New Audi Q7 review, test drive

Just as Switzerland has long been the locale of choice for our film makers, the Audi Q7 has long been the vehicle of choice for our country’s film stars. Call it a filmy cross connection but Audi chose to give us our first good look at the all-new Q7 in verdant Switzerland. Unlike the Q7 we featured last month that was on its last validation test in the extremes of Namibia, this one is the final product. What you see is what you’ll get come Diwali this year. 

 

When you do see it, you’ll notice that the second-gen Q7 looks smaller than its predecessor. It is. To be precise, it’s a full 370mm shorter in length and 15mm narrower too, though height is still the same. But it’s not the dimensions alone. The new Q7 also has less visual mass  than before. Sure, skinning is tight, the pronounced fenders add muscle and there are crisp clean lines everywhere, but that imposing presence of the old Q7 is missing here. Viewed from the rear, especially, it looks more jacked-up station wagon than big, burly SUV. To the image-conscious who were drawn to the original Q7, this could be a downer.