Peter Palmer: 2020 Audi Q7: Mr. Roddenberry, Your Ship Is Ready!

The 2020 Audi Q7 features a more powerful turbo V6 engine.
New technology includes an MMI touch response system.
Expect the new Q7 this spring; pricing starts at $60,800.

With the new year comes the new Audi Q7. And when Audi says their big Q7 is all-new, they mean it. Stem to stern (nautical analogies are good with this ride) the 2020 Audi Q7 has received a complete update. There’s new infotainment and MMI touch response systems; exterior and interior design improvements; and a new 3.0-liter V6 with more torque and better driving dynamics.

2020 Audi Q7: Improved Across The Board

Audi says these improvements will help keep the Q7 as the leader of the luxury SUV segment – but the competition is also tough with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo looking to gain market share. That said, let’s get the negatives out of the way with the Q7, shall we?

Sure, the Q7 is a big old barge. It is neither subtle nor efficient (although it’s not bad, given its size and weight), and it has a hefty prcie tag.

However, the 2020 Audi Q7 has enough safety and convenience features to make Gene Roddenberry blink. If you want a big SUV and you care about build quality, performance, and you do not want a Range Rover, then the Q7 will soon show up on your radar.

2020 Audi Q7: Engine & Powertrain

Audi is justifiably proud of the new V6 plant. Overall powertrain and performance figures are up and impressive for 2020. This all-new 3.0-liter V6 puts out 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque. That’s impressive for that size of an engine, and it works out to a 44 lb-ft. bump over the last generation Q7. The V6 is paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, optimized for the low-end torque profile of the new turbocharged mill.

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The twin-scroll turbocharger lives inside the “V” of the new V6. That kind of scares me, thermally speaking, but it does ensure better engine response and overall performance with the Q7 able to run to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

2020 Audi Q7: Chassis & Suspension

There is an adaptive air suspension available in the chassis department. This allows you to adjust both the ride height and the firmness of the shocks through Audi’s drive select system. The adaptive air suspension adds five selectable ride height levels: standard, off-road, lift, dynamic, and loading.

Another nifty chassis feature is the available all-wheel steering that increases the “agility” of the Q7. Agility is not a word you’d normally use with something the size, weight and shape of the Q7, but systems like this can overcome a multitude of chassis sins. Ingolstadt says the new all-wheel steering system will help with city driving, which is believable.

19-inch, five-arm, star-design wheels with all-season tires are now standard equipment, but if you’d like 20-inch Turbine-design wheels, or 21-inch Audi Sport modular-design wheels, or 22-inch Audi Sport wheels in matte platinum they are all available.

Can The Audi Q7 Tow a Boat?

Yes, but don’t go nuts. There’s an optional tow package that allows the 2020 Audi Q7 to handle up to 7,700 lbs. Think of your average sailboat and fishing boat, not luxury speed boat (especially by the time you pack all your stuff inside the Q7).

Is The Audi Q7 All-Wheel Drive?

Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, of course. The video below from Car Throttle explains how it compares to BMW’s xDrive.

New Exterior Design

On the nose you’ll find the company’s large, octagonal Singleframe grill with six chrome vertical slats, along with a new aluminum-optic spoiler (which, I think, means it’s not real aluminum?). LED headlights and taillights are standard, although HD Matrix-design headlights and Audi laser lights are available. No, I don’t think they’re actual lasers (sadly) as it would be too tempting to use them on a road full of idiot drivers.

The windows now have a general trapezoidal aspect that aims to visually reduce the size of the big Q7. Out back there’s a chrome strip to create a link between the taillights and the horizontal body line, which Audi says emphasizes the width of the vehicle. Chrome exterior window surrounds and roof rails give you some flash.

Photo: Audi of America, Inc.

Interior Themes: Tech Paradise

The interior is about as techy as Kylo Ren’s front door lock. Audi’s second-gen virtual cockpit includes a 12.3-inch display with large satellite imagery, 3D city maps, a color heads-up display, Bluetooth connectivity, and other smartphone features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available is the Audi phone box feature which connects compatible smartphones with the vehicle’s antenna and charges them inductively. Audi Phone Box is standard on Premium Plus and Prestige trims.

The Audi Q7’s interior has a new MMI touch response, plus other goodies like a Wi-Fi hotspot, voice controls, and various Audi Connect functions like parking information, weather updates, and Yelp reviews. The 10.1-inch upper display controls infotainment and navigation, while the 8.6-inch lower display is for for climate, comfort, and convenience functions.

Your tunage is handled by a 3D surround sound system with 19 speakers and a 15-channel amplifier. If you want more, there’s an available Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System with 23 speakers, powered by a 23-channel BeoCore amplifier and ICE power amplifiers with a peak output of 1,920 watts.

2020 Audi Q7 interior layout. Photo: Audi of America, Inc.

Interior Themes: Creature Comforts

There’s a swath of standard goodies, like the multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles; three-zone automatic climate control (four-zone available); panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade; and heated power front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustments. In the back, the 2020 Audi Q7 includes the LATCH child seat-mounting points, along with a power, 50/50 split-folding third row.

There are Luxury and Black optic packages for your choosing, along with various wood inlay choices, accent colors, and interior lighting packages.

2020 Audi Q7: Pricing & Availability

The 2020 Audi Q7 should arrive this spring. Pricing runs from around $62,000 to a little over $72,000. The Premium starts at $60,800, the Premium Plus at $63,800, and the Prestige at $71,200. Tack on another $995 for destination.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.

Photos & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

Original article: 2020 Audi Q7: Mr. Roddenberry, Your Ship Is Ready!