Call that a flagship, asks Audi. This is a flagship. The German manufacturer’s mighty Q7 SUV has become such a mighty presence in the land that even the Range Rover seems petite. There was a time when Ingolstadt regarded the A6 Allroad as its top soft-roader, but when it decided enough was enough, and that size did indeed matter, it modified an age-old adage, which in Audi-speak now reads: Don't just join 'em, beat 'em.
Of course, Audi has ‘credit’ where ability in slippery road conditions is concerned. This is still a brand associated with the early days of four-wheel drive, through its Quattro models and their domination of world rallying.
However, that lineage hardly matters when it comes to SUVs. What counts in this class is a combination of qualities: off-road ability, interior space, an elevated driving position and the abilioty to be used as a luxury saloon. And audaciously, the Q7 takes aim at the best models on the market.
