Test drove 2010 Q7 TDI

[MMIXR8]

We're in the market for a new car for my wife, so we stopped by our local Audi dealer to look at a Q5 and an A4 Avant. The Q5 seemed to be the same inside as the A4 Avant, which we decided was too small, but on the floor was a specially built Q7 TDI. Hm ...

We took it for a test drive and I liked it. My wife was unsure, so the dealer let us take it home for the weekend. (Very nice of them!) We drove it gently but all over, including some errands. I added fuel twice, both times noting that diesel nozzles seem coated with the fuel -- much different than my experience with gasoline. (Yuck I might add.) After two days, my wife decided that the Q7 was simply too big and that something like an A6 Avant would better meet her wants and needs.

I found the 3.0 TDI to be a bit weak for a car as large as the Q7, but I was impressed with the mileage. On the drive back to the dealer I reset the trip computer. With just 150 miles on the odometer, the Q7 averaged 25.2 miles per gallon on a drive that was half freeway and half city streets. Amazing for a car that big.

Anyone have personal experience with the Q7 TDI? Is the 225 HP engine really enough?

[marty was here]

ive got a cousin that has one of the white s-line launch models, and he swears by it.

you have to compare it other deisels out there, and i gotta say, its the least noisy, easiest acclerating (its about torque not stomping on it full throttle), and the one with the least lag.

ill say the X5 diesel is faster (marginally), but the q7 beats its all around again. if you do serious mileage, and consider resale, its the obvious choice.

you want to feel fail though, go into a benz dealer and drive a ML/GL320

[xtrentx]

We have them in our 2010 Touaregs at our dealership and i think its an ok motor for how big the vehicle is. Now the V10 TDI in the older Touaregs were great for power, but trust me had their issues haha...Personally bein a VW tech i think they should have stuck with the V10 and just fix the issues they had with them. Plus the V6 TDI in the new SUVs from VW and Audi are an electrical and pipe mess under the engine covers haha im not looking forward to when stuff starts to break on them!!

[norsecarnut]

We're in the market for a new car for my wife, ..... After two days, my wife decided that the Q7 was simply too big and that something like an A6 Avant would better meet her wants and needs.

This sounds like a "feeling" not based on reality seeing as the Q7 isn't really much bigger or heavier than a new A6 Avant. The Q7 looks big in the nose but really isn't "big" while the avant is effectively as big but can't haul quite the same size of cargo shapes. Being a basic a6, the avant isn't going to be much more fun to drive either. But you should know that considering the cars in your sig. Does she "enjoy" the s4 as a driving experience? That a6 isn't going to be "fun" unless you do some mods or something.

It's funny you also said the a4 avant is too small but somehow the a6 avant is just right....the newest a4 isn't much smaller now that it grew considerably from the last generation. This is splitting hairs between a4/a6 or a6/q7

The q7 will be no harder to park than an a6....

Maybe you aren't stuck on Audi for this wagon/suv-ish slotted car?

How about a Panamera....? Just as much space as the wagon and WAY more fun to drive ;)

Cayenne or VW tdi (same in sense of size)? These are "bigger" than the Q5 but not as big as the Q7 lengthwise and while solid suv's, don't drive "big"

How is it the Q5 isn't big enough but the Avant is? Is it the lengthwise cargo area? or passenger area? Up front, I'd say the Q5 is fine, has nice ventilated seats, a better view of the road than a "car", etc.

How about the x5d, you get a punchier drive, better handling & better seats (when optioned correctly), better mpg than either the Q5 or A6 avant, nice panoramic sunroof, cool drop tail gate, separately opening rear hatch window, etc.

Of course there is also the ML320 cdi for medium size and high mpg.

I just think it's tough to support the current wagons out there when none have great mpg/fuel range for trips, few are sporty anymore (the reason I bought a new 08 s4 mt6 avant end of 08).

A very fun one would be the MB E55 wagon, but it's no smaller footprint wise than a Q7, possibly longer bumper to bumper ?

The bmw 535xi wagon is a nice size for a real wagon too. I think a diesel version should be the only one in the US, a 535-xdrive-D Touring, maybe they could even add some more letters to it's name ;)

Good luck. We've been through the same ponderings over the past year.

[MMIXR8]

Oh for an S4 Avant here in the US -- but sadly not to be.

Part of my wife's issue is the ride height of the Q7. We've had SUVs before, but don't now and my wife has gotten used to the lower height of the S4 and really likes it better than the big Q7.

Clearly the Q7 has more carrying space than an A6 Avant, but not so much that is matters. The Q5 is looking better all the time in my mind.

Going to check out the new MB E class wagon too. That looks nice.

[LOP]

you want to feel fail though, go into a benz dealer and drive a ML/GL320

I agree...but I drove the ML350 diesel and it was loud and slow compared to the Audi Q7 TDI in performance.

[MMIXR8]

I did check out the Benz's and just don't like their stying. Audi just does it for me right now.

Our dealer has an A6 Avant due in for delivery in a couple days, so we'll have a chance to look at it up close. While I like wagons, they don't seem to be very popular in general right now, which could impact trade in value down the line. Minor issue for us, and if it my wife likes the Avant, that's what she gets.

[aaron1085]

I havent had the chance to drive the Q7 yet, but have sat in one and it feels quite nice and roomy.. My father has a 09 Mercedes ML 320 CDI and its pretty nice. Good size, decent power and good mileage. I will say however, it isn't all that fast and rides "solid", but really a nice build quality.

just my .02