Revv It Up

Dhiram Shah reviews the Audi Q7 on his drive between Mumbai and Goa

The Audi Q7 was introduced to the Indian market way back in 2006. Since then the car has carved a marketplace for luxury SUVs in the country. Over the years, except for some minor touch-ups and cosmetic upgrades, the design of the Q7 has stayed the same. This was until the 2016 Audi Q7 was launched in India that is completely redesigned from the inside out. I travelled 1,300km from Mumbai to Goa, and back to find out if it’s easy to forget the old and fall in love with the newer and larger avatar of the SUV.

LOOK AND FEEL

One glance at the second generation Audi Q7 and you immediately notice how big it is. Its profile, though fairly similar to its predecessor, is more chiselled. From the front, it has an aggressive look because of the large chrome grille and the angular headlamps. But overall, combine these elements with the SUV’s tapering roofline, smooth body lines and crisp LED tail lamps and the Audi Q7 exudes an air of poshness.

The real appeal of the new Audi Q7 is to be found in its interiors though. The seven-seater cabin is dressed in leather, wood, Alcantara fabric and aluminium inlays. This simple yet classy design gives the cabin a luxurious feel. The leather-bound seats are soft and spacious – the three-seater second row is especially roomy. Up front, the driver and passenger have ergonomic seats. Moving back through the cabin to the third row, and I’d say these are better suited for kids and small adults. Though situated at the far end, getting in and out of them is relatively easy with the second row seats’ flip and fold design.