The new Q7 is proving to be a strong competitor in the mid-sized luxury SUV segment.

We at FACT love all things Audi and, yet, we have not had the privilege of test driving one of this celebrated brand’s creations in the past. Fortunately, thanks to the great team at Audi Centre Bahrain, this changed as we were recently offered the opportunity to meticulously inspect and test drive the new Audi Q7 – an offer we readily accepted.

As soon as the Q7 came into view, we were struck by the robust yet effortlessly stylish design of the exterior. This luxury, midsize SUV has a large octagon-shaped Singleframe with six upright slats that delivers a powerful-looking framework. From the front, both the polygon grille and blade in the newly designed front bumper add to the aggressive look of the car, whilst the optional HD Matrix LED technology headlights, with Audi laser light, amplify its width. The two-part, side-air inlets underscore its ground clearance that, in turn hint at its off-road capabilities. At the flanks, the Q7 has a lifted hatchback look with large wheel fenders housing the standard 19-inch wheels. At the rear, a spoiler, shark fin antenna, LED taillights, a striking aluminium strip, and accentuated underbody protection all contribute towards the modern and classy look of this SUV.

The Q7 is available in both a seven-seater and five-seater versions. Slipping inside the seven-seater model, we were immediately struck by the ample space on offer. This – combined with the use of high-quality materials throughout the vehicle and the optional four-zone climate control – ensures a very pleasant interior experience. The leather-wrap steering wheel looks great and feels extremely comfortable in hand. The leather upholstery comes as standard, and there is plenty of legroom in the front two rows of seating. The legroom in the third row is a little tighter, but fortunately, you are able to shift the second row forward to accommodate larger individuals.

With a host of storage compartments throughout the vehicle and a generous cargo area, you will not have difficulty in storing all necessary goods. In fact, the five-seater version offers between 865 and 2050 litres of capacity, the latter with the rear seats folded down. This can be achieved through electronic switches located in the boot. All Q7s come with a handsfree power liftgate and soft closing doors. The operating system of the new Q7 is impressive – to say the least – and includes two large, high-resolution touchscreen displays. The upper display is used for controlling infotainment and navigation, while the lower display is used to manage climate control, text input, and convenience functions. The screens are bright, the graphics are clear, and we found the set-up to be responsive and very user-friendly.

There is also an optional headup display for displaying important functions in your immediate field of vision whilst driving. Impressed by both the interior and exterior of the vehicle, it was time to get this beauty out onto the tarmac. The Q7 comes with several engine options, all of which are coupled with an eightspeed Tiptronic and permanent all-wheel drive. Our Q7 55 TFSI Quattro comes equipped with the most powerful engine in the range. It houses a high-tech 3.0 TFSI, Turbocharged V6 petrol unit that generates 250 kW and 500 Nm or torque. This enables our • ISLAND RIDES Q7 model to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and have an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The overall makeup of the 2021 Q7 ensures a sporty performance on-road and a powerful performance off-road. In the urban environment, we found the manoeuvrability of this agile vehicle to be very precise. The Q7 is responsive, features an impressive braking system, and grips perfectly on the bends. In the little time we spent off-road, this mid-size SUV’s optional adaptive air suspension handled any terrain we directed underneath it, and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the journey.

“As soon as the Q7 came into view, we were struck by the robust yet effortlessly stylish design of the exterior.”

The fact that the master designers at Audi have kept the safety of you and your loved ones in mind with the inclusion of an array of safety and driver-assist features adds to the feeling of comfort throughout the driving experience. ✤

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE 2021 Q7 AND TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN, CALL AUDI CENTRE BAHRAIN ON 1745 9933.

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