Mat Watson’s been to see the new Audi Q7 – here’s everything you need to know about it

The new Audi Q7 is finally here. I really like the current car, but after around 10 years on sale it’s starting to show its age. The latest car is much more than a nip-and-tuck update, it’s a total overhaul.

The styling is completely different, it has an all-new interior and it’s packing some really clever tech, and I’ve been to check it out in the metal and test out all the new features. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Audi Q7.

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New Audi Q7 design and lighting

I really liked the design of the old Audi Q7, but it did look a bit like a bloated hatchback. This new one is much more rugged and purposeful, with a boxy silhouette which makes it look more like a proper SUV.

The big grille and sleek lights give it real presence, and alloy wheel sizes now start from 20 inches rather than 19 inches. You can upgrade to massive 23-inch rims as well, and the rear pillar is more upright to give rear passengers more headspace.

Moving to the rear, you have a similar light design to the Audi Q3, with a massive LED light bar. The lights are also really clever.

At the rear, they’re OLED lights which you can customise with different designs from the central screen. They’ll also flash up a much brighter graphic if a car approaches too quickly, and if a cyclist comes near the car with someone in it then it’ll show a warning triangle to tell them that the door may open.

The headlights can also project animations onto walls as you get in and out of the car, and it’ll even project arrows onto the ground when you indicate. It’s seriously clever stuff.

New Audi Q7 interior and technology

While the new Audi Q7 does feel more modern and luxurious than its predecessor, there are a few details which I’m not so keen on.

I hate the massive curved bezels around the infotainment system, and I’m also not a fan of the digital driver’s display. Audi used to be the best at digital dials, but the latest ones are a bit too dark and gloomy. It’s a shame, because the infotainment system itself is actually very good.

The graphics are sharp and the processor is super fast. You do have to control all of your climate settings through the screen, but they’re within pretty easy reach so I can forgive it. What I can’t forgive is the fact you have to move the air vents through the screen as well – just give me a toggle, Audi.

Material quality is very good on the whole. There’s much less shiny black plastic in here than there is in other Audis, like the Q3, and in its place you get lovely-looking wood. You also get nice, soft leather on the dashboard and door tops, but it doesn’t feel quite as solid as a BMW X5.

It’s a bit like my old Porsche 911 – it looks posh and the materials feel nice, but everything sounds a bit hollow when you start tapping things.

New Audi Q7 space and practicality

The Q7 is currently the largest SUV in Audi’s range, until the new Q9 comes along later this year. It’s a seven-seater with plenty of interior space, but the third row is a bit tight.

Up front, it’s easy to find your ideal driving position. There’s loads of adjustment in the seats and the steering wheel, and the chairs themselves are really comfy. Storage is good as well, with decent door bins and a large glovebox.

Moving back to the second row, legroom is really generous and there’s loads of headroom as well. The seats also recline for added comfort, and there are three ISOFIX anchors across the rear bench.

Getting in and out is really easy, because the doors open and close electronically. You can operate them from the screen, the key or by simply pulling the handle.

The third row is a bit of a mixed bag. You’ll have to slide the middle seats forward if you want to carry adults in any sort of comfort, and even then it’s only really suitable for short journeys. A Hyundai Santa Fe is better for carrying seven people.

With that third row folded down you have a whopping 722 litres of boot space. That’s over 70 litres more than you get in a BMW X5, and you even get a good amount of space with all seven seats in place.

New Audi Q7 engines

The new Audi Q7 will come as standard with a choice of two 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines, just like the outgoing car. It’ll be available with either 245hp or 300hp, and there will also be a petrol version and a plug-in hybrid further down the line.

The petrol and diesel models come with mild hybrid technology, which means it can pull away from a standstill without using the engine, as well as shuffle around at manoeuvring speeds in silence.

New Audi Q7 price and start of sales

You’ll be able to order your new Audi Q7 from the summer of 2026, and prices will start from around £75,000. That’s only a couple of grand more than the outgoing Q7, but if you fancy picking up that car before it goes off sale, it’s available through Carwow with discounts of up to a whopping £20,000 on some models.

I’ll be driving the new Audi Q7 as soon as it lands in the UK, so keep an eye out for my full review once I’ve had some time behind the wheel. On first impressions though, this is a good-looking, luxurious and high-tech car which I reckon could be worth waiting for.

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