Audi has added another model to the Q7 family, the ultra 3.0 TDI. It's aimed at drivers who expect their liter of diesel fuel to last a little longer, and it's also cheaper than the existing models.
The Q7 ultra is now available in Germany from €58,000, which makes it €2,900 cheaper than the next model up the range, the regular 3.0 TDI. So, what do you lose and what do you gain?
Well, the engine stays the same, as expected. The Q7 ultra uses the 3.0 TDI with 218 PS, the same as the A7 ultra launched in 2014. The difference is that power is sent out through a tiptronic 8-speed automatic to all four wheels.
The output is down compared to the regular Q7's 3-liter diesel that packs 272 PS, while torque is reduced by 100 to 500 Nm (368.8 lbft) from 1,250rpm. The standard sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.1 seconds (compared to 6.3s) and the top speed drops to 216 km/h(134.2 mph) from 234 km/h (146 mph).
The fuel consumption gains aren't that substantial. But the 3.0 TDI does consume only 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 km (42.8 US mpg). Consequently, this is also the cleanest version of the Audi Q7, at least until the e-tron becomes available, with CO2 emissions sitting at 144 grams per kilometer.
What is ultra?
ultra, written with small letters like quattro and tronic, is the name of Audi's economical brand. It was launched a year ago, being the equivalent of BMW's EfficientDynamics and Daimler's BlueEfficiency.
Most Audi models offer an ultra variant and they can be sometimes equipped with petrol engines: A1 1.0 TFSI ultra, A3 1.4 TFSI ultra and A6 1.8 TFSI ultra. The Q7 is the first model we've seen where the engine is written at the very end of the name.
Competitors
Most of the Audi Q7 ultra's rivals use smaller engines. Mercedes's most frugal big SUV is the GLE 250 d that uses a 2.1-liter engine with 204 PS mated to a 9G-Tronic gearbox. It gets 5.4 l/100km and 140 g/km.
BMW's fuel sipper is the X5 sDrive25d, the only RWD model you can buy, though xDrive is available. It uses a twin-turbo 2-liter engine to get the job done. Volvo also uses a 2-liter turbo engine, which has a single turbocharger in the case of the XC90 D4 and two for the D5 with 225 PS.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News