Even though it seems like an oxymoron, the fact that a company can build a large SUV that is fuel efficient is amazing.  Audi has done this in an impressive manner and offers the Q7 as the model that will bring more efficiency to the market to give us something that can be the best of both worlds from an SUV that has the size we really want an now doesn’t drink gas like a fish.  The Audi Q7 has been a fan favorite for quite a while and with this new model it will be even more a vehicle we all love.

The new Q7 is expected for 2017 in Europe with no word yet if this vehicle will make its way to the US in order to give us a similar vehicle.  This new version is to be powered in the Ultra trim with a 3.0-liter TDI Quattro powertrain which is the more affordable version than the 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel powertrain.  This new model will produce 218 horsepower compared to the previous 272 and 369 lb.-ft. of torque which is down from 443 of the previous version.  This is the unfortunate exchange you get when you are looking to make a vehicle more efficient than it previously was.

Using the European numbers, the quoted efficiency of the Q7 is now 42.8 mpg compared to 41.3 for the diesel version.  This number would certainly be lower in the US because the return is always higher with European efficiency tests, but you can see how the improvement could actually make this large SUV one that most of us want to drive and would love to enjoy from anywhere in the Q7 considering it benefits from one of the best interiors on the market today.

Other areas where the Q7 SUV ends up being less productive start at the track where the big beast now reaches sixty mph in just under 7.1 seconds instead of the 6.3 it took before.  The top speed is now quoted to be just above 134 mph which is down from the 145 it previously was.  These numbers may not mean anything compared to what your driving habits will be because you probably will never need to drive that fast or accelerate this quickly, but seeing where a smaller and less powerful engine affects the vehicle is a part of understanding what it can do as well.

There is a version of the Q7 that is said to be the most efficient on the road and might even be the choice you want to make when the Q7 does finally make its way across the pond.  The E-Tron hybrid version returns the equivalent of 117 mph and can reach sixty in less than six seconds to improve on both platforms that might be important to you.  If this seems to be the choice you want to make, consider price as a huge factor when it comes to the version you want to purchase.

Overall, the Ultra with the smaller engine and pokier power will cost you the least in the lineup and when you are looking at a high priced large luxury SUV that can make a huge difference.  Conversely the E-Tron model will be the most expensive in the lineup but will give you the fuel savings you want from a hybrid platform.  Both models will be great to drive and offer the Audi functionality and dynamics, whichever model you choose to have your Q7 you can certainly enjoy the fact they both will save you some money at the pump, which makes a big difference with a vehicle of this size.