Audi Q7 e-tron (2016-2019) interior & comfort

Audi is known for its fantastic interiors and the Q7 is further proof of this. Its design is sharp and modern, while all materials used are of the best quality and everything is well put together. It’s very easy to get comfortable regardless of where you’re sitting, but those in the front get the best treatment, with optional sports or comfort seats – the latter of which can be had with climate control. It’s very quiet inside the the Q7, too, even at motorway speeds, but especially in all-electric mode.

Audi Q7 e-tron dashboard

Audi’s MMI infotainment system is easy to use, controlling everything from the DAB radio to car settings. The 12.3-inch virtual cockpit – a screen that replaces traditional dials behind the steering wheel – comes as standard on the e-tron and is a real joy. It can be set up to show various combinations of engine, speed and trip information, along with sat nav and multimedia displays.

Most of the map and infotainment functions can be controlled from the steering wheel. This takes some getting used to, but once you've got the hang of it, it's much safer than twiddling knobs on the dashboard. The sheer level of technology can be intimidating, but if you take the time to learn it, you'll find it makes your life easier.

Equipment, options and accessories

Standard equipment is generous, including 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, roof rails, a powered tailgate, heated leather seats with four-way adjustment, three-zone climate control, Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’, the MMI infotainment/sat-nav system, DAB radio and cruise control. Among the safety features are autonomous emergency braking, cruise control and hill descent control.

There were lots of ways to add to that via the options list when the Q7 was new. But, you had to pay for the privilege. A panoramic sunroof cost £1,700, for instance, air suspension cost £2,000, and the excellent optional Bang & Olufsen sound system was a whopping £6,300.

Infotainment, apps and sat nav

The main infotainment screen rises up out of the centre of the dashboard and you work your way through the various functions and menus using a rotary controller in the centre console.

Mostly, you select the various options by turning and clicking this wheel, but you can also ‘write’ on the touch-sensitive top. It’s a neat idea in theory, but less effective in practice, as it’s almost always easier to input the required information another way – including by voice control or the buttons on the steering wheel.

The car also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, as well as a three-year subscription to Audi Connect Infotainment Services. Thanks to a SIM card embedded in the car, you can have high-speed access to the internet on the move, which allows you to get to all sorts of information, from flight times to fuel prices, weather and other online services.

To get through to all this, all you need to do is download the Audi MMI Connect app on to your smartphone and set up a myAudi account.