Driven: 2014 Audi Q7 TDI Review
by James Hamel
No doubt the question that most 2014 Audi Q7 shoppers have is whether to diesel or not to diesel. You can order your 7-passenger Q7 with either a 3.0 liter turbocharged gas engine good for 272 horsepower/295 lb. feet of torque in regular trim levels or with 333 horsepower/325 lb. feet of torque in S-Line trim. But what if you want better fuel economy than 16 city/22 highway?
Well, with the 2014 Audi Q7 TDI you will see EPA estimates improve to 17 city/25 highway but in our hands we got a very respectable 22 miles per gallon. Somehow, we doubt that the gas version of the Q7 would get anything close to that. You’d probably be lucky to see 16-18 miles per gallon based on previous experience with other full time all-wheel drive 7-passenger luxury SUVs.
So there is a definite real world fuel economy benefit when it comes to owning a 2014 Audi Q7 TDI but what is it like to drive? If your only memory of diesel engine vehicles is of noisy, clattering engines and black smoke pluming out of the tailpipe, you won’t see any of that with the Q7. In fact, it is also pretty fast in real world driving conditions thanks to the healthy accelerative thrust afforded by the 3.0 liter turbo diesel that pumps out 225 horsepower and a booty whalloping 406 lb. feet of torque.
What’s it like to Drive the 2014 Audi Q7 for a Week?
Now, if you want to compare the Q7’s third row with the BMW X5’s there really is no comparison as the Audi is much more spacious in all three rows. The Q7 compares more favorably to the Acura MDX’s third row with possibly a smidgen more legroom. Unfortunately, the narrow in the hips Q7 feels much narrower inside the cabin than the much airier interior of the MDX. Three across in the second row won’t be all that comfortable for too long if they are full size adults. But kids should be just fine.
The 2014 Audi Q7 TDI comes standard with the excellent 8-speed automatic transmission that has made its way across much of this Ingolstadt, Germany based automaker’s model lineup. You can shift gears manually but there really isn’t a point as the Q7 TDI always manages to be in the right gear to get the most out of the diesel engine. O-60 comes up in a respectable 8.5 seconds and steep hills are dispatched with ease. Tow capacity is 6,600 pounds.
Why This Ride?
- That inimitable Audi Interior build quality and design
- The diesel engine option is quick and economical
- It’s better looking than some competitors but still no beauty queen
- It rides, steers and handles with authority much like an Audi wagon a bit higher off the ground
- The 2014 Audi Q7 TDI motor offers monstrous towing capacity