Lighter, more efficient and full of high-tech – The new Audi Q7

The new Audi Q7 offers the most spacious interior in the premium SUV segment. In the terms of knee space, shoulder space and headroom (plus 41 millimeters (1.6 in) in the front row), it even surpasses the dimensions of its predecessor – although the exterior of the overall car has become slightly more compact. All passengers can comfortably enter the car through wide and high door cutouts; on request, Audi provides power-assisted closing.

Like a lounge: The interior
The Interior conveys a feeling of expanse, generosity, and sophisticated elegance in a chic lounge. The clearly defined architecture and the logical operating concept interplay perfectly: all lines are taut with a strict horizontal orientation. As in a luxury sedan, the inlays come in two parts, with the different materials forming effective contrasts.

A large arc encompasses the front part of the interior, and draws an elegant curve from door to door. The instrument panel is sleek. Its front, characterized in the front passenger area by an air vent strip, is not joined to the center console – a solution that gives the interior an even lighter appearance. The console itself is angled like a control stand. Its left half contains the technical area with the tiptronic shift lever and the optional MMI all-in touch, its right half the comfort zone with cup holders and volume rotary control.

Audi offers a choice of different steering wheel versions. Depending on the version, they have three or four spokes, a round or a flattened ring, a heater and an electrical adjuster. Common characteristics are the multifunction plus controls and the shift paddles. In the sporty steering wheels, an open brace with an aluminum look forms the bottom spoke.

Lightweight construction and comfort: The front seats
The seat system in the new Audi Q7 has been redesigned from scratch. Compared with the seats in the previous model, it is nearly 19 kilograms (41.9 lb) lighter, with five kilograms (11.0 lb) going to the front seats. The seats provide a comfortable upright position and afford the best hold and support. The head restraints can be adjusted not only vertically, but optionally also in the distance to the back of the head.

Audi offers the seats in several variants. The sport seats with their pronounced side sections can be adjusted electrically. At the top of the line are the customized contour seats, which can be adjusted in 18 different ways. They combine the electrical function with pneumatic actuation for the side sections and the lumbar support. Their leather upholstery is perforated, while the driver and front passenger seats can be cooled and heated at the press of a button. A massage function is also optionally available. Ten air chambers pamper your back with five different programs and intensities each.

For the production and sport seats Audi supplies the seat heating separately, as well as for the individual seats in the second row. Ventilation for the front seats is another individual option with the standard seats.

Generous: The rear seats
The second row of seats also offers top-level spaciousness and seat comfort. The backrests – split in the ratio of 35:30:35 – can be adjusted in inclination in 16 increments. With the optional rear seat bench plus the outer seats can be moved longitudinally eleven centimeters (4.3 in) each.

On request, Audi supplies the new Q7 in a seven-seat version – two single seats in the third row are approved as child safety seats of ECE group III for children weighing up to 36 kilograms (79.4 lb). Their backrests, split in the ratio of 50:50, can be electrically placed upright at the press of a button or folded down flat and integrated in the loading floor. For comfortably entering the third row, Audi also equips the outer seats in the second row with an elaborate mechanism: They can be folded into a compact package and set upright.

All seats in the second and third rows have Isofix/i-Size fixtures for child seats. Together with the front passenger side up to six child seats can therefore be installed in the new Audi Q7. The stowage compartments and cup holders are generously dimensioned. For example, the door pockets can accommodate 1.5-liter bottles.

Powerful and efficient: The automatic air conditioning
Standard on the new Audi Q7 standard is a newly developed, two-zone deluxe air conditioning system. Its new operating concept uses fewer buttons and controls. An alternative is a luxurious four-zone system, with the temperature displays integrated in the rotary controls. A TFT display presents the status of important functions; moving your finger towards the capacitive rocker switches below enlarges the graphics. Rear passengers have their own controls. For the four zone climate control an ionizer for improving air quality is also available.

The two-zone and four-zone automatic air conditioning systems provide especially high air quality, filtering out the smallest particles in either fresh air or air recirculation mode. The air vent strip provides indirect and draft-free ventilation, and also increases the circulating air flow. Both systems consume little energy – thanks to innovations in the blower motor, the fresh air intake, the efficient refrigerant circuit and a highly flexible control system.

Uncompromising: The quality of workmanship
All materials in the new Audi Q7 have been selected and processed with the utmost care. Controls like the volume rotary control, the start-stop button, the automatic air conditioning controller and even the scroll wheel for interior lighting gleam in aluminum look. All of the switches move easily and without play.

The developers of the large SUV have precisely defined all of the sounds as well as the required operating travel and forces. Gaps are even and narrow. In many cases they are only as wide as necessary for the thermal expansion of the materials.

The complete interior lighting including the luggage compartment employs LEDs. The light package is standard equipment. Even on this level, capacitive (touch-sensitive) switches turn on the lights in the door pockets. The instrument panel and door trim contain so-called contour lighting – extremely slender LED light guides that follow the broad lines.

Supplemental is the optional ambient lighting, comprising illuminated door sill trims and additional contour lighting at the center console. In this version, the driver of the Q7 can virtually arrange the interior lighting himself, adjusting it in multiple profiles and in five zones by means of the MMI, and setting the color of the contour lighting in 32 steps. The colors vary depending on the mode set in the Audi drive select driving dynamics system.

Progressive: Colors and materials
The range of colors and materials in the interior has been reorganized from the ground up. The instrument panel can be divided into two color zones – black, granite gray and criollo brown are available for the dark upper zone, and black, rock gray and pistachio beige can be selected for the bottom zone. The same colors are also available for the seat upholstery, supplemented by cedar brown and nougat brown. The headlining (Alcantara on request) comes in lunar silver, linen beige or black.

Similarly diverse and stylish are the two-piece inlays. A version with diamond paint finish, silver gray (at the upper part) and anodized anthracite on the bottom strip is standard. Alternatively, eleven more combinations are also available – with oak or walnut veneer and aluminum, with high gloss or matt finished surfaces. The wood inlays are also available as Beaufort laminated wood veneer; for the top version quattro GmbH offers aluminum/Beaufort, black.

The range of seat upholstery reflects the luxurious character of the new Audi Q7. In addition to the standard fabric upholstery and a leather/artificial leather combination, the customer can choose from Cricket leather, an Alcantara/leather combination and the especially fine leather, Valcona. Three leather packages complete the range.

The S line sport package immerses the whole interior in black or rotor gray. The sport seat upholstery is made of perforated Alcantara/leather and flanked with contrasting stitching; the backrests of the front seats are embossed with an “S”. The decorative trims combine chrome paint finish, slate gray, and aluminum sono. The sport leather steering wheel, the door sill trims and the fenders bear the S line badge. 20-inch wheels and the sport adaptive air suspension complete the equipment line.

Even more exclusive is the Audi design selection Murillo brown. The upper zone of the instrument panel bears granite gray leather with contrasting stitching in Murillo brown. The Valcona upholstery of the air-conditioned customized contour seats, padded door armrests, the comfort center armrest and the center console are leather-covered in Murillo brown with contrasting stitching in granite gray.

The lower section of the instrument panel is covered with Murillo brown leather, while the Alcantara headlining is lunar silver. The decorative trims are available in brushed aluminum sono with dark-brown porous sycamore wood. A full leather package that includes backrest covers, contrasting stitching, luxury velour floor mats and sun blinds complete the Audi design selection Murillo brown.

Highly variable: The luggage compartment
The new Audi Q7 comes with a large, highly variable luggage compartment. When all seven seats are occupied, it has a capacity of 295 liters (10.4 cu ft). The five-seater offers 890 liters (31.4 cu ft), and 2,075 liters (73.3 cu ft) with the second row seat backs folded down. Compared with the predecessor model, the loading sill is lower by nearly five centimeters (2.0 in).

The tailgate has an electric drive as a standard feature. Optionally, Audi supplies the convenience key with gesture control – a kicking motion with the foot is detected by a sensor in the bumper, triggering opening and closing. Alternatively, the driver can close the tailgate with a button mounted on it or by remote control key.

Bag hooks, lashing points, a luggage compartment cover and a partition net are standard on the new Audi Q7. In addition, there is an electric load area cover together with a stainless steel loading sill protector, a reversible mat and a rail system with telescopic rod, fixing belt and variable eyelets.

Even with a trailer, the new large SUV from Audi cuts an excellent figure. With either engine, it can haul up to 2.7 tons (on 12% gradient), and even 3.5 tons with the adaptive air suspension. Joining the electrically swiveling trailer coupling on board is the trailer maneuver assist system, which aids the driver when driving with a trailer.