The Audi SUV Q7.It certainly has the requisite size, measuring 200 inches in length and with a 118-inch wheelbase, which exceeds the related Volkswagen Touareg's by a substantial 5.8 inches. Its width and height are about on par with the Porsche Cayenne, and even though the Q7 eschews a low-range transfer case, the curb weight of the 4.2-liter model is a sumo-esque 5269 pounds. The designers under Walter de'Silva sculpted a tall and imposing bridgehead-style front end, but the drag coefficient is rated at a surprisingly slick 0.34. By SUV standards, the Q7 is quite elegant and wagonlike in its proportions. By Audi standards, however, it is disturbingly ornamental and quite conservative in its engineering. Externally, the Q7 comes across as the King Kong edition of the A6 Avant, but inside it is pure luxury limo. The cabin design mixes A6 and A8 elements with Audi's usual fine materials and faultless craftsmanship. The instrument panel and switchgear are upper-class Audi, and the MMI system is also a carryover. The key difference between this and other European SUVs is the business-class packaging in row two and the bigger-than-average cargo deck. By adjusting the asymmetrically split bench, it is easy to accommodate even the longest set of legs. The third row, however, is restricted to those who stand less than five feet, three inches tall.
