Audi takes German automotive precision and raises standards up to the luxury category. Case in point, the Q7 first arriving Stateside in 2007. A second-generation arrived a decade later and serves as the platform for our 2025 Q7 tester.
This mid-size crossover starts with three rows standard and an interior welcoming aboard luxury amenities and comfort with a quality build one expects from such a German statesman. The Q7’s platform shares underpinnings with Audi’s popular mid-size A6 sedan, a unibody design promoting a snappy riding experience not available in larger crossovers/sport utility vehicles borrowing a heavier, body-on-frame truck design. The Q7 measures in as the largest five-door crossover Audi markets in North America.
All Audis with a Q identifier prefix promise a five-door crossover body style. Expect mid-cycle refreshers this year, but no changes to engine performance or dimensions.
Upgrades in 2025 include model identifiers laser etched into the exterior middle B pillar. A revamped octagonal front grille with teardrop vertical inlays joins refreshed headlamps and larger air intakes up front with updated tail lamps out back. Plus, new exterior colors arrive in the form of Sakhir Metallic Gold, Ascari Blue metallic and Chilli Red metallic . All three engine sizes arrive with all-wheel drive standard which Audi markets as ‘Quattro.’
Quatro all-wheel drive rates as a full-time all-wheel drive design, meaning both front and rear axles direct power to all four wheels on a continuous basis, although Q7 features a rear-drive bias promoting a 40:60 front-to rear torque split. The rear-bias adds a touch of performance. Full-time all-wheel drive adds extra weight compared to part-time all-wheel drive (which sends power to either the front or rear axle during dry, on-road travel) but not to worry as this crossover enjoys plenty of pep in its step.
Three different internal combustion engines power Q7 all recommending premium fuel for optimal performance when filling the 22.5 gallon tank. The Q7 45 includes a 16-valve, 2.0-litre, turbocharged, inline four cylinder cranking out 261 horses. Our tester, a 24-valve, twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter, V-6 Q7 55 upped horses to 335. A lower-volume, 4.0-liter, biturbo 32-valve SQ7 includes eight cylinders and 500 horsepower.
The four cylinder leads fuel economy sweepstakes at 20 miles per gallon city and 26 mpg highway. Our six-cylinder pumped out 18/23 respectively while the V-8 and its 500 horses paired numbers down to 15 mpg / 21mpg.
Pricewise, the four-cylinder checks in at $60,500 with the base Premium Package and $64,300 for a Premium Plus upgrade. The V-6 engine starts at $65,800 with the Premium Package, $69,600 for Premium Plus and $77,900 for a Prestige Package. The low-volume V-8 starts at $90,800. A goodly number of stand-alone and option packages quickly turbocharge bottom line pricing with the four and six-cylinder engines.
Our Q7 V-6 tester with Prestige Package checked in at $77,900. Waitomo Blue specialty exterior paint added $595 while the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system contributed $4,900. A $2,100 Black Optic package adds a noir-inspired black exterior trim, dark chrome exhaust tips and wheels boasting a five-spoke double module design. Add electro-mechanical all-wheel steering ($1,350) and a $750 trailer hitch and the bottom line swelled to $88,790 with the $1,195 destination charge.
Behind the wheel, Q7 provides a welcomed quite interior with a refined, luxury experience rather than a jarring sports-like ride. Prestige Packages brings forth a comfort air suspension adding to the glide and raising/lowering the vehicle when desired through the multi-function infotainment window. The Black Optic extra creates a sleek, secret-agent type exterior straight of central casting from spy-thriller-type motion pictures such as ‘Men in Black’. This Q7 stands apart in a good way especially with the dark blue Waitomo paint.
All wheel steering (also known as four-wheel steering) has been tinkered with for the past eight decades and worth the extra investment within a vehicle of this premium status. At low speeds, Q7 enjoys a tight turning radius for a car of its girth thanks to all-wheel steering; handy in crowded parking lots. On the highway, changing lanes and stability during curved stretches add to the luxury experience compared to conventional two-wheel steer.
The overall mid-size length of 199.6 rates about three inches longer than Volvo’s XC-90 three row mid-size luxury crossover. Other recently tested mainstream crossovers including the three-row Mazda CX-90 measure two inches longer than Q7. Audi builds Q7 as a three row exclusive product and markets the similar dimensioned Q8 as a five-seater but with a lower fastback bodystyle.
Inside, Q7 accommodates seven riders with its standard 50-50-split power-folding two-person third row. Illuminated buttons activating the third-row power moves locate within the driver’s side cargo area accessible with the liftback open and near outboard row two seat cushions on both the driver and passenger side accessible when opening second row doors. Row two seat cushions manually and easily tumble forward along with the folded backrest creating an aisle entrance into row three. Headroom, especially in the first two rows, checks in as very impressive. Not bad in row three either although the leg room availability rates as pre-teen friendly. Average and long-legged adults best occupy the first two rows.
Saiga beige inserts and highlights contrast nicely with a black two tone with brushed aluminum highlights. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifter resides between supportive front bucket seats. It’s a wide, short handle fitting nicely into the right palm with a left-side, thumb-activated push button allowing movement out of Park and into either reverse or drive. Park re-engages with a push of a button on the handle’s front.
An electronic start/stop button engaging the internal combustion engine resides within the center console complex and far enough away from power-operated steering column interference. Plus when engaging the shift handle, the start/stop button may be activated via a free pointer finger. To the left of the shifter, dual inline cupholders; to the rear, a tab disengaging the electronic parking brake.
Also new for 2025 and appealing to tech-savvy occupants, Q7 now utilized third-party Applications (or Apps) which download from Audi’s very own App Store directly to the in-dash sound system including Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and several more.
The mid-sized multi-function touch screen remains totally ensconced within the center dash, creating a flat dashboard top save for a speed bump atop the functional and informative digitized instrument panel. Some automakers incorporate a flat screen extending above and beyond the center dash, but Q7’s design offers a logical and clean look. The animated instrument panel includes multiple display formats changeable via a 3 o’clock steering wheel button. A long, narrow row of manually-operated air vents stretches from one end to the other just below the brim of the dash top. Order up the advanced speaker system and two retracting speakers pop up when igniting the engine and pop back down when the day is done.
Omnipresent between a pair of circular outboard dials within the instrument panel (speedometer, tachometer); an animated center window also with rotating center selection options including navigation, current radio station and specifications. The bar-type fuel gauge to the far right and oil temperature gauge left mold into end pillars and always remain in view.
The in-dash infotainment screen includes a twist dial monitoring on/off/volume, but no second knob for station selection. The home position includes three swipe-able windows of iconed selections. Below the flat screen in-dash window resting at a 45-degree angle, a large tough sensitive HVAC region commanding HVAC controls along with A/C, defrosters and heated seats.
The flat, rectangular wireless charger standard in Premium Plus resides under the arm rest’s forward/rearward sliding cover doubling as a doorway to the shallow storage bin below. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone interaction comes standard allowing downloaded phone apps to pair with the in-dash screen.
Body-color cladding highlight round wheel wells, side door handles share bodycolor and a strap-like door openers. Nineteen-inch wheels with all-season run-flat tires come standard while Premium Plus upgrades to 20-inch wheels and run-flat tires. The optional Black Optic package adds Anthracite Gray rings highlighting Audi’s logo inside the large front grille.
Flanking the upper grille, narrow, wrap-around headlight housing sprinkled with small, square LED lighting assisting two larger bulbs with Prestige trims upgrading to a matrix design. Daytime LED headlights merge together with amber turn signal hues creating an eyebrow effect atop. Rear taillights retain similar intricacies with pulsating amber lighting turn signals. Both sideview mirror housings include a continuing line of small amber lights when signaling.
Audi U.S. sales in the 2024 calendar year reached 196,576 with Q7 representing 20,894 units. Audi’s logo with its four connected circular rings represents four different automotive brands (Audi, Horch, Wanderer, DKW) that merged together in 1932 creating, at that time, the Auto Union. When financial troubles arose following World War II, Auto Union was bought and sold to multiple suiters, eventually acquired by Germany’s Volkswagen in 1964 which updated and truncated the company name simply to Audi. In 2025, the Volkswagen Group not only includes Audi, but other European name plates including Bentley, Porche, Lamborghini, Skoda and Seat.
2025 Audi Q7
Price as tested: $88,790
Engine: Turbocharged V-6
Horsepower: 335
Wheelbase: 117.9 inches
Overall Length: 199.6 inches
Overall Width: 77.5 inches
Overall Height: 68.4 inches
Curb weight: 5,137 pounds
Fuel economy: 18 mpg city/ 23 mpg highway
New Vehicle Limited Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Assembly: Bratislava, Slovakia
