Used Audi Q7 for sale: everything you need to know
The Audi Q7 is Audi’s luxurious seven-seater SUV. It sits at the top of the German marque’s range, alongside the more coupe-like Audi Q8 (which only has five seats) and offers a broad array of engines and trim grades.
If your budget allows, it’s possible to choose the extremely lavish Audi SQ7, which serves up high performance and a V8 soundtrack, rivalling the Porsche Cayenne. Sitting below this flagship model are a range of diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, ensuring there is something for everyone. The full Audi Q7 line-up is notably broader than many of its direct rivals.
SUV rivals to the Audi Q7 including the excellent BMW X5, the spacious Land Rover Discovery and the Mercedes GLE.
If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV and the Audi Q7 is well worth a look. Take a look at an Audi Q7 for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.
Should you buy an Audi Q7?
The Audi Q7 is all about combining seven-seat space and practicality with the ultimate in luxury. All versions are extremely well equipped and, if your budget is big enough, you can spec it to a level more comparable with a supercar.
The imposing appearance of the latest Audi Q7 means it’ll be status-enhancing as you drive around. At five metres long and two metres wide, there’s no missing it. Occupants will enjoy a high-up seating position, adding to the imposing feel, while Audi lets you bolster its assertiveness with some sporty S line styling upgrades.
It’s very cosseting inside. There’s an abundance of space – those in the middle row are treated like royalty, and even the third row is comfortable for adults – and the rich materials are all very plush to the touch. The top-grade Vorsprung adds features normally only found in limousines, plus a fabulous Bang & Olufsen sound system.
We like the V6 TDI turbodiesel engine that starts the Audi Q7 engine line-up, particularly the more powerful 50 TDI 286 version. There’s a petrol alternative if you don’t like diesel – and a plug-in hybrid model if you want to blend petrol smoothness with a PHEV’s potential for better fuel economy (and up to 26 miles of pure electric driving).
At the top of the range is the mighty Audi SQ7, complete with a barnstorming 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine (and the soundtrack to match). It makes light work of the Audi Q7’s hefty kerbweight to deliver 0-62mph in just over 4.0 seconds – it’s a real thriller. Just make sure you can swallow the inevitable fuel bills.
Audi’s most well-established SUV is maturing nicely into a machine that’s more than a match for a Range Rover or any seven-seat Mercedes-Benz SUV. It has a select but loyal following, to which Audi is catering with ever more luxurious models and trims.
The Audi Q7 is keeping up with the times thanks to the TFSI e plug-in hybrid version, which we predict will take an ever-greater share of sales as the once-dominant diesels start to fade. Meanwhile, those who want it all will only have eyes for the Audi SQ7 V8, ideally in all-inclusive Vorsprung grade. It’s expensive, but thoroughly worth it to a select few Audi aficionados.
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What’s the best used Audi Q7 model to buy?
Whatever vintage of Audi Q7 you’re considering, we’d recommend one of the 3.0-litre TDI V6 diesel engines. The more powerful of the pair is worth paying extra for if you can afford it thanks to its extra muscle and more relaxed performance, but in truth, most drivers will probably be fine with the weaker one.
If you’re considering the older car, then there isn’t much you’d want that the entry-level SE car doesn’t give you, so we’d stick with that to keep the price down. If you can, though, try to find a car with optional air suspension fitted, because it truly transforms how the Audi Q7 behaves on the road. Post-facelift cars had it as standard, so happy days, and again, stick with the entry-level trim, from then on known as the Sport.
Of course, if you want your seven-seat SUV to become a road rocket once you've finished the school run, there's always the Audi SQ7. Pre-facelift models came with a thumping great twin-turbo diesel V8 with 435PS, delivering huge low-rev punch and semi-respectable fuel economy. However, that was changed for the facelift to the Audi SQ7 TFSI, which instead used a 507PS twin-turbo petrol V8. Although it's thirstier than the diesel, it's much more responsive and sounds better - and, really, nobody is buying something like an SQ7 for fuel economy.
Used Audi Q7 fuel economy and performance
- Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 218 diesel: Before Audi changed the way it named its engines, the 3.0 TDI was the entry-level diesel model, with 218PS and a claimed MPG of up to 49.6.
- Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 diesel: The more potent 3.0 TDI boosted power to 272PS, with a claimed fuel economy of up to 47.9mpg.
- Audi Q7 45 TDI 231 diesel: Even the entry-level Audi Q7 diesel has a 3.0-litre V6 engine. It produces 231PS and delivers 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. It averages fuel economy of 35.8mpg.
- Audi Q7 50 TDI 286 diesel: The more powerful version of the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel produces 286PS. This improves the 0-62mph time to 6.5 seconds, but economy is identical at 35.8mpg.
- Audi Q7 55 TFSI 340 petrol: The 55 TFSI is a mild hybrid petrol, which also uses a 3.0-litre V6 turbo engine. It produces 340PS for 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, and average economy of 27.7mpg.
- Audi Q7 E-Tron plug-in hybrid: The first PHEV Q7 mated a 3.0-litre diesel V6 with a battery and electric motor to give a combined 374PS and an electric-only range of up to 34 miles.
- Audi Q7 55 TFSI e 381 plug-in hybrid: Combining a V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and plug-in hybrid batteries ups the 55 TFSI e’s power to 381hp. It has the same 5.9-second 0-62mph time as the regular 55 TFSI, while the ability to cover up to 26 miles as a pure EV takes official fuel economy up to 134.5mpg. Likewise, CO2 emissions fall below 50g/km.
- Audi SQ7 4.0 TDI diesel: The first SQ7 released used a 4.0-litre diesel V8 with 435PS. Capable of 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds, it promises up to 39.2mpg.
- Audi SQ7 TFSI 507 petrol: The revised Audi SQ7 switched from diesel to 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, an engine seen in other high-performance Audi RS models. Its 507PS means 0-62mph takes just 4.1 seconds – pretty impressive for an SUV weighing nearly 2.3 tonnes – although average economy is just 23.3mpg.
What used Audi Q7 trim levels are available?
- The Audi Q7 SE was introduced early in the Q7's life but later dropped from the line-up. It was the entry-level car with 19-inch wheels, Xenon headlights and a colour driver's information screen, as well as an MMI infotainment system with navigation
- The Audi Q7 Sport is the lead-in model for later Q7s. It comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, crisp LED headlights and, inside, the advanced Audi Virtual Cockpit and digital-first MMI Navigation Plus and MMI Touch touchscreen system.
- The Audi Q7 S line is a more sporting take on the entry-level Sport. It has bigger 20-inch alloys, S line bumpers with larger air intakes and an S-themed interior with Valcona leather front sports seats.
- The Audi Q7 Black Edition is a dark-themed take on the S line, with a comprehensive ‘black pack’ on the inside – even the larger 21-inch wheels are diamond-cut black. There’s also more equipment inside, including four-zone climate control.
- The Audi Q7 Vorsprung has pretty much everything as standard, including 22-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, LED Matrix headlights, all-wheel steering and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.
- The Audi Q7 SQ7 is first and foremost about its 507PS V8 engine, but Audi builds out the standard spec with 21-inch alloys, Super Sport seats and S-specific adaptive air suspension.
- The Audi Q7 SQ7 Black Edition has 22-inch black diamond-cut alloys, a Titanium Black styling pack, polished oak interior inlays and four-zone climate control.
- The Audi Q7 SQ7 Vorsprung is the most indulgent Audi Q7 of all, with LED Matrix headlights, ventilated front seats with massage function, the Bang & Olufsen sound system and a head-up display.
Used Audi Q7 dimensions and boot size
The Audi Q7’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 5063mm
- Width: 2212mm (including door mirrors)
- Height: 1740mm
- Ground clearance: 210mm
The Audi Q7’s boot size is:
- 865 litres (with third-row seats folded)
- 2050 litres with rear seats folded
Used Audi Q7 road tax
Due to tax rules that came in on April 1st 2017, all Q7s registered after that date will pay annual tax of £570 per year between years two and six of the car's life (the 'premium' car tax charge for cars over £40,000), and annual bills will drop to £180 after that. The exceptions are the PHEV models, which gets a discount of precisely a tenner thanks to their clever hybrid drivetrain.
Cars registered before this date vary tremendously, however. E-Tron buyers pay absolutely nothing, while annual road tax charges on the other versions range between £200 on the entry-level diesel to £570 for the SQ7.
How much is it to insure an Audi Q7?
The Audi Q7 will likely prove an expensive car to insure. Even the entry 45 TDI starts from insurance group 42, with 50 TDI models beginning from group 44 and 55 TFSI petrol versions edging even higher. The Audi SQ7 starts from group 49, with top model trims dropping into the highest group 50 for car insurance.
Read our full Audi Q7 review
