Overview
Among Audi's athletic lineup of tech-laden luxury cars and SUVs, the 2021 Q7 is the one best suited for family duty.
Despite its three rows of seats and slightly stodgy styling, the Q7 maintains the fun-to-drive nature that makes an Audi an Audi.
Buyers can choose from two turbocharged engines—a 248-hp four-cylinder or a 335-hp V-6—both of which offer satisfactory pep for everything from in-town errands to highway cruises.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system is standard, but the sportier models in the lineup make good use of an optional four-wheel steering system and an adaptive air suspension to deliver even more agile handling.
The Q7's chief rivals are some of the best luxury three-row SUVs on sale today, including the BMW X7, the Mercedes-Benz GLE, and the Volvo XC90. The Audi's all-around skill set makes it a strong competitor to all of them—though it's not as outright sporty as a Porsche Cayenne.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
What's New for 2021?
After a thorough freshening for the 2020 model year, the 2021 Q7 sails through with few changes.
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is now a standard feature and the Premium model's Convenience package now includes a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree exterior camera system.
The mid-range Premium Plus gains an optional Executive package which bundles the contents of the 2020 model's Cold Weather, Warm Weather, and Driver Assistance packages into one.
Prestige models now come with leather-wrapped armrests and center consoles and get heated rear seats as standard.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Pricing and Which One to Buy
- Premium 45: $55,945
- Premium Plus 45: $58,195
- Premium 55: $61,795
- Premium Plus 55: $64,795
- Prestige 55: $72,995
2021 Audi Q7
The decision between the turbo-four "45" power-train and the turbocharged V-6 "55" option is a tough call—and something we're happy to leave up to the individual buyer—but the choice of the Premium Plus trim level is a no-brainer.
Moving up from the base Premium to the Premium Plus adds plenty of niceties, including a surround sound stereo system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, power-folding exterior mirrors with memory settings, 20-inch wheels, ambient interior lighting, and illuminated door sill inlays.
We'd also spring for the new Executive package, which adds, among other things, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, four-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and all-weather floor mats.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For 2020, Audi kept the old 248-hp turbocharged four-cylinder but added a new turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that uses a 48-volt hybrid system to make 335 horsepower, and these power-trains carry over unchanged into 2021.
The 2020 Q7 with the new turbo V-6 does 5.0-second zero-to-60-mph time, which is slightly quicker than the mechanically similar two-row Q8 SUV.
Despite its bulk, when the Q7 is fitted with the optional performance tires on 21-inch wheels, it feels low and lithe, like a pumped-up sport wagon.
The adjustability of the optional air suspension, paired with the added agility of four-wheel steering, makes the Q7 surprisingly fun to flog down a twisty back road. It also rides quite smoothly.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Not surprisingly, the V-6 power-train comes with worse fuel economy. The EPA fuel-efficiency ratings are 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined, which accounts for drops of 2 mpg across the board when compared to the turbo four-cylinder model.
When we are able to test drive a 2021 Q7, we'll put its efficiency to the test on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route.
We expect the four-cylinder Q7 to return similar results to the 2017 model we tested, which delivered 26 mpg on our 200-mile highway loop.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
With its minimalist, contemporary design matched with loads of technology and excellent comfort and build quality, the Q7's cabin is a special place.
Beautiful materials and design highlight the Q7's interior, as do the intelligent layout of its controls and the comfortable seats that feature both ample support and adjustability.
Entry-level Premium versions come nicely outfitted, and the amount of upscale features can get supremely luxurious in the higher trim levels.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
As with most three-row SUVs, there isn't a ton of cargo space in the Audi's cargo area when all of its seats are in use.
But it has available space comparable with its key rivals, and the rearmost row can be quickly raised or lowered via power controls, which makes up for the somewhat clumsy operation of the middle row.
With all seats stowed, the 2019 Q7 had room for 25 of our carry-on suitcases, a result we expect the 2021 model to match.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
2021 Audi Q7
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Q7 comes standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and a smaller 8.6-incher located below that to adjust the climate control and vehicle settings.
Depending on whether or not you enjoy using touchscreens while driving, you may find the new system delightful or devilish. Our staff is split, but Audi's been busy adding this new infotainment system to its lineup;
it can be found in the A6, A7, and A8 sedans, as well as the Q8 SUV.
All 2021 Q7 models also come with the Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration.
Audiophiles can revel in several audio options, topped by a Bang & Olufsen system with 23 speakers and 1920 watts of juice.
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| 2021 Audi Q7 |
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Although the 2021 model has not been tested by either agency, the 2019 Q7 earned five stars for its crash-worthiness from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) crash tests.
Several driver-assistance features are either standard or optional on the Q7, which will make it attractive to buyers transporting precious cargo. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning
- Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
2021 Audi Q7
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Q7 carries solid warranty coverage comparable with its peers, although the Acura MDX and the Lexus GX both offer slightly better power-train coverage. Its complimentary scheduled maintenance plan—one year or 10,000 miles—is the lone area where it falls behind the coverage of its key competitor, the XC90.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Power-train warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles.
2021 Audi Q7 
2021 Audi Q7
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