Car makers are in a frenzy to bring in super SUVs. And it just keeps getting better, says Debabrata Sarkar, after a stint in the Q7.

Show stopping isn't an Audi virtue, but neither is mediocrity. Understated elegance is more like it and Audi has absolutely mastered that bit. The Q7 fits that bill just fine, thank you, with that new trademark Audi beard and the smooth flowing profile. Very clear. What's not clear is whether it's meant more for the road rather than for duties off it... Quattro or not.
However, the Q7 is one of the late- comers in the fray – Audi did not believe the SUV trend would last this long but they had to eat their words – and it is up against some really tough competition. Like the face-lifted BMW–X5 with its wonky, Bangled lights has for long been considered the best-handling SUV. Or the M-Class, which is probably the most flattering of the lot. Then there is the Porsche Cayenne, which with its outlandish looks, does more than a brilliant job of getting the “I am nuts” message across. And of course, the Q7's godfather, Volkswagen Touareg with a V10 turbo-diesel powerplant.
The Q7's presence on the road is undeniable, and that is a must-have in a sports-ute. With the suspension raised to the highest, looking at this monster in the eyes can send a few shivers down your spine. The grille going all the way from the bonnet to the chin with the sleek headlight clusters making it look like one of the masked ninja warriors crouching and ready for action. The parking lights in the front fender add to the menacing look but manage to lighten the absolute bulk of it. The side profile looks really neat with the roof swooping back and falling away, minimising the height of the D-pillar. Here however, you need to get the car squat on its massive 20-inch wheels to feel the impact. 'Pimp my ride' could scarcely have done a better job of it. The rear, ends up looking more estate-like than SUV and thank God Audi did not choose stacked tail lights for it. There's a hint of its sporty intentions too with that neat little spoiler and the twin exhaust pipes sticking out.

Getting used to the bulk of the Q7 is not as cumbersome a task as you would expect. You sit high enough to get a clear view of the front, and rear visibility is not too bad either. But, it is the window-sized side view mirrors, which are the most helpful, showing you just about everything behind you in the horizon. The hugely spacious cabin is something which you take even less time to get used to. The über comfortable seats, the nicely finished dash and the neat little pockets and cubby holes are useful and sufficient. The rear seat is almost like a sofa and each passenger gets his own separate temperature control. The Q7 comes with a third row of 'child' seats, which, if in place, seriously limits luggage carrying capacity; the five-seat configuration works best. What is interesting is that even the third row has its little air-con vents without the controls and its own little sunroof.
The Audi is a mere 180mm off the ground (ditto our regular saloons) at its lowest suspension setting and doesn't really need any climbing into. But to humour the baggage carriers they have incorporated a little button in the boot that further lowers the loading bay.
Audi's simple-to-use MMI or multi-media interface lets you choose a variety of things including ride height as per the sort of mood you are in. So, as we headed out of the city thudding our way through the broken roads on the colossal 20-inch wheels – they are optional – I slotted the jog dial into comfort, softening the suspension just enough to take away the harshness from the ride and make life in the four-zone climate controlled cabin better. The MMI also helps you set all the little creature comforts that the car comes fitted with, all except the sunroof. There is also a reversing camera, which comes on when you select 'R' with acoustic alarms and guidelines to help you park the five metre bulk. Leave the warning system on and it will beep the daylights out of you – warning you of cows, buses, oncoming traffic and the likes.

Out of the city and the jog dial is turned to dynamic, and engages. The Q7, driven here, came with a sane 3.0-litre V6 diesel burner putting out 230bhp and 500Nm of torque. Turbo lag? Well there is none to speak of thanks to the sea of torque peaking so early on. Acceleration is helped along just fine with the super-responsive six-speed tiptronic gearbox. Going flat out on the highway and the Q7's bulk seems to disappear till the time you have to go past traffic on our two-lane highways, that is. The five-metres of metal seem to shrink and the 'ute feels incredibly car-like. It is steady as a rock as you blast past traffic and the steering weighs up beautifully. The suspension keeps the car's centre of gravity low improving body control. Slam it into the twisties and the Q7 can live with it all. The direct and heavy steering works well with the massive tyres and offers good handling with loads of grip. However, switch the ESP off and you feel the bulk with the tyres howling against the weight as you slide a bit through the corner. But, that is totally acceptable, if not quite a bit of sadistic fun. Flat out in a straight line, the Q7 will match an Octavia RS clocking 9.5seconds to the ton and go all the way up to the 200kph mark. Not earth-shattering in this day of sub five-second SUVs, but quick enough for all practical purposes. If you really like clenching your butt, there is a 4.2-litre 350bhp V8.
So like every other soft roader, Audi has tuned the Q7 very well for the road. It is still supposed to be a sports ute though, and what good will the 2.3-tonne, five metre long hunk of metal be if it can't go off-road? So we ease off the tarmac and get the Q7 down to some dirty stuff. The need for a low centre of gravity has become a hindrance now. Back to MMI and into the off-road mode. There is enough ground clearance to go past the small rocks and shrubs but if you do need a tad bit more of clearance the Q7 will rise to a maximum height of 240mm. The all-time Quattro system works fine in most conditions and the Q7 can easily tame mild off-roading. However, it is not a true blue mud-slugger and getting down in the muck for a wrestling match is not something the Q7 is comfortable doing.
So we have it. The Q7 is not just a poser. It has the credentials to be considered as one of the best soft-roaders going around town. It commands respect and you want to be seen stepping out of one. You suddenly realise that you don't need to honk your way out of a marketplace anymore, people just move out of your way without much complain and tend to do a lot of staring. The interiors are fantastic and keep up to Audi's impeccable standards and probably better the M-Class' quality. The 3.0-litre V6 TDI is superbly refined and you barely feel like you are driving a diesel at any point of time. It wakes up without complain and it cruises effortlessly. Shift down to a lower gear and push to the redline and there is still no unsettling this unit. And while the one who shelves out 75 big ones might not worry much about fuel costs, the Q7 still is a reasonably efficient runner for its 2.3-tonne weight. It also handles very well on the road, never wavering when you blast down the road in a straight line, and grips well enough around corners. It may not be up there with the X5 or the Cayenne, but it certainly is far from being a slob. Ride quality, however, is a bit harsh and this is probably due to the over-sized 20-inch alloys, which were fitted on our car. The standard 18-inchers should be much more supple.
The only thing that might be held strongly against the Audi is the fact that it costs Rs 75 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) as compared to its rivals, which are a good 20 lakh cheaper. A bit too much of a rift but, it is about exclusivity as much as it is about the car and the Q7 delivers that in the most understated way that you would want.