2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Salt Lake City UT

October 15, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2009 Audi Q7
DriverSide Overview
There’s a word you’re going to hear being tossed around quite frequently by European automakers over the next few years, and that word is diesel. That’s right, diesel. Now that you’ve finished gasping in horror, read on. The advantages provided by diesel technology are apparent when you glance at the estimated fuel economy – compared to gasoline engines, on average, diesels manage to get around 30 percent farther on each gallon of fuel burned. And these days their engine emissions are cleaner than gasoline’s, too. In the US, however, marketing a diesel-powered car is about as easy as selling a iPhone to Bill Gates, because Americans typically associate diesel with cloud-spurting work trucks and clunking OPEC-crisis era sedans, infamous for their seemingly uncanny ability to burn more oil than fuel. Today, diesel is known for its efficient, clean-burning, high-torque abilities, all of which make an SUV the perfect launch platform. Audi is bringing its first TDI (Turbo Diesel Injection) engine across the pond in the Q7, presenting an excellent option for those looking for a large, sophisticated SUV on a mid-size sedan’s fuel budget.








What's to Like
Fuel economy is at the core of the Q7 TDI’s appeal and it really delivers – despite high diesel prices you won’t be feeling any pain at the pump. As Audis tend to be, the interior is plush and elegant, and despite the Q7’s proportions, it doesn’t feel overly cavernous. An optional third-row of seats gives the Q7 extra people-hauling utility, should you need it.

What's Not to Like
While the power delivery is a blast at full-chat, the grainy, churning diesel soundtrack makes you miss the vocal talents of a gasoline engine. The trip computer is accessed by pressing a tiny button marked ‘reset’ on the wiper stalk, which incidentally took us about a half-hour to figure out.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
It’s quite a thing, torque, and the Q7 TDI has a surplus of the twisty stuff. Depressing the accelerator in anything close to an aggressive manner releases a robust kick in the back that feels powerful enough to tow a 747 down a runway. The 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds is enough to make you forget that the TDI engine only revs to 4,600 rpm. Labeling the diesel as refined would be an understatement – aside from the offbeat soundtrack under heavy load and a stereotypical diesel “stall” when you flip the ignition off, this feels like it’s running on 91 octane. The ride is as good as anything you’d expect from Audi, soaking up bumps well but maintaining an overall sporty feel, aided by steering that’s tight for an SUV. Quattro all-wheel drive is split 40 percent front, 60 percent rear, ensuring the Q7 is kept on the road regardless of conditions.

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