Eleven years. That's how long Audi's biggest family SUV has been quietly gliding through life, like a retiree with a good pension. Now the third generation is back – and this time it's not just about a new nose and some new colors. It's about a V8 that's growling again and a dashboard that clearly grew up in China.
Let's face it: the previous Audi Q7 was a nice, expensive and somewhat boring neighbor who always says hello but you never remember him. Audi obviously knew this. The competition has changed in the meantime – the new generation is no longer competing only with BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE, but also with top-of-the-line models like the Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-90, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L offering cabins that rival the old Q7. In other words: comfortable, well-appointed seven-seaters are suddenly everywhere.
That's why the new Q7 works, as one of our American colleagues says, like a car, which makes up for lost timeAnd it shows.
Under the hood: V6 for the masses, V8 for sinners
Let's start with the good news for all those who love fuel. Basic Q7 gets 2.9-liter biturbo V6 – the same engine that once powered the Audi RS5. Here it develops 320 kW (435 hp) and 599 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque, which is enough for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 4.8 seconds (officially measured to 60 mph). That's almost 100 more horsepower than the previous V6 - so not necessarily a necessity, but certainly a very pleasant indulgence.
But if that's not enough for you, there is SQ7This era 4.0-liter biturbo V8 from the former RS6 Avant, which offers here 441 kW (600 hp) and bulky 800 Nm (590 lb-ft)Result: 0–100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and final speed limited at 250 km/h (155 mph) – with the right summer tires, of course. For a two-ton seven-seater, that's absurdly fast. Beautifully absurd.
Both engines work with eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive quattro. The towing capacity is respectable 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) with the right equipment – enough for a trailer, boat or a minor existential crisis.
For European buyers, the story won't be quite the same. At launch, it will also be available 3.0-liter V6 diesel in two versions: the stronger one develops 220 kW (299 hp) and 630 Nm, but weaker 180 kW (245 hp) and 500 NmLess drama, more highway doomsday – exactly what many people on this side of the Atlantic actually want.
Lights that can write on the road
This is where it gets interesting. The front of the Q7 gets digital Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam – a first in the US, and an upgrade of already known technology in Europe. In practice, the system means that you drive with the high beams constantly ready, and the car decides when, where and how much to direct them, without dazzling oncoming traffic.
The rear is even more luxurious: the light signature can be set to one of eight digital samplesand the turn signals when turned on project a pattern onto the road surface. A bit theatrical? Absolutely. But better visibility for cyclists and pedestrians at night is always welcome, even if it comes wrapped in some effects.
Interior that grew up in Shanghai
And now for what will spark the most debate. The Q7's dashboard is now dominated by wall of screens: curved OLED for gauges, central infotainment screen and serial screen for the passengerAudi even added ChatGPT integration via voice assistant.
It's hard to see where the wind is blowing from. Audi has literally reshaped its strategy around the Chinese market in the last two years - it even established a separate brand there with its own logo and models designed for, as it says, a premium digital experience tailored to Chinese lifestylesThat taste is now clearly flowing back to Ingolstadt. The new Q7 is in many ways a smart device on wheels, which is exactly what Chinese buyers expect – and increasingly everyone else too.
Fortunately, Audi didn't go overboard with touch at all costs this time. After a wave of complaints about the sensitive touch buttons, they were added to the steering wheel and console. brought back real, physical buttons and swivel wheels. There's significantly less piano black plastic, replaced by open-pore wood and genuinely decent materials. Six- or seven-seat configurations are available, with massage front seats, two wireless charging pads with magnetic attachment, a built-in 4K surveillance camera and a panoramic roof that changes from transparent to opaque in segments.
According to several testers, the new Q7 still has one old weakness - but Audi has clearly invested more energy in the screens than in solving everything at once.
Where and when
The Q7 and SQ7 continue to be produced in Bratislava, where the line has been running since 2005. They will be on the roads in Europe and the US by the end of the year, with the European versions retaining the diesel offering and the Americans getting only a petrol engine.
Conclusion: Another reason to take the Q7 seriously
The impression from the first presentations is surprisingly uniform. American journalists who have already seen the car in person are talking about the “best interior ever” and that the Q7 is finally makes up for lost time – Audi is reportedly making a real comeback in the three-row SUV segment after years of floundering. Despite the slightly oversized bezels around the screens, Jalopnik admits that they work together flawlessly and that the package is “compelling.” Motor1 sees it as a real step forward, not just a cosmetic refresh.
My opinion? This is exactly what the Q7 needed. More powerful, more beautiful, better equipped – and confident enough to admit that the future of luxury is now written in Shanghai, not just Ingolstadt. The wall of screens will repel some, but underneath it lies a fair piece of German engineering with a V8 that they can really miss. And if you're looking for criticism: a car that needs so many pixels to convince, perhaps trusts its own body a little too little. But once that four-liter eight-cylinder roars, you tend to forget all about it.
Prices are not yet official. For comparison: the current Q7 starts at around $63,300 in the US, and the SQ7 starts at around $95,000; European and Slovenian prices will vary and depend on taxes and equipment, so be sure to check with your local dealer before buying. But if we may guess: Audi will happily charge you full price for this digital luxury.
