Those who say money can’t buy happiness probably never been on a ride in a 2019 Audi Q7. The German SUV is the perfect blend of power, spaciousness, luxury, and all-around comfort. But of course, if you are willing to spend over $50,000 on an SUV, there are several other prominent automakers offering similar vehicles with more or less the same features, so choosing can become quite a challenge.
Right away, one of the biggest disadvantages of owning such a big and expensive SUV is costly maintenance and repairs. That’s especially true if you have your Q7 maintained by the dealer, where labor costs are straight-up astronomical. Fortunately, you can get yourself a quality Audi Q7 manual and at least cover the more basic stuff at home, in your own garage.
But now that you’ve got ownership costs under control, is the 2019 Audi Q7 worth the investment, or would another model give you more bang for your bucks?
Let’s discuss.
Engine and Performance
The 2019 Audi Q7 comes with some zesty engines. For instance, the SQ7 is a performance behemoth, packing a massive 4.0-liter V8 producing 500 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. With that kind of power and chassis-twisting torque, the SQ7 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds — not bad, right?
But if that’s a bit too much for you, there are also a few calmer versions of the 2019 Q7. For instance, you can opt for the Q7 45 TFSI packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mill with 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Audi also offers a 3.0-liter V6 variant producing 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, for a 0-60 mph time in 5.7 seconds.
All engine variants come with an 8-speed automatic transmission delivering power to all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro AWD system. And let’s not forget about the Q7’s towing capacity. The four-cylinder version can easily tow 4400 pounds, while the V6 ups that to 7700 pounds.
But how does the Q7 fair against its competitors in terms of performance? The BMW X5 is one of the Q7’s closest rivals. X5’s xDrive40i inline-6 base model has a 6600-pound towing capacity and 335 horsepower. However, the X5 xDrive50i packs a twin-turbo V8, producing 456 horses. That’s less than the Audi SQ7, but the X5 is still quicker, reaching 60 mph in only 4.2 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is a force to be reckoned with, churning out a whopping 541 horses, but also bringing a higher price tag. If you ask me, the 2019 Q7 packs enough juice and is insanely fast for a vehicle of this size.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Large SUVs like the Q7 aren’t particularly fuel-efficient. Still, the 2019 Q7 manages a decent rating of 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for both engine variants. However, in real-world highway fuel economy, the less powerful four-cylinder gives a higher 26 mpg rating against 24 mpg for the V6.
In comparison, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class fares a lot worse, rated at just 13 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The Q7 also takes the lead on its Japanese rival, with the 2019 Lexus GX 460 securing only 15 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, the Volvo XC90 gets a notable edge over the Q7, rated at 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
However, you shouldn’t expect to save on gas when buying a powerful luxury SUV. Nonetheless, the 2019 Q7’s fuel economy is still quite competitive for its segment.
State-of-the-Art Infotainment System
The 2019 Q7 is equipped with a redesigned version of Audi’s state-of-the-art MMI infotainment system, featuring the standard 10.1-inch infotainment display and a lower 7-inch (8.6-inch on higher trims) screen for controlling the HVAC system.
Apart from that, owners get access to countless other features, including 4G LTE connectivity with Google Maps, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Audi even takes care of music enthusiasts with an audiophile-oriented 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Advanced Safety Features
The 2019 Audi Q7 boasts a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and for good reasons. It’s equipped with several innovative features, including the standard Audi Pre-Sense city system automatically detecting danger and activating the brakes as well as forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Still, it is essential to remember that all those advanced systems will inevitably increase the number of sensors, cameras, wires, and electrical connections, all of which can run into problems at some point and potentially increase the overall ownership cost of your Q7. Luckily, a reliable Audi Q7 repair manual like those sold by eManualOnline will provide everything you need to perform regular safety checks and necessary repairs when needed. Of course, it won’t pay for repair for you but staying on top of your car’s scheduled maintenance is always your best bet to keep failures at bay.
2019 Audi Q7 vs. the Competition
The 2019 Q7 has no shortage of competitors but still firmly holds its ground as one of the best SUVs in its class. For instance, the Volvo XC90 has AWD only reserved for higher trims and only comes with four-cylinder mills. On the other hand, Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard across the range, and the Q7 is available with V6 and V8 engines as well.
Furthermore, the Q7’s iconic MMI infotainment gets a significant edge over the Mercedes-Benz GLE’s interface in touch response and responsiveness. Although the Mercedes packs a larger center display, it is fairly cluttered and definitely not as smooth as Audi’s (It’s important to mention though that Audi’s infotainment system may require a bit of getting-used-to, especially if your previous vehicle still had an analog audio system and you might need to take a look at your Q7 owner’s manual here).
The Q7 also ranks higher than the Porsche Cayenne or the BMW X5 in overall comfort, and let’s not forget about the extra row of seats. Moreover, the Q7 flaunts a JD Power rating of 80/100 in “driving experience,” a feat only achieved by a handful of SUVs in the segment.
However, the Q7 does fall short in certain areas. For instance, it is not the best when it comes to storage space and only offers 14.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 35.7 cubic feet behind the second. As a result, the Volvo XC90 would be a much better choice here, offering 41.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row.
Final Thoughts
So, is the 2019 Audi Q7 a good buy? Definitely yes! With cutting-edge German technology, advanced safety features, and plenty of power under the hood, it is a darn good buy. JD Power also gives it a 75/100 rating on overall quality and reliability, which is pretty high in the world of luxury SUVs.
And if you plan to sell your SUV at some point, Q7 has an 85/100 resale rating from JD Power. Still, to get the most out of your sale, make sure it’s in tip-top shape first. German cars are not the cheapest to repair and one requiring several parts to be replaced may deter the least DIY-savvy people. For them, having everything fixed at the dealer could result in a costly repair bill.
To prevent that, think about using an Audi Q7 service manual and bringing your vehicle back in shape before advertising it. And once again, always keep in mind that regular maintenance is by far your best bet to reduce the need for parts to be replaced in the first place. If you regularly keep an eye on your luxury SUV and give it some love every once in a while, there is nothing to worry about here — your 2019 Q7 won’t disappoint!
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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