2013 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 comes with two engine choices, a turbocharged 3.0L V6 diesel engine, and a supercharged 3.0L V6 gas engine. Both engine options are available on all three trims with minor differences depending on the engine choice. The three available trims are Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige and all are special in their own respects. 

For instance the Premium trim, being the youngest among all, gets the finest ones which include the leather upholstery on the seats along with dual-zone climate control for comfort and convenience. This gets better with a heating function for both the front and rear seats in the Premium Plus along with driver seat memory.

The Prestige, being the top-dog, is well-organized both internally and externally as it gets the most muscular 20- or 21-inch (optional) alloy wheels, optional Bang and Olufsen 14 speaker surround system, and Four-zone climate control. Audi Connect can also be found in the two of the highest branches of this trim tree. Moreover, one also spots panoramic sunroof and adaptive xenon plus headlights with DRL as per trim hierarchy. On the whole, it is impressive in its offers and will attract a huge customer base.

We Recommend

We recommend the Premium Plus trim as it offers more value for money. While the Premium comes with all the basic features, the Plus model further adds extensions like Audi connect, Sunroof, and heated seating function for the rear occupants as well thereby enhancing convenience throughout the cabin. The Navigation unit and high bass audio set can also be availed of with this trim. Therefore, it is simply the pick for you without any further exposition. 

The 2013 Audi Q7 comes with 2 engine options; all mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and come in a standard AWD configuration. The 3.0T Premium and Premium Plus are powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that is capable of churning out 280 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0 T S line version of the engine present in the Prestige Trim is much more powerful with outputs increased to 333 hp and 325 lb-ft torque. The Audi Q7 TDI comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine that produces 240 hp of power and an adequate 406 lb-ft torque. 

In comparison, the BMW X5 is the fastest car in competition as it covers 0–60 mph acceleration in 6.4 seconds and finishes the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds. The power output of the Audi Q7 is less than that of the average of the rivals with which it is capable of covering a quarter-mile in more than 15.5 seconds and a 0-60 mph mark in 7.7 seconds. As far as pure drag stripping is concerned, the Cayenne takes the crown with an impressive 14.9 seconds. 

The 2013 Audi Q7 provides a fuel economy justifiable for its kind. The 3.0L Supercharged engine gives a mileage of 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highways. Combined with a 26.4-gallon tank the Q7 provides a range of 422 miles and 580 miles in the city and highways respectively. While the diesel engine variant on the Q7 steps up and is a little more efficient in this department as it returns a fuel economy of 19 mpg and 28 mpg in cities and highways respectively. 

When it comes to fuel efficiency the Cayenne is the clear winner by a slight margin. It posts an impressive 17MPG in the city and an amazing 23 MPG on the highway. The larger SUVs struggle with fuel economy, which is visible in the fact that the Q7, X5, and the MDX, all provide a similar figure. The Q7 has the largest fuel capacity which improves its overall practicality but MDX misses out significantly at the same time. 

The 2013 Audi Q7 is just like its predecessors in this aspect. There is hardly any pothole that one may even find out. The cabin is as luxurious as it should be with its multi-way power-adjustability along with heat recirculation and memory function for the seats. The leatherette feels over them with Espresso Brown, Limestone gray, and many more accents are just class apart. The temperature is restrained within upper and lower limits by the four-zone automatic climate control and the cabin also allows one to have natural exposure to sunlight with its panoramic sunroof. .

With the standard seating capacity, the Q7 and the MDX are the only 7 seaters while the Porsche and BMW settle for 5 passengers in a go. These 5 seaters have more boot space compared to the 7-seater models which certainly is advantageous. The Audi Q7 has a spacious interior with lots of legroom for all three rows. The first two rows are comfortable for adults while the third row is best suited for kids. The Acura MDX also provides a similar cabin with a larger boot space of 15 cu.-ft over the 10.9 cu.-ft of the Q7. Some of the standout interior features in the 2013 Audi Q7 are:

• Four-zone climate control
• Panoramic sunroof
• 12-way power-adjustable seat with lumbar adjustment
• Heated and Ventilated front seats with optional heated rear seats.
• Keyless Entry
• Cruise control

How intuitive is the 2013 Audi Q7’s Infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the 2013 Audi Q7 is feature-rich. The system comes with an Audi premium 11 speaker sound system in the Premium trim. The higher trims get a 14 speaker Bose sound system as standard with a Bang and Olufsen sound system optional. The system features MMI Navigation and Audi connect along with Audi music interface. The standard features include Bluetooth connectivity, CD/DVD-player, iPod integration, and HD Radio and can be spotted across all the trims. Some of the standout infotainment features in the 2013 Audi Q7 are:

• Audi MMI navigation plus voice control
• Audi connect feature
• Preprogrammed trip plan using my Audi features
• SiriusXM Traffic
• Google Earth 3D satellite imagery
• Audi music interface with iPod integration

A treat to your eyes with superior boldness is what we can say about this beautiful machinery. The design silhouette has been adorned with the adaptive xenon headlights which encompass the chrome-finish grille over the dark background and Audi badging in the center. The top is equally loaded with functionalities like the Anodized aluminum roof rails and a panoramic sunroof. The large and muscular 20" 10-spoke V-design alloy wheels wrapped by the P275/45R20 all-season tires are also in line with the wide front and bulky layout.

The Audi Q7 is the heaviest and the longest car among its rivals, weighing over 5200 pounds and measuring nearly 200 inches in length, and as a result, it has a serious dependency on its tech-end for decent driving maneuverability. On the other hand, rivals like the BMW X5 are lighter by more than 300 pounds and shorter by 9 inches. 

The Porsche is the lightest among all with the highest ground clearance of 8.7 inches which adds dimension to its off-roading touches. The Q7 might be a feature-packed SUV but there is no denying that the boundary limits could have been restricted. Standout exterior features in the 2013 Audi Q7 are:

• Adaptive Xenon Plus headlights with turning light and LED daytime running lights
• Power folding, heated exterior mirrors with memory.
• Power Tailgate
• Dual Exhaust outlets

The Audi Q7 has been carved with the reinforced high-strength steel and aluminum members which give it the duality of brittleness and elongation with which it is quite resilient to impact forces. The ratings are sort of underpinning of the statement as it gets “Good” in most of the parameters that are tested by the IIHS. The NHTSA also rates 4 out of 5 in its rollover stability with a 15% risk percentage. The safety features further expand the safety prowess with the availability of standout safety features like:

• Audi Adaptive cruise control
• Electronic stability control with traction control.
• Audi Side assist
• Lane departure warning
• Hill descent control
• Crash Sensor system

The Audi Q7 is a safe and reliable large SUV that is elegantly crafted with good looks, the best interior in the class, and features. It’s a powerful machine with a variety of options to choose from. It is a solid 7-seater ideally suited for family road trips and all. But the vehicle is heavy and also feels so. The major drawbacks of the Q7 include low boot space, large dimensions, and uneven weight distribution. Despite these small drawbacks, the Q7 remains a fun-to-drive and a good choice to own.