The big doors are the first giveaway to the proportions on the inside. To say they are generous would be an understatement. The large panoramic sunroof also plays no small part in adding to that experience. The windscreen is huge and heat-insulated too, but, like some other cars in the arena, isn’t infrared-reflective. Of course, cabin temperature for occupants is kept in check with the four-zone automatic climate control system.
The dash is an expanse of dark brown leather, aluminium and wood trim accents and a light beige interior — there are other options available. The front seats are extremely plush and comfortable to be in for long journeys. Although dynamic driving will have you wishing there was more side support, but it’s not an issue. One of the main features is the large digital info-console that doubles up as the instrumentation. The tacho on the left, the speedo on the right and everything from vehicle information to navigation data appear in the centre. There’s also a large 8.3-inch monitor for the MMI Touch, not to mention the 360° camera with front and rear modes.
Our car was equipped with the 558-Watt Bose 3D Sound System with 19 speakers; enough for most, even the kids in the third row. Speaking of which, the Q7 is a fairly good seven-seater. The second row has three individually-sliding seats, although the middle seat in the second row and the two third-row seats are best suited for children. The one-touch individual buttons for the powered third row, in the boot and behind the second-row backrest, are a very useful touch. However, this car had a full-size spare wheel with its own mount, taking up half the boot; one third-row seat never saw the sun. The 770-litre boot volume can be accessed by removing the full-size spare and folding down the third row.
