In the wake of a green glare, reports of dwindling SUV sales arrive amid little fanfare. Audi are striking back, with what could be the biggest, boldest SUV yet seen. Car design, geared as it is toward making statements, has entered a new dimension with Audi’s Q7. This German behemoth, Audi’s first dalliance into the off-road market, appears to have crashed to earth from a far off land.

Arrival into the rarefied, if cramped, world of SUVs must have been a daunting task for Audi’s design team; and the result of their head scratching is simply staggering. Stepping into the Q7 is akin to cloaking oneself in an impenetrable shell; entering a perception bubble of champagne and polo sticks. This ego warrior has a presence and sheer clout its competitors can only scowl at.

Turning the key unveils a soothing current, the source code of a refined and competent performance. The Q7 is available in three engine sizes – big brother being the 345bhp 4.2 litre V8 petrol; overshadowing the wiser buy that is the 230bhp 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel. At a whopping £10,000 cheaper, it is also the more economical, albeit with a fairly dismal average return of 26.9 miles to the gallon. Sandwiched in between is a 3.6 litre option. Both larger engines incorporate Audi’s pioneering FSI technology, making them as much as 15 percent more economical, while simultaneously reducing exhaust emissions.

All engines transmit their power via a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, which by way of innovative steering column paddles can be overridden, allowing the driver to change gears manually. Very clever.

Harking back to the glory days of Citroen, Audi has resurrected the revolutionary air suspension system. This makes off-roading a breeze and city driving a very comfortable affair. Also in attendance is Audi’s very own party trick, its renowned Quattro 4-wheel drive system. Enough said.

With all this space to fill, Audi have opted to deck out this monster as one big extended sofa. Given the excessive comfort levels, taking an unscheduled snooze may prove unavoidable. There are gadgets galore to offset this threat. Having said that, on the entry level 3.0 TDI one will have to further burn one’s fingertips to enjoy the pleasures of a leather trim. As for safety features, front, side and curtain side airbags are all standard kit, as is an alarm to stave off the klepto set.

To conclude; it is very hard to be anything other than gob-smacked by this phenomenal creation. It is a tour de force, setting a new standard for the others to chase. Step aside world, the Q7 has arrived!

Vital Statistics:
Model: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI
Cost: £37,980
Top Speed: 134mph
MPG: 29.6
Looks: Goliath’s Big Brother
Verdict: If NASA made cars...

By Paul Tuthill/MOLI