Audi Q7 2020 review: 45 TDI

The facelift of the second generation Q7 takes a leaf from the Q8 design playbook, with sharper body styling, a broader front grille and smart-looking Matrix lights. The Black Exterior Styling Package ($1450 option) is worth the extra outlay as it replaces the standard chrome trim front and rear, which is more reminiscent of luxury cars from the '90s.

The facelift of the second generation Q7 takes a leaf from the Q8 design playbook with sharper body styling.

The Glacier White metallic paint our test car came in complements the black trim nicely, although for some reason it comes as a $2400 option. Since when did we start paying extra for white paint?

Additional exterior options on our test car included the sporty-looking 21-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass for the rear windows. All of which arrives as part of the Premium Plus package. The larger rims give this large SUV a slightly sleeker profile that more resembles a large wagon. These extra touches definitely add to the premium look of the Q7.

Standard kit for your money includes Matrix LED headlights.The theme continues inside with the Bang and Olufsen stereo, leather-appointed seats, steering wheel and gear shifter, aluminium inlays dotted throughout, and the addition of the two large touchscreens occupying significant real estate in the centre dash. The finish and fit is all class and creates a pleasant and premium cabin space.

The Q7 cabin delivers the kind of space you’d expect from an SUV of this size with acres of head and leg room in first and second rows. Third row is somewhat more modest in terms of leg room, though it can be increased by moving the second row of seating forward to create enough space for kids and even adults.

Boot size with all three rows in use is 295 litres (VDA), good for a few grocery bags. With the third row down, this more than doubles to 865L, which translates to a significant amount usable space for bikes, prams and a hefty supermarket shop. With the second row stowed, this increases to a van-like 2050L.

The Q7 is an incredibly easy SUV to like and live with, with plenty of thoughtful features and tech to take the edge off any school run or shopping trip.

The boot comes with an electric tailgate.

It starts with the boot, which comes with an electric tailgate and adjustable height that houses four tie down points and side storage net. The power folding third row of seats is a particularly nice touch, too.

There are storage options aplenty throughout the cabin, with large bottle holders in each of the four doors, plus two cupholders located between the driver and front passenger, while another pair is hidden in the middle row's fold-down armrest. Third row occupants can make use of one cupholder each.

My kids made good use of the USB ports with a total of four on offer - two up front and two in the second row. Each set is located next to a 12-volt power outlet.

Parking this large SUV was made easy thanks to good visibility, speed-sensitive power steering, and a heap of parking sensors and a quality rear camera. The Kerb side mirror function proved a useful feature for parallel parking. 

The Q7, awarded the maximum five-star safety by ANCAP in 2015, comes armed with a laundry list of active and passive safety kit.

The Q7 was awarded the maximum five-star safety by ANCAP in 2015.

The exhaustive list includes autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), lane-keep and steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control (with stop and go functionality), driver attention alert, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, surround-view cameras, and front and rear parking sensors.

It continues with eight airbags (dual front, front and rear side, and curtain airbags extending to back row), electronic stability and traction control systems, anti-skid brakes (ABS), brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, among others.

Parents using capsules or car seats can make use of top tether and ISOFIX points located across the second and third rows.

The Q7 45 TDI is priced from $101,900, plus on-road costs, with Audi throwing another $8850 of optional extras into our test car, including the Premium Plus package ($5000), metallic paint ($2400), and black exterior styling package ($1450), bringing the total price to $110,750.

Standard kit for your money includes a windshield-projected head-up display, keyless entry and start, power-adjustable front seats with heating, four-zone climate control, a power-adjustable steering column, Matrix LED headlights, dusk-sensing lights, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and ambient lighting.

The Q7 45 TDI is priced from $101,900, plus on-road costs.