Buying a Q7 when you will not use the 3rd row seat?
 

I have been looking at buying a Q5 or a Q7. I am finding myself being more interested in the Q7 when I will probably never use the third row seats in the back. Am I just being nuts and should I just buy a Q5?

Had same issue, but the Q5 is just too narrow, and holds a lot less stuff IMO, but they are cute.

I looked into removing the 3rd row, and putting a storage area there instead, but will wait until warranty expires and my wife is not looking as it requires removing lots of rear interior trim pieces.

Do you need the interior volume of the Q7, Jeff? It's significantly larger than the Q5.

I needed the third row for the occasional children’s school bus that the Q7 was going to turn into, but even when not using the third row I actually like the overall look of it over the Q5 and even the Q8.

Now if they only came out with a SQ7 stateside... yum.

Let's be serious, an Audi Q7 is beyond any need. I might use the additional space maybe 5% of the time. It would be most likely when I had 4 adults in the car and I would have a reason to put my 2 Australian Shepherds in the back. I think it is mostly that a Q7 looks better proportioned and rides better.

My SQ5 w/air suspension rides better than my Q7 w/ standard suspension. Both cars are on the same platform.

So apples to oranges? My Q7 with air suspension rides better than the SQ5 with air.

the third row is almost useless so there’s no need to feel guilty for wanting a Q7 if you won’t use it.

If you have kids up to pre-teen that 3rd row can be quite useful.

Sure apples to oranges but not every Q7 will ride better than every Q5. And Q5s don’t come with RFTs which does take away from the ride quality of the Q7. I’m aware that the Q7 21s aren’t RFT.

Can we get 3.0 on Q5? Otherwise how well does it drive with 2.0 engine? Q7 is adequately powered, but far from being snappy. I just drove A4, it felt so much better, responsive, I really missed the agility and nimble nature of sedans and smaller SUV's (even large X5 drove so much better than Q7, it's a fact, Q7 is BIG)
I love the 3rd row, I haul 6 others plus myself to 3-4 hour drives with 2 kids all the way in the back, it's fun to have everyone in one place without having to worry about taking 2 cars, but if you absolutely have no need for this, just get something in Q5 size with a bigger engine.