Lots of Competition for the Q7. 2019 BMW X5, 2020 GLE, 2020 Lincoln Aviator, 2020 Q7
 

So I have been doing test drives of various cars. We have a Q5 and for the wife we want to get something that is bigger.

Wanted to create a thread that compares all the competition the Q7 has and simple links to videos, consumer report scores and manufacturer websites.

And of course discussion of the different competition.

2019 Q7 good discounts 10+ percent, good reliability. Will be outdated this summer when the refresh comes out. Consumer reports sore of 87
0-60 in 2.0T 7.1 seconds
0-60 in 3.0T 5.7 seconds
https://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-q7
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/audi/q7/
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...d4077ad8dc.png


2020 Q7: newest model, no more physical buttons, better resale value. I have tried the new MMI in the A6/Q8 and did not like it. I prefer my buttons.

2019 X5(Brand new model, not a refresh) was very impressive. they did dual 12" digital screens second one being touch screen but they still kept the main buttons and old controls.
Fastest of the bunch, third row orders are all halted by bmw corporate for the time being and no eta on when a third row would be available. Consumer reports score of 88
0 - 60 - X5 xDRIVE40i 5.3 seconds (base price 61k)
0 - 60 - X5 xDRIVE50i 4.6 seconds (base price 75k)
https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/x-mo.../overview.html
Test drove the X5 today and it was by far the most impressive car out of all these in the group so far.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/bmw/x5/2019
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...015230e9e5.png


2020 Mercedes GLE(brand new model) - nice drive, but comparably equipped comes out to quite a bit more than the Q7. impressive technology but nickle and dime.
0-60 GLE 350 7.1 seconds ( base price 56k)
0-60 GLE 450 5.5 seconds (base price 61k)

https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/class/gle/suv
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/mercedes-benz/gle/
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...91277b9142.png


2020 Lincoln Aviator (Brand new model) due this June looks like an interesting competitor to the segment.
Base price 51k
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-suvs/aviator/2020/
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/lincoln/aviator/
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...92dd949052.png


MDX 2019 - very dated technology, there was no feel to driving it. Consumer reports score of 67
0-60 - 6.3 seconds
https://www.acura.com/mdx
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/acura/mdx/
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...8be8803e7b.png


Volvo XC90 - did not impress us. consumer reports score of 62:
https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/new-models/xc90
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/volvo/xc90/
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...2ebb03ac94.png

Lexux RX - L
0-60 = 7.7seconds
https://www.lexus.com/models/RX
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/lexus/rx-l

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...01ce1b9b13.png


The luxury mid-large suv market is picking up especially this year, what is everyone thoughts on the competing vehicles?

Other than the Q, two other vehicles of high interest on that list - the X5 of course (especially the 50i, and if you don't need 3rd row) and the Aviator (no hands on so hard to judge at this point) - not interested in the others, either too dated, boring or way overpriced for what you get.

We just ordered a new GLE 450 for my wife (she's coming from a 2014 ML 350 Bluetec). We had looked at the Q8 back in Nov. when it first came out - while it was very nice, we ruled it out due to price and practicality (cargo space). My wife has never been a fan of the looks of the Q7 and thinks it looks dated (outside and inside), especially compared to the new GLE and X5 (I have to agree). We test drove the X5 and were very impressed with it initially, primarily due to the engine, but when we went back for a second look, just weren't sold on the the overall package (esp. after reading about the various problems that owners have been experiencing with them). The GLE 450 just checked all the boxes for us and we ordered a nicely optioned one for $67k which price-wise is comparable to a premium+ Q7 with similar options, but certainly bigger discounts to be had on the Q7's (we ended up getting 4.5% off the GLE which I was fine with).

I just hate the dashboard on the Mercedes. Looks like two cell phones pasted onto a dash with double stick tape.

I'm also considering the new BMW X7.

Although an equally equipped X7 will have a higher MSRP than my current Q7, the better lease-deals make up for that - and then some. Crunching some numbers, I could probably get a $105K X7 for a lower payment than my $88K Q7.

And the $105K X7 is far better equipped.

I'll never own another BMW again if I can help it after watching my babied 335i pretty much disintegrate on me after 7 years of ownership. My wife's 2012 Q5 is not the cheapest to maintain but has never stranded us, all the electronics still work, and the experience of owning that made me feel pretty good about reupping with my Q7.

I also have a hard need for 3 rows, which disqualifies some of the other cooler models (I had been drooling after RR Sport SVR and I think the Q8 is just really sharp as well, but alas...).

Other than that, I've always really appreciated Audi's sort-of Bauhaus design. They're definitely not the most fun to drive, but just barely fun enough and the Q7 does all the luxury bits right (really quiet even at 90 mph, good tech, leather, big wheels, etc).

So yeah, ultimately the Q7 was not my heart's choice, but definitely my head's pick. Sometimes the head is right.

I am not a lease player but very interested in knowing how it works and want to try leasing.
Could you please explain how you can get lower payment in $105K X7 than Q7?
If you can show me the example of calculation, that would be helpful.
Appreciate.

First of all, I don't have current numbers so this is all arbitrary. In lease, you are actually paying for the use of a vehicle during lease period (24,36,48, etc months). There are multiple factors in calculating your monthly payment, but they are mostly affected by the duration of the lease, residual value of the vehicle at the end of the lease, negotiated purchase price and the money factor (lease interest rate). Some vehicles keep their residual value relatively high through first 3 years reducing the amount being financed in the lease. Some manufactures have better lease rates, or greater upfront incentives lowering purchase price (be careful with that one, sometimes that doesn't go into calculation).

Just for ****s and giggles, below is an example of a fictitious situation, where the cheaper vehicle at the higher interest percentage will cost you more per month:

X7:
$105,000 base price
$100,000 negotiated price
$70,000 residual value of the vehicle

You are paying for $30,000 loss of value at 2.0%
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...9f4c351c21.png


Q7:
$85,000 base price
$80,000 negotiated price
$50,000 residual value of the vehicle

You are paying for $30,000 loss of value at 3.5%
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...e1d91d1300.png

gsobol did a great job in explaining the basics.

To what it boils down to with the Q7 is Audi's terrible money factor (or in other words, interest rate). The residual is actually not that bad and basically on par with the competition.

One of the main ideas behind leasing is a monthly payment that is supposed to be significantly lower than a comparable finance-payment. On the Q7, the payment was only about $100/month lower while on the X5/X7, you are closer to $300/month less.

MF is also based on units, the lesser, the higher the MF. Land Rover is a good example. Want to see ‘terrible’ check out there’s. And ‘terrible’ isn’t a great word, it’s all based on math and banking.

PS, BMW takes on HUGE loses because they’re doing so horribly and I wouldn’t touch one. You ‘get’ what you pay for in this instance.