2020 Audi Q7 Review: Bold, Capable, Smooth & Packed with Technology

What an absolute wonder of technology the Audi Q7 is – this beast has been updated inside and out, but not in between for 2020 and it’s all good news.

On the outside, the 2020 Q7 has some decent design tweaks – they didn’t build a whole new clay model, they just took a carving knife to the current one and made it look so much better.

Anything that was a curve has been sharpened off, the front grill has taken horizontal chrome lines and made them wide vertical lines which I’m not 100% sold on, but I am confident it will grow on me.

It’s a big car, but it sits low – thanks, as noticed by my youngest son Harri, to the air suspension settling the car to a lower stance when parked.

On the road and when you need it it’s lifted, and most importantly it floats across the roads for one of the most comfortable rides in a seven-seat SUV you’ll get.

This is an important update for Audi given the Q7’s biggest competitors the BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE are all new – this thing has to impress.

And it does. On the outside, it’s as good as new, the tweaks and adjustment in styling bring it right into the current age and sets it up for a good few years of design leadership.

It’s a seven seater. The middle row seats do slide foward to create room, but I wouldn’t want to be an Adult in the rear seats – it’s made for two kids who are part of a bigger family. That’s it.

Though, critically, when those seats are up (and they are electronically adjustable) – there’s still heaps of boot space, that’s a winner.

On the inside, it’s like walking from that dodgy corner computer store in your local shops, then visiting an Apple Store.

This thing screams technology, there are more screens than you’ll find in any other car you look at.

That starts with Audi’s virtual dashboard cluster which is still stunning. Fully customisable, full-view mapping – it’s fantastic.

Then there’s the 10.1 inch full colour infotainment display. The Audi MMI interface is the best of the big three German brands I reckon, plus they’ve added a fantastic haptic touch response which gives you a sense that you’re pressing a button but it’s a touch screen.

There’s no haptic feedback when in Apple CarPlay mode – but that’s the only negative. The CarPlay implementation is exceptional – full wide screen and super responsive.

And baby – it’s fully wireless CarPlay. No need for cables, once you’ve done the initial pairing, you’re off and running every time.

The third screen is a smaller 8.6 inch display down lower between the infotainment and the gear lever.

This one is all about climate control and handwriting – yes, you can use handwriting to enter things like navigation destinations etc.

Helps to be a left-hander though. Writing letters with the wrong hand is hard.

Personally, I’m enjoying the marvel of technology that this all is – but it’s one screen too many. I think changing the temp should be a reach over and twist job, no need to look. On this, you’ve gotta glance down at the very least. It’s fit for purpose, but I just wonder if it answers a question no-one has asked.

Just because Tesla has a huge screen and just one button, doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it.

This beast starts at $95,000 upward, so you’re talking $110,000 on road – but we’re talking Large Euro SUV here – it’s actually pretty epic value.