Audi Q7 3.0 Diesel

Q7 is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TDi which is a very refined unit. The same powerplant has proved its brilliance in its lightest application, the A4 saloon but in a behemoth weighing 2.3 tonnes, the performance of the torquey 56kgm engine is obviously blunted. Still, the Q7’s performance is in no way slow. It’ll sail past the 100kph mark in 10.6 seconds, and while it doesn’t snap to throttle inputs like its competition the BMW X5, it does a pretty good job of hustling its bulk. Still, overtaking manoeuvres do need a bit of planning; the six-speed auto is lethargic and takes its own time to kickdown. It doesn’t have a paddle-shift function and has an irritating tendency to upshift mid-corner, which is exactly why it isn’t the best engine-gearbox combo.

Not that too many owners will be bothered about the fuel efficiency but for the record the Q7 delivers 5.5kpl in the city and 9.1kpl on the highway.