2007 Audi Q7
Audi's first SUV, the big Q7, shares its basic architecture with the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.
All three are built in Bratislava, Slovakia, just east of Vienna.
Arriving in North America in mid-2006, the Q is some 30 cm longer than its platform mates and more luxury-car-like.
Designed primarily for our continent, the Q has proven surprisingly popular in Europe.
The name derives from Audi's famed quattro all-wheel drive.
Two models are offered: the 3.6 with a 280 hp, 3.6-litre V6 and the 4.2 with a 350 hp, 4.2-litre V8. Both have a six-speed automatic.
Three rows of seats with room for seven are optional on the 3.6, standard on 4.2.
Leading-edge technology is another Q asset, but if you're a slacker when it comes to cracking the books, you may have problems getting a handle on the wizardry.
The owner's manual runs to 399 pages and is supplemented by a 185-page booklet explaining the infotainment and MMI (multimedia interface) systems.
The Q7 rolls out Audi's rear-view camera parking system, while Side Assist warns of other vehicles in the 7's blind spots.
A smart key removes the stress of inserting, turning and removing it by letting you use engine stop and start buttons on the centre console.
A dramatic optional panoramic roof comes in three sections: the first slides and tilts, the second is fixed and the third tilts.
A woven power screen covers the front two sections, but some may find the sunlight too bright even with it closed. The third section has a manual screen.
The Q7 3.6 starts at $54,500, the 4.2 at $68,900. The tester was a loaded 4.2.
THREE STARS
THREE STRIKES
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