Car review: Audi Q7 E-TRON 3.0 TDI Quattro tiptronic

Have your cake and almost eat it with Audi’s super-eco SUV, says Martin Gurdon
Smooth mover: the hybrid 4x4 switches between diesel and electric with minimal fuss and glides along when using its electric motor
Martin Gurdon11 November 2016

The Audi Q7 e-tron is a contradiction on wheels. It’s a brash all-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle that is claimed to make a gallon of fuel last not far short of 157 miles, thanks to plug-in diesel/electric hybrid credentials.

The reality doesn’t quite match the hype. The one I drove returned 55mpg-plus when switching from electric to internal combustion modes, something it does with a complete absence of drama. You could probably knock another 20mpg from that when using only the car’s smooth 3.0 V6 diesel, but overall, it’s a parsimonious thing, and glides along in a relaxed, near silent way when using only its 94kw electric motor. This, along with its commanding seating position, make this car a relaxed city vehicle despite its bulk, as do its town-friendly driver assist systems.

Audi claims that with the right charging equipment, the batteries —which live under a smaller boot floor, preventing the fitment of a third set of rear seats — can be replenished in two-and-a-half hours. The car’s eight-speed, self-shifting transmission is rapid, unruffled and works well with its diesel and electric powertrains, which, running together, deliver 6.2 seconds 0-62 acceleration. It’s as rapid as some hot hatches.

The interior has Audi’s usual mix of Germanic good taste and mild techno bling, and people who like connecting endless mobile devices and cycling through control options will be entertained for hours.

If you’re a Londoner and want a Q7, this is probably the one to have, assuming you’ve somewhere to plug it in and don’t need seven seats, but the clever bits add around £10,000 to what is already an expensive car, and it could easily become even pricier if you start adding options.

For 4x4 lovers, this is probably as near to having their cake and eating it as they are likely to get.

Audi Q7 E-TRON 3.0 TDI Quattro tiptronic
Top speed: 143mph 
C02: 48g/km
0-62mph: 6.2sec 
Price: £64,950

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