How long can one generation of SUVs continue without feeling old? Audi seems determined to find out with the Q7.
The second-generation Q7, which first greeted the world in 2015, is now entering its second facelift, and rather than feeling tired, it’s found a second (or is it third?) wind.
Familiar Face, Fresh Details
For 2025, Audi has dusted off its big seven-seater once more, giving it new digital eyes, a cleaner face, and a design that’s leaned into its bolder brother, the Q8.
Chrome’s been politely shown the door, replaced with subtler trim pieces and fresh alloy designs. It’s subtle, but when you already look the part, why mess with the formula?
To the untrained eye, the facelift might barely register. The grille’s been nipped and tucked, and the DRLs now sit on top of the headlights rather than beneath them. But viewed from across the car park, it’s still very much the stately Q7. Broad, upright, and quietly imposing.
Built for B-roads and Baby Seats
Driving the Audi Q7 feels like stepping into a well-appointed hotel suite that just happens to move. No drama, no fuss, just acres of calm.
Audi knows its clientele here. This isn’t a sports car masquerading as a family hauler. It’s a family hauler through and through, and a very good one at that.
Singapore units come with adaptive air suspension as standard, and whether you’re rolling through town or gliding along the PIE, the Q7 feels composed.
The different modes — Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, Allroad, Offroad, and Individual — do what they say on the tin, but most people will find “Auto” just fine for everyday use. You might raise the suspension just for fun on Day One to impress your family, and never touch it again.
Inside is where the Q7 shines, offering genuine seven-seat usability. The rear two seats are best reserved for smaller passengers, but with a bit of seat shuffling, even adults will find temporary comfort back there.
Boot space is generous: 780 litres with five seats in use, and a whopping 1,908 litres with everything folded flat. Even with a full posse in tow, the boot is just big enough for a stroller or some groceries.
The cabin is everything you’d expect from Audi. Materials are top-drawer, fit and finish is flawless, and there are thoughtful touches throughout, including ISOFIX mounts on every seat but the driver’s, for those ferrying an army of toddlers.
Twin haptic touchscreens dominate the centre console. One handles infotainment, the other climate. They’re responsive, customisable, and mostly intuitive, though the occasional lag reminds you that technology, like toddlers, can be unpredictable.
The Magic Within
Despite its size, the Q7 is remarkably easy to drive. If you do happen to drive like someone possessed, it’s all competent rather than particularly encouraging.
The Q7’s excellent body control induces surprising grip at the start, grip that washes progressively away once you start getting over-committed.
Yes, the steering could do with a bit more chatter, and the brakes are tuned for subtlety, not sensation, but that’s exactly what makes it so relaxing.
Visibility is good too, save for the thick C-pillars, but the light steering helps the big beast pirouette in tighter confines than you’d expect.
This particular test unit has the creamy 3.0-litre V6 with 335bhp and 500Nm. You need a bigger displacement engine like this to enjoy such a large imposing car, allowing you to dart and squirt past other motorists with ease.
Audi’s efficiency-enhancing 48-volt mild-hybrid system pairs with an 8-speed Tiptronic auto, pushing the power to all four wheels.
At 90km/h, it settles into that signature Audi hush. Conversation continues uninterrupted. Your children fall asleep in the third row. You realise the Germans really do build for the Autobahn.
Refining What’s Already Great
The Audi Q7 is the kind of car that simply shows up, gets on with the job, and makes you wonder why you’d ever need anything else.
It’s not the most exciting SUV, nor the most agile. But if you’re looking for a spacious, refined, and thoroughly well-made seven-seater, it ticks all the right boxes.
Technical Specifications
Audi Q7
Engine: 3-litre V6, Turbocharged
Drivetrain: Quattro All-Wheel Drive
Power: 335 bhp
Torque: 500 Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed (A) Tiptronic
0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 85 litres
Fuel Economy: 8.5 km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$479,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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