Big is small

Singapore — Driving a big SUV might be the automotive equivalent of being a bodybuilder. Everywhere you go, you’re reminded of the size of the thing, even if other people don’t comment on how large it is.

Audi’s Q7 is part of the luxury big-SUV segment, though it’s actually not the largest SUV around — that title goes to the gargantuan Infiniti QX80. But thanks to modern advances, this particular Q7 is actually quite nicely-sized in some areas.

To begin with, it has a heart that’s out of proportion to its body. In the past one would expect an engine with six cylinders and at least three litres for a car of this size, indeed, that’s the smallest power plant the previous Q7 had.

WHAT LIES BENEATH

But under the bonnet lies a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that makes a healthy 252bhp and 370Nm of torque. The engine sounds heartily gruff, and while the Q7 isn’t sports-car-quick, it certainly hasn’t skipped leg-day. A quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox also helps make power delivery seamless and smooth.

While the driver’s throne is typical of a big SUV in that you have to step up into it, and it delivers a commanding view of the road ahead, the redeeming feature of the Q7 is that it doesn’t feel big or heavy to drive.

Audi has invested in weight saving and aluminium technology, so the new Q7 is quoted as being up to 325kg more svelte (depending on the model) — the mass of an entire family, which helps in all areas of car performance.

Thanks to a start-stop function and a coasting mode (the car’s clutch is automatically released when the driver’s foot is off the accelerator, reducing fuel consumption), it is possible to wring 11km/l from the car by driving gently, a feat that would have been much harder with the old model.

BIG AND USER-FRIENDLY

The thin A-pillars and wide windows afford excellent all-round visibility, so getting used to the car’s dimensions is relatively painless, not to mention making driving generally safer.

Neither does the car have the boat-like feeling some SUVs do, in fact the suspension is almost bordering on the stiff side. It’s comfortable in most places, but does delve into choppiness on the worst bumps. The upside of that is that the Q7 handles quite tidily, with little nautical-style roll and pitching.

The cabin itself is bone quiet, spacious and has the SUV hallmark of generous headroom.

It’s a very good thing, since the car has the capability of carrying seven thanks to a pair of third-row seats. Full-sized adults will be alright there, as long as the second-row occupants are considerate enough to move their adjustable seats accordingly.

Interestingly, the third row can be remotely deployed with a pair of buttons either from the boot or the second row, which means none of the sweaty third-row calisthenics usually needed for manual seats.

As the Q7 with the smallest engine and price tag, the 2.0 has less of the niceties that its costlier brethren do, but there are still quite a few features to enjoy.

Audi’s latest multimedia system is on board, and it includes navigation as well as inbuilt Google search. You can even slot in a 4G sim card and make the car a wireless hotspot, useful for keeping restless passengers occupied on long road trips abroad.

In short, the Q7 2.0 represents one of the healthiest examples of the modern big SUV breed, blending space, practicality and the image of toughness in a package that delivers generously, but is small where it counts, too.

AUDI Q7 2.0

Engine: 1,984cc, in-line four, turbocharged, 252hp, 370Nm

Performance: 233km/h, 0-100km/h: 7.1s, 7.4L/100km, 201g/km CO2

Price: $289,600 with COE

On Sale: Now

PROS: Spacious, flexible, not a gas guzzler

CONS: Ride can get shuddery for a soft-roader