2010 Audi Q7 TDI—Luxury Meets Fuel Efficiency

By Greg Rubenstein

Luxury is a word that has a different meaning for different people. Use it as an adjective with car, however, and it becomes easier to define what it should mean: classy, comfortable, finely appointed, powerful, and pricey.

In the 2010 Q7 TDI, Audi has produced the perfect marriage of form and function translated into a seven-passenger luxury SUV. With striking exterior styling, a gorgeous interior, and a terrific drive train, the Q7 delivers a great driving experience mated with a high level of passenger comfort and convenience.

Introduced to the United States for the 2007 model year, the Q7 has, for 2010, been restyled with sleeker lines. The car sports a mesmerizing array of exterior LEDs used in the taillights, turn signals and, most dramatically, as daytime running lights. Not just a pretty face, this Audi also provides peace of mind, offering the performance and traction from quattro full-time all-wheel-drive plus a NHTSA five-star crash safety rating and IIHS “Top Safety Pick” designation.

The Q7 can also be considered an environmentally conscious SUV when equipped with the optional 3.0-liter TDI (turbo direct injection) diesel engine combined with the standard six-speed automatic transmission, which is how our test sample arrived. It’s rated as an ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), and while being friendly to the environment is one thing, this engine also cranks out more than 400 pound-feet of torque (406, to be exact) at just 1,750 rpm. Off the line or on the freeway, there’s always plenty of power to spare, all while returning an EPA-rated 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

With an as-tested price of $58,875, the Q7 TDI offers a lot of value and includes everything one might normally expect of a luxury vehicle. From the standard dual-zone climate control to heated 12-way power front seats, leather seating for everyone, leather tilt/telescope steering wheel with built-in multifunction control, power tailgate, rear parking sensors and multidisc CD changer stereo with satellite radio, all passengers are treated to the luxury experience.

Add in the Premium Plus and Warm Weather packages, as our sample had, and you also get GPS navigation, four-zone climate control with rear-door and tailgate window shades, panoramic sunroof, advanced parking system with rearview camera, xenon headlights with the previously mentioned LED lighting system, and a Bose surround-sound system.

From behind the wheel, the Q7 TDI is a pleasure to drive. Besides the strong acceleration provided by the turbo V-6 diesel, steering is responsive, braking is predictable with a firm pedal, and handling is quite nimble—remarkable considering that it tips the scale at 5,423 pounds.

For passengers both front and rear, the Q7 is highly satisfying. It offers a rich design with leather and wood all around, soft touch points on the dash and doors, plenty of useful storage, cubbies and cup holders, and separate climate controls for backseat occupants.

And what about the diesel smell and clatter? Thanks to today’s clean diesel technology, those are things of the past. Either inside or out, it was virtually impossible to tell that the Q7 is a diesel-powered vehicle. With added power and better fuel economy over a gasoline engine, it’s never been easier to live with a diesel. Add this to an already finely crafted vehicle, and you have the perfect luxury SUV with the Q7 TDI.