Audi Q7 facelift first drive review: ₹40 lakh more affordable compared to rivals

The Audi Q7 has been facelifted for 2025, and has been launched at ₹88.66 lakh. As a previous owner of the earlier-generation Audi Q7, I’ve learned that design can make or break a car’s appeal. When the current-gen Q7 launched in 2015, Audi made a bold choice to swap the bulky, muscular look for a sleeker, sharper design. At first, I wasn’t sure about this transformation. But like a fine single malt, it’s grown on me over time. And with this facelift, Audi has given it another notch on the style belt.

The rear gets a revised bumper, with different exhaust pipes

Audi Q7 design

While the changes aren’t groundbreaking, they’re noticeable enough to distinguish the facelift from its predecessor. Up front, you get a new singleframe grille, flanked by redesigned matrix headlights. The air inlets and bumper have been tweaked for a sportier vibe, and Audi’s logo has gone 2D – apparently part of a “modern brand identity.” At the rear, the Q7 badging now sports a dark chrome finish, and the exhaust tips and diffuser have been revamped to look cooler. And hey, I think they do!

The last row gets electronic folding seats, and the suspension can be lowered for loading luggage

Audi Q7 interior

Step inside, and it’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The interiors remain largely unchanged, with the same 10.1-inch infotainment screen, 12.3-inch digital cluster, and a 8.6-inch screen for the air-con controls. That said, it does get the older interior architecture as compared to the A6 e-tron you see elsewhere in the magazine. Audi has thrown in a new lane-change assist feature, which I promptly switched off because, well, I trust my instincts more than a computer but it is a neat trick in its arsenal.

The Audi Q7's interior layout remains the same, but heated seats has been removed as an option

Audi Q7 driving impressions

Now, here’s a winter morning tale from Pune. With the city’s December chill in full swing, I went to bed thinking, “Tomorrow’s going to be frosty, but heated seats to the rescue!” Imagine my horror when I realised the next day that Audi had silently deleted this feature. When sub-20 lakh cars can offer heated and cooled seats, this penny-pinching by a luxury marque feels like a slap on my frostbitten fingers. But as the sun climbed higher, so did my spirits. On the move, the Q7 feels just as polished as before, powered by the familiar 3-litre V6 petrol engine. With 335bhp and 500Nm on tap, it hits 100kmph in a claimed 5.6 seconds. And then there’s the quattro all-wheel-drive system, which continues to be my favourite among the Germans. The power transfer to either the front and rear, or from side-to-side, is very well calibrated and really gives you confidence when driving spiritedly or around the bends. There’s a new addition under the hood that I’m not thrilled about – the 48V mild-hybrid system. It’s meant to improve fuel efficiency by cutting the engine at stops. Noble idea, not-so-great execution. The system shuts off the engine before you’ve even come to a full stop, which is annoying in stop-and-go traffic. In Pune, where crawling at 2kmph is a way of life, this tech breaks momentum very often, but you can switch this off from a button. Gripes aside, I think the Audi Q7 has always been a great car to own, to drive, or be driven around in. The air-suspension and adaptive dampers work really well, and driving in comfort mode is a breeze. The 730W 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system also delivers a great surround sound experience, and compliments my house music playlist. To sweeten the deal, Audi is offering a 2-year standard warranty, and a 10-year complimentary road-side assistance package.

The Audi Q7 is still the most affordable, and costs ₹97.8 lakh, compared to its rivals

Audi Q7 price and rivals

The Technology pack, which I tested, costs ₹97.8 lakh ex-showroom. That’s quite the ask for a car that hasn’t had a proper redesign in nearly a decade. Sure, it’s still about ₹40 lakh more affordable, compared to the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7, and it ticks most boxes. But is it as desirable as it once was? Ten years ago, the Q7 was the cool kid on the block. Now? It’s still cool – but maybe more ‘dad at the party’ cool.