A 1,500km road trip on an autobahn-like expressway is what the Q7 was made for.
The Autocar long term Audi Q7 had been restricted to the daily city grind for the majority of its stay with us. Thankfully, a 1,500km round trip across the state allowed me to finally stretch its legs – and do it on familiar territory. Mumbai–Nagpur–Mumbai via some scenic routes. Predominantly, the Samruddhi Expressway meant I could enjoy some of that Dynamic mode performance while relying on quattro for grip and humming along with the superb Bang & Olufsen audio system.
I didn’t have much use for the large 770-litre boot (with the last row folded down), so I didn’t bother and made do with 295 litres. The Q7 also has a neat trick, where, at the touch of a button, the air suspension can lower the car for easy boot loading – handy in case you have heavy luggage. There’s also a luggage protector that ensures small items are stowed in place and don’t move about.
Not having a spare wheel on a long drive is daunting, but you do get a puncture repair kit.
At the fuel pump, I topped up the tank, which guzzled 64 litres of petrol, giving me a range of 570km on the MID – hinting at an efficiency of 8.9kpl. My target was to get it into double digits.
While setting the tyre pressures, I remembered that the Q7 does not come with a spare wheel. Instead, there’s a puncture repair kit. On a desolate highway like the Samruddhi Expressway, it does hamper some confidence. As I set off, the road to the 8-lane super expressway was anything but super. Since the now-opened Igatpuri Tunnel was still under construction when I did this trip, the only way was via Kasara Ghat.
The twisties meant I could finally get it out of Comfort and into Dynamic, which improves engine response, stiffens the ride, and weighs up the steering. Sure, it’s not agile or nimble, but it does change its character.
3.0-litre V6 is creamy smooth and has a great balance of performance and comfort.
Wanting to make full use of the small exciting stretch cost me in fuel, as spirited driving dropped efficiency to a mere 5.8kpl. Thankfully, I got onto the runway-like Samruddhi Mahamarg, and the speedboat would have to be converted into a yacht.
I shifted the mode to Efficiency, set the cruise control to 118kph to avoid the speed limit chime and sit below the legal limit, and activated lane keep assist to help stay within the lines. Oh! And the audio volume was increased up to eleven.
The next 500-odd kilometres would be spent trying hard not to be hypnotised by the Samruddhi’s impeccable road markings. The engine settles at 1,500rpm, thanks to the 8-speed automatic, and the well-insulated cabin means the otherwise rumbly concrete surface of the highway isn’t as loud inside the Audi.
As the kilometres went by, the sun – which started in front of my windshield – passed across the panoramic sunroof, and a quick lunch stop revealed how comfortable the journey had been so far. Despite missing out on a massage function, the Q7’s seats are superbly comfortable. The support,…
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