2023 Audi Q7

The new 2023 Audi Q7 mid-size SUV does a solid job in its market segment. On paper, its résumé reads well, and it covers most bases competently. Unlike rivals such as the BMW X5, there is an affordable entry-level four-cylinder option with 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque which manages to pull off excellent ride comfort while combining it with a surprising keenness to be rushed around corners. The interior is genuinely premium and comes with even better materials this year, and the digital tech offered in the cabin is comprehensive, even if it can be a little distracting to use. However, the third row is tight, both to get into and to sit in, and the trunk also trails the class average. There are better-value competitors to the Audi Q7, most notably the Genesis GV80, and more economical ones, with even the six-cylinder AWD BMW X5 easily beating the four-cylinder Q7's EPA figures. Most of the time, though, the Q7 provides a pleasing blend of features and abilities with no glaring faults.

The price of a new Audi Q7 will obviously depend on the specs, and you get what you pay for: this upscale luxury German SUV asks a premium. The base model starts off with an MSRP of $59,200 for the 2.0-liter 45 TFSI Premium and goes up to $64,800 for the 3.0-liter 55 TFSI Premium. Slotting between the base and range-topping trims is the Premium Plus trim which starts at $63,300 for the 45 TFSI and heads up to $68,400 for the 55 TFSI. At the top of the pile sits the Prestige 55 TFSI, which will cost you $74,400. Due to this car's popularity, you shouldn't find it difficult to find a good used model for sale at a reasonable price. Notably, these prices exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,195.

In many cases, a test drive will seal the deal because the Q7 strikes an uncommonly sound balance between excellent ride comfort and a better-than-expected aptitude for stringing a couple of curves together. This well-sorted driving experience is a major selling point, and, on this score, it provides an even better compromise than the otherwise excellent BMW X5. The base four-cylinder engine with 261 hp and 273 lb-ft does a perfectly adequate job, and a smooth eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive ensure surefooted handling and grip, whatever the weather. The lack of a base 2WD version at a lower cost - as offered by its German rivals - is a lost opportunity, however. The V6's 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque are usefully up on the base engine's figures, but an X5 is faster and significantly lighter on fuel, so perhaps the most sensible combination in terms of performance and economy is the new Audi Q7 SUV's gas mild-hybrid four-cylinder Premium Plus trim.

In the USA, SUVs are big business, and a review of the Audi Q7's competitors shows that they are not only numerous, but also very good. You can't go wrong with a Q7 if you want an SUV with an excellent ride/handling balance, a solid, upmarket interior, and plenty of modern technology in the cabin. An X5 is faster and more economical, but it doesn't offer a price-comparable four-cylinder engine, so the Audi Q7 range scores points there. The Porsche Cayenne is sportier but also a lot more expensive, so the Q7 does look like the best of all worlds. However, its biggest problem is perhaps the Genesis GV80. It's faster, more economical, similarly roomy, superbly finished, and despite all that, cheaper too. While the Genesis does more things better than the Audi, there is something to be said for the Q7 and the weight the four rings carry. The Q7 is an excellent package and even better equipped this year, so your money won't be wasted. But it's slowly losing ground, in our opinion, and will need to up its game going forward.

Audi offers the 2023 Q7 in three different trim levels, which makes choosing the perfect one as easy as checking out the spec sheet and then writing the cheque. The range starts with the Premium, and moves up to the Premium Plus and then Prestige. Premium and Premium Plus versions are available with both the 2.0T and 3.0T engines, while the Prestige is only available with the 3.0T. The Premium Plus will be the trim to go for here, as it offers plenty of safety features and many luxury features, with items such as a surround-view camera, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and even Matrix-design LED headlights this year. The mild-hybrid 3.0T engine is almost as frugal as the 2.0-liter car, so we would opt for the more powerful engine. The Premium Plus with the bigger engine starts at $68,400.