2023 Audi Q7 consumer reviews

Let’s start with the good stuff. The Q7 is a beautiful vehicle, handsome on the outside and beautiful inside a German, minimalist style. The seats are comfortable and there is lots of room. Visibility from the cabin is excellent, especially for my wife who is not tall. Cargo space is good. We were able to pick up 5 family members each with a large suitcase and carry on. Almost all systems are controlled on one of two touch screens. It takes some time to learn your way around, however. Once you figure it out, getting around is logical. We have the 2.0 liter engine which delivers good power and reasonable fuel economy for our purposes. Handling is tight and sharp. The ride is firm but comfortable. It is the sort of experience that you would expect from a German luxury vehicle. The screens including the speedometer and tach can be configured for different drivers. Before starting the car, the driver must select the profile that he or she wants. That can be good or a nuisance depending on your point of view. Ah, but the devil lurks inside. The lane keeping assist is really unacceptable. It kicks in too often and too aggressively. When pulling out to pass pedestrians, bicyclists, or stopped vehicles, it actively resists the maneuver trying to push the vehicle back into the danger area. It even resists turning into a curve on the road aggressively. I can easily imagine it causing a driver to respond improperly resulting in an accident. The backup camera lens is useless in the rain. Unlike other vehicles, airflow causes moisture to accumulate on the lens making the view opaque. The driver has to get out of the car and dry it before using it to back up. The center console is useless for storage. Under the armrest there is a pad for wireless phone charging and a small shallow tray good for a pen or two. That is all. There is no additional space for change, or other items that drivers typically carry in their cars. The door pockets, by the way, are very skinny compared to other vehicles. The cupholders in the center console are only large enough to fit a cup the size of a Yeti thermal cup. Don’t plan on carrying any large or off shape containers. The cupholders in the middle row are even smaller and almost useless. The owners manual was probably written by German engineers who speak excellent English. For example, the map light ca me on spontaneously one evening. The owners manual had instructions on how to turn it off on several different Audi models, none of which was a 2023 Q7. None worked on this vehicle. After 15 minutes of fiddling with the thing, the light went out. The bottom line, we will not be getting another Audi—or other VW based product. We are four months into a 3 year lease and would love to get out of it.