New plug-in hybrid Audi Q7 e-tron will cost a lot to buy, but not a lot to run
Verdict 4 stars
Like any plug-in hybrid, you’ll need regular access to a charge point to realise the efficiency claims of the Audi Q7 e-tron. That said, it’s unlikely to consume considerably more fuel than a standard 3.0-litre TDI even without charging the batteries. It still drives well and gets the same exquisitely finished cabin, meaning the only real sticking point is the price. For many, however, the lure of rock-bottom running costs in such a practical and well-engineered package will be too hard to ignore.
This is the plug-in hybrid Audi Q7 e-tron. Everyone’s at it: from pioneers Nissan to latecomers like Volvo, almost every manufacturer has an electric or hybrid model in its range.
Audi Q7 e-tron PHEV
It comes as no surprise, then, that Audi’s e-tron family is expanding. The popular A3 e-tron appeared only late last year, and there’s already an electric R8 supercar in the pipeline.
But the latest model to bear Audi’s plug-in moniker is the big and brash Q7 SUV. Using a 254bhp 3.0-litre TDI diesel engine mated to a 94kW electric motor, total power for the Q7 e-tron stands at 368bhp. It’s got a sizeable 700Nm of torque, too – which comes in handy when you’re lugging around 202kg of lithium-ion batteries.
From the outside, you’ll struggle to tell this apart from a standard Q7. Our car came with loud e-tron stickers down the side, but (sadly) these aren’t an option on customer cars. There are some subtle badges on the wings and bootlid, but aside from the additional filler cap it’s business as usual.
Read more: Auto Express