After more than 11 years on the market, the second-gen Audi Q7 is being replaced by the third-gen model this year. The launch lineup only has mild hybrid variants, with a new PHEV expected in due course.
As it nears the end of the road, with Audi confirming that the variant won’t stay on beyond 2026, we recently decided to check out the second-gen Q7 plug-in hybrid variant one last time to understand what still works.
Design
The outgoing Audi Q7 presents a strong, understated design with typical German restraint. We feel that it has a confident stance without excessive visual aggression, and it reflects its urban-focused character.
At the front, the upright Singleframe grille takes center stage, featuring an octagonal surround and large polygonal inserts. The headlamps are housed in a single unit along the hood’s leading edge, avoiding the split design seen in Audi’s newer SUVs, such as the Q6 e-tron/Q6 Sportback e-tron and Q3/Q3 Sportback.
On the sides, Audi uses body-colored wheel arches and flush-fitted roof rails for a clean look. The company offers wheels in sizes up to 22 inches, but the plug-in hybrid example we saw was equipped with 21-inch units, albeit in a sporty six Y-spoke design.
The company has fitted large windows and quarter glass panels to maximize visibility. At the rear, the slender tail lights have a technical look and make the vehicle immediately recognizable as an Audi.
Interior
The interior of the outgoing Audi Q7 also has a modern and progressive look in a conventional layout. The horizontal dashboard features an angular design and has a sleeker architecture compared to what’s seen in typical luxury SUVs, such as those from American brands like Cadillac and Jeep.
Audi has reduced reliance on physical controls in the cabin to achieve a cleaner layout, but this has a bearing on the ergonomics.
The company does offer a knob to shuffle through music tracks and adjust speaker volume, but it has integrated all the comfort functions into an 8.6-inch touchscreen located below a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Sitting behind the driver’s seat that is set to my usual position, I enjoyed decent legroom and knee room, with around six inches of headroom. I don’t have complaints about the rear seats, and under-thigh support was also good.
Specifications
Audi presents a choice of two plug-in hybrid variants in the second-gen Q7: 55 TFSI e and 60 TFSI e. The company uses the same engine and motor in both variants but tunes the total power and total torque differently.
There’s a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 gas engine that produces 250 kW (335 hp) and 500 Nm (369 lb.-ft.) of torque, assisted by a permanent magnet synchronous motor that develops 130 kW and 460 Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission and a permanent all-wheel drive system with a center differential are standard.
The 55 TFSI e variant, with 290 kW (389 hp) of total power and 600 Nm (443 lb.-ft.) of total torque, hits 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.7 seconds and achieves a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).
The 60 TFSI e variant packs 360 kW (483 hp) of system power and 700 Nm (516 lb.-ft.) of system torque, and while it reaches 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.0 seconds, its top speed is the same.
The plug-in hybrid variants share a 22 kWh battery pack chargeable at up to 7.4 kW. The 55 TFSI e variant can travel up to 82 kilometers (51 miles) on a single charge and the 60 TFSI e up to 81 kilometers (50 miles), both as per WLTP, and these figures are set to improve in the third-gen’s PHEV model.
Price
In the Netherlands, the Q7 55 TFSI e starts at EUR 90,990 (USD 105,129) and the Q7 60 TFSI e retails at EUR 107,990 (USD 124,770). Audi doesn’t offer the PHEV model stateside.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
