The Audi Q7 is a three-row Audi family SUV designed for those who want maximum space inside a car with four rings at the front. The Q7 has been around since 2006 and it’s safe to say that it is one of the best Audi SUVs money can buy. Before the Q8 came out, the Q7 was also the sole Audi SUV flagship.
However, not all Audi Q7 generations are the same and there are some models which are indeed better than others. For starters, the best Q7 model year is likely the 2017 model because it offers the biggest upgrade in the history of the Q7 which means that it offers the best value out of all Q7 models that ever came out.
The second-best model year of the Audi Q7 is the newest 2022 model because it is the most reliable and most advanced Audi Q7 yet. It may not be the cheapest, but it is priced fairly well when compared to similar SUVs from Mercedes and BMW. Finally, the third-best model year of the Q7 is the 2014 facelifted 1st generation of the Q7 which seems to be the best 1st gen Q7.
No matter which Q7 you go for, you need to keep in mind that all of these need timely and thorough maintenance. These cars are expensive, packed with lots of technology, and should be able to last you a really long time.
2017 Audi Q7
The 2017 Audi Q7 is the very first true 2nd generation Q7 model which means that it offers the biggest jump between two model years in the history of the Q7. The 2017 Q7 offers a much-improved engine palette which means that the 2017 Q7 models offer more efficient and more powerful 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines.
The design has also seen a huge upgrade, especially on the inside where the 2017 Q7 is 100% different from the previous model. The interior build quality is also better, and so are the available features. The suspension system is greatly improved and so is the steering system. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is smoother, faster, and more reliable.
The reason why the 2017 Q7 might just be the best Q7 to buy is that it balances value and substance better than all other Q7 models. You get the most for your money because you are getting a Q7 model which looks almost identical to the latest one but without paying 2022 Q7 prices.
2022 Audi Q7
If money is no object, there is no faffing around by saying that the 2022 Q7 isn’t the best Q7 of all time, because it truly is. The 2022 model is a mid-cycle refresh model, but Audi has changed the 2022 model so much that it feels like a completely new model. The exterior design is a bit boxier, cleaner, and dare I say it, way better than the 2017 model.
The interior also saw a huge upgrade because the 2022 Q7 utilizes the newest Audi interior design language which favors minimalism and technology. The overall luxury feel of the 2022 Q7 is leagues above any older Q7. Space is more or less the same, but there are some benefits to the boxy design because the 2022 does get slightly more headspace.
The engines on the 2022 model are also the most refined, and the same goes for the transmission. The 2017 Q7 was not perfect when it comes to reliability, but Audi managed to iron out a lot of issues with the 2022 model which means that reliability is much improved as well.
2014 Audi Q7
If you are a fan of the 1st generation of the Audi Q7, you will likely adore the 2014 Q7 because it gets the best of both worlds. The 2014 Q7 is the mid-cycle refresh model which utilizes a much-improved LED lighting system that makes the Q7 look and feels a lot more luxurious. The interior has been reupholstered as well which also makes the Q7 look and feel more luxurious.
Many people believe that Audi’s interiors in the early and late 2010s are some of the highest quality interiors in the entire car industry and it’s difficult to dispute that. The 2014 engine palette is more similar to the 2nd gen Q7 than it is to the pre-facelift model, at least as far as regular 6-cylinder models are concerned.
Reliability-wise, the 2014 model is also better than the models that came before it. Value is also a big reason why one should consider the 2014 Q7 as it costs way less than the 2022 and also the 2017 model.
FAQ Section
Should I buy an Audi Q7?
The Audi Q7 is a really popular SUV and many people lust after it. It is not the cheapest SUV you can buy, but that is because it offers way more of everything when compared to standard SUVs. A premium executive three-row SUV is something you buy when you don’t want to replace your car for a long time, and the Q7 is perfect for that reason.
There really isn’t anything the Q7 can’t do because it is luxurious, comfortable, filled with technology, spacious, safe, and reasonably economical. The Audi SQ7 is incredibly fast considering its size. Off-roading is not something Q7 owners do, but that is not really a surprise because premium executive SUV buyers don’t care about off-roading.
How fast is the Audi SQ7?
We have already mentioned that the Q7 is a large three-row SUV which means that it shouldn’t really be fast. However, the 2022 SQ7 can do 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds which is ludicrous for a car of that size. The top speed is limited to 155mph and the quarter-mile time is 12.5 seconds which is absolutely rapid for a large SUV.
Why can’t the Audi Q7 go off-road?
It is not true that the Audi Q7 can’t go off-road, because it can. However, taking a $60,000 SUV off-roading is like wearing a fine suit to a soccer match. Even though you could play soccer in a fine suit, you are not going to do that because the suit was not built for a soccer match.
