Some quibbles with the 2020 Audi Q7
transmission to downshift and it becomes frustrating. Even activating the transmission’s Sport mode doesn’t fix the problem: Hit the gas, and little happens for a couple of seconds before the Q7 downshifts and accelerates. It’s kind of like when my mother used to ask me to do dishes: I’d hear the request but show little interest hastily getting to the task. On top of that, fuel economy has substantially dropped. EPA-estimated mileage for the 2020 Q7 is 17/21/18 mpg (city/highway/combined), a significant percentage decline from 2019’s 19/25/21 mpg rating.
Ride and handling are both adequate. My test vehicle had 21-inch wheels as a part of a cosmetic package, but those didn’t seem to hurt ride quality, which remains confident even over broken pavement. to the Q8 interior. That means physical climate controls are gone, replaced by a lower, 8.6-inch touchscreen that houses controls for the climate and seat temperature among other functions. As a showpiece, the new dashboard and multimedia system look great: The screens are sharp and the whole of it gleams. With a standard 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument panel, too, the Q7 has a futuristic look and feel.
Audi’s multi-touchscreen approach has divided our staff, and even though I’m among the editors who likes it more, I’m still not sold. It feels cool, but I still prefer physical climate controls, like the ones on the Q3 or refreshed 2020 A4/ S4. The haptic feedback you get from Audi’s screen makes it easier to use than the dual touchscreens found in the latest Jaguar and Land Rover models, but it’s still inferior to a good old-fashioned dial – especially when driving and trying to keep your eyes on the road.
The 2020 Q7 seats seven occupants in all configurations, with a second-row bench seat that cannot be swapped out for captain’s chairs in what continues to be a strange omission. The second row folds in a 35/30/35-split, such that owners can fit three car seats across the bench – an accommodation that puts the Q7 among the handful of new SUVs that can fit three seats across.
The front seats have enough bolstering to hold occupants comfortably in place, but not so much to be aggressive. The second row is less promising: Outboard seats have minimal bolstering, so you slide around quite a bit. The middle seat, though wider than many, is still not the most comfortable spot to sit in.
Third-row access comes via the sliding and tilting second-row seat. Although the middle seat can be lowered to help open up cargo space, the third row remains problematic in a few different ways. There simply isn’t enough room to fit an adult back there comfortably even if you slide the second-row seat forward. Headroom is lacking, too.
I tested a Premium Plus trim of the 2020 Q7, the middle of three trims – Premium and Prestige are the other two – with V-6 models starting at $61,795 (all prices include destination) and fourcylinder models starting at $55,795. (Under Audi’s newish naming scheme, derived confusingly from the kilowattbased automotive ratings used in Europe, the four-cylinder goes by 45 TFSI, while the V-6 is 55 TFSI.) Various options packages and features bumped the price of my 55 to $71,990, an echelon that puts the Q7 in close proximity to the Cadillac XT6, Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90.
My lack of enthusiasm for the Q7’s changes may come in part because I’ve seen this show before, just on different Audi models. Audi lifted the Q7’s powertrain, dual-screen setup and styling from other Audis, but I find such changes don’t elevate the Q7’s standing – at least not enough for a vehicle that struggles in some important family qualities, such as third-row space.