move slowly on it - in silence and comfort. However, we need to see how the new Audi Q7 will behave on summer tires. Perhaps my opinion will still change.
Technical Audi specifications Q7 3.0TFSI
Dimensions, mm
5052x1968x1741
Wheelbase, mm
Turning diameter, m
Clearance, mm
no data
Trunk volume, l
Curb weight, kg
engine's type
petrol V6, mechanical compressor
Working volume, cu. cm
Max. power, hp/r/min
Max. moment, Nm
