2022 Audi Q7

There are few cars in the midsize luxury SUV class that do it better than the Audi Q7. This SUV has been around since 2006, and the latest iteration is more luxurious and capable than ever. For 2022, Audi Q7 models are powered by two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder producing 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The Q7 offers excellent styling inside and out despite not having as much flair as some competitors. Interior space is adequate, but those in the third row will have a hard time squeezing in, and tech and safety levels are up there with the best of them. The 2022 Audi Q7 starts off at $55,800 and goes up against the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

In terms of looks, the 7-seater Q7 is somewhat restrained, especially when compared to the more muscular BMW X5, but it is well proportioned and looks pretty good from the front. The Premium trim features 19-inch five-arm-star design wheels, LED headlights with high-beam assist, dynamic indicators, a power tailgate, rear privacy glass, and, from this year, power-folding exterior mirrors on all trims. The top of the line Prestige includes Matrix-design LED headlights, dual-pane acoustic glass for the front and rear doors, as well as power soft-closing doors. The Black optic package adds 21-inch ten-spoke wheels, black roof rails, a black-optic grille, front and rear bumper inserts, and black trim around the side windows. From this year, this package is offered with the four-cylinder engine as well, but only on the 45 Premium Plus trim, not on the base 45 Premium.

The 2022 Audi Q7 quattro is classified as a midsize luxury SUV and shares similar dimensions with the BMW X5. In terms of length, though, the Audi measures 199.3 inches, which is a whole five inches longer than the BMW. Width with the mirrors included is 87.1 inches or 77.6 inches with them folded. The height is 68.5 inches. The 45 TFSI weighs in at 4,784 pounds, while the 55 TFSI tips the scales at 5,082 lbs.

This German SUV is on the larger side, and choosing the right color will help slim down its proportions by a good margin, so Audi has included nine colors that range from figure-hugging to "look at me." The only no-cost option is Carrara White, with last year's Night Black disappearing from the palette. Metallic paint options will ask a price of $595 and include options such as Barrel Brown, Florett Silver, Glacier White, Galaxy Blue, Navarra Blue, Samurai Gray, and Vicuna Beige. This year, Mythos Black is added to this list, replacing last year's Orca Black, and it's the one to go for if you want that slimmed-down look. Navarra Blue, which features on the blistering RS6 Avant, looks most striking though.

Don't expect V12 performance levels here; the Audi Q7 is a big car, which takes its toll on performance figures, but most will find that this Audi offers more than enough performance for everyday driving. The Audi 7-seater SUV is powered by two engine options; a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder. The 3.0-liter engine produces a healthy 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque and will do the 0-60 sprint in only 5.7 seconds. The BMW X5 in 40i guise will do the same sprint in 5.3 seconds. The 2.0-liter 45 TFSI will take 6.9 seconds for the same sprint, and both Q7 derivatives will top out at 130 mph. Both configurations send power to all four wheels. These SUVs can also tow a fair bit: the 45 TFSI Q7 has a towing capacity of 4,400 pounds when properly equipped, while the 3.0-liter 55 TFSI will increase that number to a useful 7,700 pounds. Considering its substantial weight, the Q7 puts in a good effort, especially in 55 TFSI configuration, and most will be more than happy with the way this SUV moves.

Audi USA offers the Q7 with two engine choices. Unfortunately, there's no TDI diesel option, but in its place are two highly capable gas-powered engines that deliver substantial thrust. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. The 2.0T engine offers adequate power across the rev range and impressively little turbo lag. In town, driving is a pleasure, and there is enough poke on the highway to get you into your lane of choice. The top-tier engine is the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder. This 3.0T delivers a chunky 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Power delivery is strong throughout the rev range and is silky smooth as well. Torque delivery in town is perfect for zipping in and out of traffic and turns this Q7 into a bit of a highway bomber. This engine is paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The eight-speed transmission in both trims performs flawlessly and feels intuitive when asking for the next cog.

The 2021 Q7 was designed to gobble up miles in supreme comfort, and it delivers on that promise. The 45 TFSI comes equipped with five-link front and rear independent suspension and feels composed and well sprung in most scenarios. Everything from small to large mid-corner bumps are handled well, although the weight of the car makes itself known when pushing too hard, which leads to some understeer, but only at the very limit. Send this SUV through a set of twisties, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well it handles itself, and it can even be fun if you choose the right line and speed. The adaptive air suspension that used to be available on the Premium Plus with the 3.0-liter engine is no longer - it's standard on the Prestige though. This suspension setup is perfect for those who are planning on hitting the highway for longer trips; it feels like you're floating on a cloud, and on winding roads, it still offers good feedback. The steering feel is good for a car of this size, and brake pedal feel is also good, with a predictable biting point. All in all, the Q7 handles beautifully and is more comfortable on the road than the BMW X5.

Carrying a lot of weight around means that the 2022 Audi Q7 suffers in terms of gas mileage. Even with the smaller capacity 2.0-liter four-banger under the hood, things don't look too good for the Q7. The EPA rates that the 2.0-liter Q7 will achieve mileage estimates of 20/25/22 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. That is quite thirsty for such a small displacement engine. Stepping up to the 3.0-liter engine sees that number dip by two miles per gallon combined to 18/23/20 mpg, which is a minimal price to pay for all that extra performance. The BMW X5, with its 3.0-liter engine, will manage a better 21/26/23 mpg in RWD guise and 21/25/23 mpg with AWD. All models are fitted with a 22.5-gallon fuel tank, so owners can expect a maximum range of between 450 and 495 miles. As far as gas type is concerned, the Q7 will only accept Premium-grade fuel.

Audi has stuck to its guns when it comes to the interior of the 2022 Q7. The German manufacturer has used a sleek and minimalist interior design that looks clean and easy to interact with but can't match the glitzy design inside the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The use of premium materials is extensive, and the build quality is some of the best in this class. The interior room is good, and most adults will find the seating space to be good, but the third-row bench gets tight. The seats offer excellent support up front and should remain comfortable, even over long-distance trips. Notable interior features include heated and power-adjustable seats and three-zone automatic climate control (four-zone in the Prestige).

The Q7 is Audi's only 7-passenger vehicle in the US. It manages to cleverly arrange its seating configuration for maximum interior space, and will happily swallow seven passengers with relative comfort. Getting in and out of the Q7 is simple for front and second-row passengers, but as can be imagined, 3rd-row access is a bit more tricky. The driver's seating position is a commanding one; all controls fall easily to hand, and the lifted ride height of this SUV means that you get a bird's eye view of traffic. Visibility is good in the front and sides but gets limited as you move towards the rear. In terms of interior space, the Q7 offers more legroom in the front and back when compared to the BMW X5, but its third row offers only 29.2 inches of legroom, making it unsuitable for large adults.

The 45 TFSI Premium comes standard with leather seats in your choice of Black, Metro Gray, Okapi Brown, or Saiga Beige. There are two choices of decorative inlays: High-gloss Gray Oak Wood or Gray Brown Fine Grain Ash Natural Wood. The Prestige adds a range of extra seat upholstery and inlay options when you go for the Luxury package. This package adds Valcona/Cricket leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, as well as Lava Brown Eucalyptus Natural Wood inlays.

Trunk space is an all-important element when it comes to big people movers such as the Q7, and the Audi does an admirable job of stowing away stuff in the back, despite its three-row seating configuration. Behind the third row, you get a usable 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is enough for a trip to the grocery store, but if you want to stock up for a month or so, you'll have to drop the third row. This gives you a total of 35.7 cubic feet of space, almost two cubic feet more than the BMW X5. If you want to transport a mountain bike or a couple of Golden Retrievers, you can fold the second-row seat for a total space of 69.6 cubic feet. Small items can be stored in the remote storage nook next to the shifter, the center console storage bin, glovebox, or side door pockets.

Starting with the base model, notable interior features include a power panoramic sunroof, three-zone automatic climate control, heated eight-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver, and, from this year, a multi-color ambient LED interior lighting package.

The Premium Plus trim adds illuminated aluminum door sills, a heated steering wheel, and driver's front seat memory. The Prestige includes four-zone automatic climate control, a multicolor ambient LED interior lighting package, soft-closing doors, as well as sunshades for the rear door side windows and tailgate. The ventilated front seats in the Prestige feature four-way lumbar support for the front passenger, while the rear seats are heated.

Driver assistance features across the range include Audi pre sense front, front and rear parking assistance, Audi pre sense rear, and high beam assist. From this year, the Premium Plus gains adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist and lane-keep assist as standard. The Prestige also adds a head-up display and matrix-design LED headlights. A wireless phone charging system and signal booster are also included from the Premium Plus and up. A laser headlights package is a $1,650 option, but only on the Prestige.

The infotainment system in the Q7 is up there with the best in class. All Q7 models feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display, with a smaller 8.6-inch display underneath for climate controls. Interacting with this system can become frustrating when on the road. The driver will have to take his eyes off the road to scramble through options, menus, and icons, which can become distracting. All trim levels come standard with front and rear USB charging ports, MMI Navigation with MMI touch response, SiriusXM radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth streaming, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. For those who love music, Audi offers a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 23 speakers and 1,920 watts of power, but the standard system on the Premium is a 10-speaker unit. The top two trims get a Bose 3D surround sound system with a total of 19 speakers.

When it comes to reliability, the 2022 Audi Q7 hasn't been recalled yet at the time of writing. However, the 2021 model wasn't completely free of issues. It was recalled for a side-impact crash sensor in the front doors that could malfunction, a faulty airbag control module, for a potentially malfunctioning seatbelt locking retractor, and for a rear axle assembly issue. Audi will cover the Q7 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic and drivetrain warranty, and four years of roadside assistance.

The NHTSA is yet to conduct a full safety review of the Audi Q7, but the 2021 model did receive five stars for the side crash and the 2022 model four stars for the rollover test. The 2021 model fared well on the IIHS test circuit, managing to get Good scores for safety categories for all the major crashworthiness tests, although its headlights were disappointingly rated as Poor.

All Q7 models come standard with an advanced airbag protection system that includes head-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full LATCH system. Rear side airbags are included from this year as standard equipment on all models. Advanced driver assistance systems include Audi pre sense front/basic/rear, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, Audi side assist with rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera, vehicle exit warning, and high beam assist. The Premium Plus adds a top-view camera system and, from this year, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and lane-keeping assist. The Prestige gets a head-up display and traffic-sign recognition.

The Audi Q7 car has always been a highly competitive model in the midsize luxury SUV segment and for good reason: it offers a stylish and luxurious interior and exterior along with solid performance at a price that is competitive. The exterior might be more restrained than, say, the BMW X5, but it is handsome in its own way, and the same can be said for the interior, which is less dramatic than the Mercedes-Benz equivalent, the GLE. On the road, the new Audi Q7 truly shines with a relaxed but confident ride and the ability to impress in the corners. Power from both engines is impressive, and even in base form, most will find the power to be sufficient. The base model packs a fair amount of standard features, but the Prestige trim is the one to go for if you're after a proper premium experience. Safety is on par with the competition.

The price of a new Audi Q7 will obviously depend on the specs, and you get what you pay for: this upscale luxury German SUV asks a premium. The base model starts off with an MSRP of $56,900 for the 2.0-liter 45 TFSI Premium and goes up to $62,100 for the 3.0-liter 55 TFSI Premium. Slotting between the base and range-topping trims is the Premium Plus trim which starts at $59,800 for the 45 TFSI and heads up to $65,700 for the 55 TFSI. At the top of the pile sits the Prestige 55 TFSI, which will cost you $72,900. Due to this car's popularity, you shouldn't find it difficult to find a good used model for sale at a reasonable price. Notably, these prices exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,095.

The 2022 Audi Q7 range comprises three trim levels, Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Both base 2.0-liter inline-four and mild-hybrid-assisted 3.0-liter V6 engines are available in the Premium and Premium Plus trims, while the Prestige trim gets the V6 engine only. All models use an eight-speed automatic transmission and are equipped with quattro all-wheel drive.

The base Premium car comes as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with high-beam assist, a power panoramic sunroof, and power-folding and heated exterior mirrors. Inside, standard features include leather upholstery, and LED interior lighting package, three-zone climate control, front seat heating, and eight-way power front seats. Infotainment comprises a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety features include a full suite of airbags, including rear-side airbags, front and rear parking sensors, and Audi pre sense front and rear.

The mid-level Premium Plus trim adds to these features 20-inch wheels on the 55 model only, but all Premium Plus models illuminated aluminum door sills, a heated steering wheel, a memory function for the power driver's seat, wireless charging, and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system. Safety features include a surround-view camera system, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-jam assist.

The Prestige introduces matrix-design LED headlights, dual-pane acoustic side glass, adaptive air suspension, and soft-close doors. Inside, four-zone climate control is standard, as are sunshades for the rear windows, multi-color LED interior ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, four-way lumbar support also for the front passenger, heated rear seats, and extended leather trim for the lower interior elements. It also gets a head-up display.

There are numerous packages on offer for the 2022 Q7. The base model is offered with the $1,200 Convenience package, which adds features such as a heated three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, wireless phone charging, and a top-view camera system.

The Premium Plus can be equipped with the Executive package, which for $2,000, will add features such as four-zone automatic climate control, rear sunshades, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, as well as the Prestige's LED interior lighting package, and leather armrests.

The Prestige trim can be made even more exclusive with the $5,800 luxury package, which adds features such as a Valcona/Cricket leather interior, individual contour front seats with massaging, and an Alcantara headliner. The Black Optic package (not offered on the Premium trim) costs $1,750 and adds to the 45 Premium Plus 20-inch contrasting gray alloy wheels. Other models that already have 20-inch wheels get 21-inch alloys instead with a black finish. The black optic trim extends to the grille, bumpers, and window surrounds.

Audi offers the 2022 Q7 in three different trim levels, which makes choosing the perfect one as easy as checking out the spec sheet and then writing the cheque. The range starts with the Premium, and moves up to the Premium Plus and then Prestige. Premium and Premium Plus versions are available with both the 2.0T and 3.0T engines, while the Prestige is only available with the 3.0T. The Premium Plus will be the trim to go for here, as it offers added safety features for the 2022 model and many luxury features, with items such as a surround-view camera and Bang & Olufsen sound system. The mild-hybrid 3.0T engine is almost as frugal as the 2.0-liter car, so we would opt for the more powerful engine. The Premium Plus with the bigger engine starts at $64,800.

The Audi Q8 is classified as a luxury crossover SUV coupe and slots in above the Q7 in terms of price, with the biggest difference being the Q8's unique styling. The Q8 is powered exclusively by the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via the same eight-speed transmission. The Q8 will manage the same 18/23/20 mpg. On the road, the Q8 is the sharper driving SUV and should appeal to those who like a bit of fun. The Q7 is the larger vehicle with an overall length of 199.3 compared to the 196.6 inches in the Q8. The larger exterior size of the Q7 does not necessarily translate into tons more interior space. The lower seating position in the Q8 feels more sporty, but the Q7 offers more headroom in the first two rows, but the Q7 offers more trunk and cargo space with its third-row bench folded. These cars share most of their tech and safety features, so that levels the playing field. If its style and driving dynamics you're after, the Q8 should be the one to go for.

The BMW X5 has been around for over two decades and has become one of the most popular vehicles in its class. There's a good reason for that: it is fun to drive, practical, and lavishly appointed with tech and safety features. The 2022 X5 comes with your choice of turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine or a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 523 hp. Power is sent to the rear or all fours via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption for the 3.0-liter X5 is pegged at 21/26/23 mpg in RWD guise, obliterating the Q7's effort. The BMW is excellent at both relaxed cruising and cornering, and in M50i configuration, drives like a large sports car thanks to stronger brakes, sportier suspension, and an upgraded differential. The interior of the X5 is seriously plush, and we prefer the layout and design of the BMW, but it doesn't offer as much interior space, and trunk space is also lower when the Audi's third row is folded. In terms of tech and safety, these cars are closely matched, especially in base trim, but the Audi undercuts the BMW in base trim by $3,600. As an SUV, the Q7 does it better.