The quattro set-up is biased towards road driving. Under normal driving conditions, power is split 40/60 front to rear, which gives the Q7 a nice handling balance in brisk driving. All Q7s get variable-height, adaptive air suspension, and if you set it to Dynamic mode the Q7 is a fairly decent thing to punt along. Body movements are well controlled, and although it’s far from truly agile, weighing 2512kg, it grips willingly and steers acurately. Think of it as a big, unwieldy but stable hatchback and you’ll get some idea. It wouldn’t trouble an X5 or a Cayenne, but the Q7 has the measure of a Discovery or Range Rover down a demanding road. Easily.
The Q7’s hefty kerb weight also lends it a comfortable ride. This is less so in the suspension’s Dynamic mode than in Automatic or Comfort settings, but it’s never harsh. The bigger the boat, the better the ride at sea, and it’s the same principle here.
This is a quiet car, too. Our test car’s 230bhp 3.0-litre diesel, although operating at the limit of what it’ll pull respectably, maintains the quietness we’ve come to expect from it in other Audis, albeit more thirstily. On a touring run you might touch 30mpg, but more usually you can expect low 20s, which is pretty poor. Still, economy aside, when it comes to executive off-roading, Audi has the executive part sorted.