Audi’s three-row SUV gets a new look, more space and a major upgrade in technology.
What it is: 2017 Audi Q7, seven-passenger luxury SUV
Price Range: Starts at $54,800
Competitors: Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X5. Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover LR4
Alternatives: Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Tahoe, Mazda CX-9
Pros: Impressive standard safety features, more interior space and a stellar virtual cockpit.
Cons: No true third-row seat unless you have kids that are rather small or adults that enjoy being uncomfortable.
Would I Buy It With My Own Money: While it might not be my first choice in the world of seven-passenger SUVs, the solid tech and great space in the Audi Q7 makes it a strong option.
Outside its pure sports cars, Audi isn’t known for excitement. Most of the sedans are a bit boring; good looking, beautifully made cars quietly carrying passengers to and from their destinations with nary a notice being taken. The SUVs share the same genetics, and feedback about the previous generation flagship SUV, the Audi Q7, was no exception. It got accolades for being elegant albeit, perhaps, too elegant.
The new 2017 Audi Q7 however, has hunkered down, lightened up, and added more space and more technology making it a much more appealing. While we drove the European version of the car in the Swiss Alps back in May, the latest version to hit U.S shores still impresses, making it a solid choice in the seven-passenger arena.
First, Audi took the upright, angular, three-dimensional grille that it’s been using on its cars (like the A4 and the TT) and passed it onto the flagship SUV. Sharp double shoulder lines give the body a substantial and angular presence that the previous generation didn’t have.
