2012 Audi Q7

Excellent car with some quirks

By Mr. Practical (Houston, TX) on Friday, January 11, 2008

"My previous car was a Honda Odyssey, my wifes car is a BMW 530. This was pushing the bounds for me to drop 58 large on a vehicle, but I decided to splurge. I got was the 4.2. The car handles excellent despite it's size and weight. The Q7 is as long as my minivan was, which I suppose is necessary to make the 3rd row usable, which it is, even for small adults (something the X5 can not claim). The major drawback to this car is the mileage. Thus far I am averaging a paltry 14.6 mpg (albeit mostly via city driving). Now the quirks: 1. The rear lift hatch opens so high that my wife 5' was unable to close the door, this is partly why I went with the 4.2 - whereby opening height is a controllable feature. 2. There is a buttom on the drivers door to open the rear hatch but that's all it does is open, it does not close. I find this strange as a button on the rear hatch itself does exist to close it automatically. To add a button up front could only cost $20 to add so why was this not done?? Also, the open hatch button on the remote should also close the door as well. 3. When I drive long distances (using cruise control) I sometimes like to tuck my heel under the seat. There is no space to do this on this car - a bit annoying. 4. It seems there should be storage space under the second row, but none exists. It would be nice if there were some drawers there for items such as the DVD player remote, headphones, etc. Actually, given the size of this vehicle, there is not much storage space - between a pair of sunglasses, a radar detector, a few CD's there is not room for much else. 5. Cupholder arrangement is odd. The ones up front are strange and the ones in the rear are at an angle in the door - not very functional and requires that the drinks be in capped bottles. 6. Recalling contacts from the phone interface requires too many steps - especially if you have a full phone book. 7. German cars are renowned for brake dust, but this one produces this big time. Nice suprises: 1. Cruise control works, even at 15 mph. This is very nice for long school zones. 2. Berber carpet hides dirt extremely well. 3. Cruising at 100mph is smooth as silk 4. MMI computer interface is way more intuitive than BMW's I drive. I didn't even find myself using the manual. 5. 20" wheels look great and do not make the car overly stiff. (I was fearful of this during the purchase). 6. Stereo sound is amazing - interior noise levels when cruising are low (it growls a lot under heavy accelleration however)."

74 people out of 74 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no | report abuse

A Lifestyle Vehicle

By Raul (FL) on Saturday, February 09, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 28,377

Pros: "Tasteful, safe, lifestyle vehicle"

Cons: "Repair cost are high without warranty"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"I selected the Audi Q7 TDI due to lifestyle changes. I live in Tampa, FL and work in Jacksonville, FL and commute between the two cities on the weekends. So on any given week I clock close to 600 miles. It's also a vehicle which looks good when driving up to the valet attendant at any upscale hotel. Soccer moms that like to drive with girlfriends for lunch at a local outdoor bistro when the kids are at school will be very pleased with this vehicle. I traded in my 2012 Audi Q5 3.2L Premium S Line for the 2010 Q7 TDI. The Q5 although had very good performance but limited cargo and not very comfortable for larger persons. Sitting 3 teenagers in the back also proved to be somewhat cramped. My primary criteria for the purchase of any vehicle is its safety rating. The Audi Q7 has an outstanding safety rating. As it pertains to my lifestyle I required more cargo room, driving comfort for larger individuals, comfort for longer distances, and the ability to tow at least two large Harley Davidson motorcycles or a boat. Some other considerations were having a vehicle that I could use for camping or to drive onto sand on any Florida beach. The Audi Q7 TDI met all of my requirements. In my opinion, the Porche Cayenne and the Mercedes BlueTech SUV were too "pretty" for someone with an outdoor lifstyle. The X5 Diesel was also considered but the MPG were not as good and with a slightly higher price tag. My very first weekend of ownership I drove from Jacksonville, FL to South Florida via I-95 and back up the West Coast via I-75, thru Alligator Alley, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Ocala. I choosed to travel via the Ocala country roads to get a feel for handling the small hills and curvy roads which led me back to Jacksonville, FL. That was about a 1200 mile weekend getaway. The entire trip was very pleasant and the handling was very good. Yes, it a bigger vehicle and one should not compare this vehicle with your previous sedan, an older model SUV of a different make, or a sports car. It's not a vehichle to break the sound barrier but a vehicle to enjoy. Consider the TDI (Diesel) model since the fuel is no more expensive, and many times less expensive, than 93 Octane. I'm 45 years old and have owned Porche, BMW and various Audi models. My take for anyone that is trying to make a decision on any car is too choose based on your actual lifestyle and budget. All cars do well with proper maintenance. So drive what you like and if you wish to own a luxury brand and your budget does not allow for it then consider buying Certified Pre-Owned for greater warranty. Certified Pre-Owned vehicles offer great value and will certainly make your financial advisor or your significant other happier knowing that you have made a sound decison. Good luck on your selection. - Raul"

14 people out of 14 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no | report abuse

Have a savings account

By Swasser on Wednesday, June 24, 2009

"This bar far is the best SUV I have ever owned. Pound for pound (5200) this car out preforms any other SUV I have owned. Quite ride with air suspention interior lights galore and a car that demands praise. Only draw back is repairs that arent covered. IE: Brakes Batteries. The brakes are good for 25,000-30,000 miles. The 2007 and 2008 came with racing brakes that wore out fast the 2009 now comes with better brakes. the cost to change the brakes at Audi is around $1500.OO The battery went out at 22,000 and cost $585.00 $200 for battery the rest because the battery is under the drivers seat. If you want the power like a BMW sport car and the ride of a super lexurey car the Q 7 is for you. I know the thought of a V8 with todays gas is nuts but you wont be sorry for going that extra mile"

12 people out of 12 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no | report abuse

Cost

By jbrown (MD) on Friday, February 17, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 45,000

Pros: "great to drive"

Cons: "No console or glove comportment space. Limited cup"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 3

"After being a domestic car owner all of my life. This vehicle handles well is very comfortable and fast. The cost on owning is insane: 20,000 miles new tires, 30,000 new brake pads and they the in the rotors because that what Audi does they don't turn them. Then the periodic checking based on mileage @ 500 Rain dripped on the center mater control knob 2K repair. Never hit a curb or your in trouble. Good car not financially friendly"

11 people out of 11 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no | report abuse

2007 3.6 Premium

By DMK (northern IL) on Sunday, December 14, 2008

"This vehicle serves as our heavy duty runabout, replacing a Dakota Quad Cab. Our 3rd Audi (also A4 3.0 cab and A4 1.8T). Considered MB R350, Honda Oddysey, Toyota Highlander/Lexus RX. The MB was nice but wouldn't tow. The Honda and Toyota were perfectly fine and are likely more trouble free than Audi, but after looking a the Audi they subjectively don't measure up. The 3.6 has plenty of power and torque for suburban use and in the hills around my home. No need for the 4.2 unless running in mountains or regularly carrying full loads or towing. Decent mileage, about 18 average in mostly rural driving, have seen up to 21 on highway. Had some trouble with oil check valve which caused low oil light on startup; fixed under warranty. Also parking brake indicator light/alarm acted up, fixed under warranty. Shed wiper blades early due to improper fasteners, fixed with upgraded fasteners. Rides kind of rough on 19" tires. Stock Goodyear tires are lousy and not good for much more than 20K. Just put on Blizzaks for winter. Can't beat the quattro for winter. Come spring I'm replacing the Goodyears with some summer tires."

11 people out of 11 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no | report abuse