The 2012 Q7 is available with a 3.0-litre V6 direct-injection supercharged petrot
engine as used in the S4 and S5, which produces 245kW of power and 440Nm of
torque. This model, priced at $95,200, is the only petrol variant. Like the
three turbodiesets, it runs an eight speed automatic as standard.
The base model is the 176kW/550Nm 3.0 V6 turbodieset
at $90,000. The 250kW/800Nm litre V8 turbodiesel is $128,800 and, if that's not enough grunt for you,
there's the completely ridiculous 6.0-litre V12TDi, with 368kW and... wait for
it... 1000 Newton métrés of torque. Ail
yours for $257,200, if you're out of your mind.
The 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel delivers exactly the sort
of performance that a behemoth like this needs, while the introduction of the
eight speed automatic has yielded a fuel consumption
improvement of nearty 20 per cent. Check the fuel
numbers in the Spex panel at right —
they're pretty amazing for a 2.3 tonne SUV that is also claimed to hit 100km/h
in just 7.9 seconds.
Conventional suspension is standard on the two V6s;
adaptive air suspension is fitted to the V8 and V12 turbodiesets.
Air suspension, a $5900 option on V6s, provides
markedly superior ride comfort, body controt and roadhotding. The Q7 is a
determined understeerer and a bit of a barge compared with BMW's X5 or the
Porsche Cayenne.
Seven seats are standard. The elevated middle bench
has plenty of legroom but the centre position is uncomfortable. There's a lot
more room in the back stalls than there is in BMW's X5, though.
They are sufficiently spacious for kids up to
mid-teens.
THINGSWE LIKE
✓
The 3.0 TDi is the pick of them
✓
Great economy
✓
Acres of space inside
✓
Back seats are OK
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
X Push it and it
starts to throw its weight around
X Middle seat is
shaped for two
X Expensive options
X High load floor
SPEX (3.0-litre V6 TDi)
✓
Made in Slovakia
✓
3.0-litre direct-injection turbodieset Vé/six-speed sequential automatic/ all-wheel drive
✓
176kW of power at 4000rpm/550Nm of torque at 2000-2250rpm
✓
0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds Iclaimedl
✓
6.7L/100km highway; 9.7LV100km city C02 emissions are 205gkm
✓
Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilométrés
✓
Standard: Seven seats, stability control, eight airbags, front and rear
parking assistance, rearview camera. Data Dot security, 18-inch atloy wheels, full-size
spare, in-dash CD player. USB and auxiliary inputs. Bluetooth, dual-zone
automatic air, trip computer and leather upholstery
✓
Redbook future values: 3yr: 59%; 5yr: 44%
