Quick, however, this car is not. At least, not with the V6 TDI engine that will power 85 percent of all Q7s that will be sold in the UK. The headline figure we achieved at Millbrook proving ground was 0-60mph in 8.6sec.
That surprised us, frankly. Most of the time, the Q7 feels more like a car capable of no better than a 10sec sprint to 60mph. You have to be brutal to access its best performance. Overtaking manoeuvres are best planned carefully. At least the six-speed automatic gearbox shifts smoothly, quickly and intelligently, and the brakes are up to the job too. The 70-0mph time of 2.9sec is perfectly respectable and they resist fade well on the road.
Yes, the Q7 can ford water that’s 535mm deep; yes, it can climb 31 degrees and can drive on a 25-degree tilt before falling over. It has extended ESP function off road, electronic locking differentials and can tow 3200kg of braked trailer. Frankly, it’ll do far more than most owners will ever need. But we’ve a suspicion that its off-road ability will run out well before a Merc GL’s or a Discovery’s.
If you are planning on using an S line as a towing mule, note that Eagle F1s are not renowned for their performance on wet grass.
Fifty per cent of Q7s will be sold in the United States, and this is where, along with the Middle East, we suspect this car will work best. Britain is eight times more densely populated than the US, so there’s quite simply less space to go around, and the Q7 takes up more than some would consider to be its fair share; it is too big for British towns.
The 12-metre turning circle is respectable enough and the driving position affords good visibility. But it’s tricky to thread a Q7 through small gaps or park in anything other than large spaces. Audi’s A8 is a good six inches narrower to the edge of its mirrors. It’s hard to judge where metal stops and approaching object begins. The blind-spot monitor and improved parking radar are options we’d strongly recommend.