Audi Q7 e-tron: Introducing their new plug-in hybrid SUV
Its virtues more than justify its steep price tag
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Your support makes all the difference.The latest diesel-electric plug-in from Audi features the manufacturer’s most advanced and logical teamwork of technology and a hybrid drivetrain yet. Via sat-nav, the Q7 e-tron uses clever forward thinking so that it not only knows when a town is coming up, but plans its power sources accordingly. It even factors in traffic conditions, shuffling constantly between diesel, electric and hybrid modes – all seamlessly, and undetectable from the driver’s seat. Clever stuff!
Audi Q7 e-tron
On sale: December 2015
Price: £65,000 (est)
Engine: V6, 2967cc, diesel, plus electric motor
Power: 369bhp (total)
Torque: 516lb ft (total)
Kerbweight: 2445kg
Gearbox: 8spd automatic
0-62mph: 6.0sec
Top speed: 135mph
Economy: 166.2mpg (combined)
CO2/tax band: 50g/km, 8%
At nearly 2.5 tonnes this SUV is a heavy car, but its 3.0-litre V6 diesel and a total of 369bhp and 516lb ft of torque easily keep things rolling along. A 34-mile range in EV mode is a further boon – even if the weight of the rear-mounted technical gubbins necessary to the hybrid drivetrain have a slightly odd effect on handling in what is already a tall vehicle. The large battery sat over the back axle contributes to body roll not only into corners, but an adverse roll in the other direction as you straighten up. It takes a little getting used to.
In a fast, straight line, however, as well as in town, the e-tron’s settled handling, excellent ride quality and light steering belie its size. Clever vibrating engine mounts oscillate in opposite phase to the motor to cancel out the usual diesel vibes, contributing to superb refinement in the spacious cabin. Wind and road noise are kept to a minimum, adding to the serene air. And of course, the interior is as well built and well equipped as you’d expect of an Audi, with the company’s comprehensive Virtual Cockpit dash display perfectly complementing the e-tron’s advanced nature.
Further tech comes in the form of a heating system that draws from all the electrical activity going on around the car. It saves power by avoiding using a single primary source, and so further improves the EV range.
The Q7 e-tron is an upmarket family car that will appeal more to technology lovers than drivers, but with sales of both SUVs and plug-in hybrids skyrocketing, its virtues more than justify its steep price tag.
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