Audi India has confirmed the launch of the Q7 facelift for February 3. The Audi Q7 has been missing from the German carmaker’s India portfolio ever since it was discontinued at the onset of the BS6 emission norms in April 2020. The Q7 will now make a comeback with revised exterior and interior styling, plenty more features and in a petrol-only avatar. The Q7 will be sold in India in two variants: Premium Plus and Technology.
- Biggest highlight will be the heavily updated interiors
- Will be powered by a 340hp, 3.0-litre petrol engine
- Rivals the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLE and BMW X5
Audi Q7 facelift: exterior updates
The mid-life update on the Q7 was globally rolled out in June 2019, bringing the exterior and interior design more in-line with newer Audi SUVs. And while the estate-like look of the pre-facelift model hasn’t changed much, the updates on the new Q7 give it a lot more character and aggression.
Styling updates on the Q7 facelift include a larger, octagonal single-frame grille up front, flanked by sleeker LED headlamps with new LED DRL signatures. It also gets a much sportier looking bumper with large air dams on either side and beefier cladding. At the rear, the Q7 gets a chrome strip that runs between newly designed tail-lights, making the SUV look a bit wider. It also gets a revised rear bumper. The updated Q7 rides on a set of 19-inch silver alloy wheels.
Audi Q7 facelift: interior updates
The updates to Q7's interior are more comprehensive. There's a completely new dashboard with Audi’s twin-touchscreen MMI infotainment system, similar to the larger Audi Q8. It replaces the single, free-standing screen from the pre-facelift model.
The infotainment system comprises a main screen of 10.1 inches and a smaller 8.6-inch screen for the climate controls. It also comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that serves as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. Interestingly, the Q7 was the model that first debuted the Virtual Cockpit system, and now it has moved up to the second-generation screen. With far fewer buttons, the cabin has a sense of minimalism and looks extremely techy. It’s also garnished with piano black and brushed aluminium highlights.
Equipment list on the updated Q7 includes a panoramic sunroof, adaptive air suspension, four-zone climate control, adjustable ambient lighting, powered front seats, virtual cockpit digital dials, dual touchscreens with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Optional extras even include a rear seat entertainment package from Audi's accessories list. The Q7 will continue to be offered with seven seats.
Audi Q7 facelift: engine details
Under the hood, the Q7 facelift will be powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine that produces 340hp and 500Nm of peak torque. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, driving all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro AWD system. This engine is also offered on the Q8 and A8 in India.
The new petrol V6 engines essentially replaces the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine from the pre-facelift model. The pre-facelift Q7 was also offered with a 252hp, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in India, but that too is no longer on offer with the new Q7.
It's worth noting that this generation of the Q7 has been around since 2015, and is currently one of Audi’s oldest models in India alongside the current A4.
When launched, the new Audi Q7 will continue its rivalry with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5 and the Volvo XC90. The Q7, being a proper seven-seater SUV, will have an upper hand over the likes of Mercedes GLE and BMW X5, which are only 5-seater SUVs.
What are your thoughts on the Audi Q7 facelift that’s set to launch soon in India? Let us know in the comments below.
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