Test drive Audi Q7 2006 - 2009 SUV

All photos Audi Q7 2006 - 2009

Mercedes-Benz Gl vs Audi Q7 pitching

From the point of view of technology, they are not like that and competitors. For example, Mercedes-Benz GL has a low row in a handout, but the Audi Q7 does not. But the real buyer often chooses precisely between these two large prestigious Germans with air suspension.

To compare Mercedes-Benz GL with someone else, you need to gain arrogance. The maximum road clearance of the Stuttgard monster due to pneumatics is 307 mm, and the depth of the overcoming ford reaches 600 mm. The Offroad-Pro options allowing the car to use the car on almost extreme off-road. The package includes a two -stage handout with a lowering gear and one hundred percent locks of the center and rear differentials. The eight -cylinder engine of a test car with a working volume of 4.6 liters and a capacity of 340 liters. with. Coasted with a seven -speed automatic.

What does Audi offer? The clearance at the maximum position of the air suspension is more modest, only 240 mm. Instead of two locks, one central mechanical self -locking Torsen differential. However, there are also many achievements. In the chassis of Q7, aluminum is actively used. The struggle for weight is far from meaningless and clearly affects controllability. The suspension is designed both for a sports ride and for comfort on off -road. The V8 Motor with a volume of 4.2 liters with direct injection develops a power of 350 liters. with.

The Audi Q7 costs noticeably smaller than Mercedes-Benz GL for almost a million rubles. Although in this class such a difference is not critical.

Feel the weight
The main reason for doubt lies in mass distrust of mud abilities Q7. True, I have already traveled to Audi on sand, dirt and clearings and was satisfied, but ... it is clear that GL will pass where the Q7 will sit down, but how great is the difference?

Again, there are fewer opportunities in the mud on the road. For a couple of GL Q7, this is fair, but too primitive and far from reflects the whole essence. Most of the details remain overboard the commercials and is disclosed only in the harsh struggle on the asphalt and beyond. Only who will give the future buyer plenty of abnormalities in a test-di-diverse car in a career?

To begin with, a few short impressions of driving along the highway towards the career. GL without objections gives the driver a complete feeling of a large car with all the pros and cons of it. Q7 magician. Outside, in dimensions like an elephant, and inside the illusion is a simple car. Quickly forget that you are sitting in a full -sized all -wheel drive. By controlling this design, it is very difficult to keep in consciousness: I’m going on a five -meter SUV.

GL generously makes it possible to feel its dimensions and its weight. He does not play hide and seek, for which one has to pay a number of features, the main of which is a slight lack of course stability. On a good coating, this is less noticeable, and on the wavy asphalt Mercedes will have to be caught, of course, a little and only at high speeds, but still. The steering wheel is less clear, and the body is more willing. I appreciate the off -road abilities of GL, but, as usual, you still need to get to the impassability, and it is more pleasant to do it on Q7.

Matter: Audi Q7

Material: Mercedes-Benz GL

The course is the same
In the career where we arrived for experiments, we were waiting for a small but insidious difference with unsteady soil. First, the preparations necessary in such cases. Raise the air suspension in the highest position. Turn off ESP and fix the transmission. In Mercedes-Benz, we use the reducing series in the transmission, the good here, unlike Audi, it is also blocking.

The first to go GL. Taking about four meters and hesitating a little at the end of the ascent, he overcame the difference. Following Q7. It climbs on the same surface noticeably easier and softer than the opponent. A few more times and the first conclusions are ready.

Both cars are quite heavy for unsteady soils and do not be captured exclusively thanks to locks (they are on GL on each differential) and their imitations (it is thanks to them that it goes along Q7 off -road, but it is impossible to turn off ESP to the GL). Cars go almost the same, only Audi does it more pleasant and comfortable. But you just have to stop in an ambush place, as the advantage of GL is already becoming obvious, he leaves calmer and more confident in the competitor.

The difference became even more tangible and literally caught my eye when, having cut out of merciless ruts in the sand, the duels chose all their pneumoclires. The Q7 sat on the belly, and it was impossible to help him except the shovel, and the GL continued to go and, having made several circles around the stuck opponent, got out to the solid.

I said! Ironically noted Alexander, a big fan of Mercedes and part -time photographer Club 4x4. Why did you bring this aluminum bank from Ingolstadt here? I am not a fan of Audi, but if the car is driving while he has enough clearance, this is worthy.

Protection of the fool
While there is a clearance, both go, it remains only to find out: how far? We are moving to the next gentle sand hill. We have already tried to climb here on different all -wheel drivers. There were Jeep, Dodge, Skoda, Ssangyong, but none of them pulled further than the middle. The pedal to the floor and Audi hangs on the same border. It is pointless to manipulate gas. Electronics holds the bar in 2000 revolutions and does not allow the motor to unwind. You can’t turn it off. Following GL. Having burst a couple of meters higher, he also stops, but does not remain completely immobilized. The gas responds to the drowned pedal with a slow but true rising of revolutions. The wheels are slowly turning. The car crawls. A few more attempts and the top is taken. Yes, GL electronics are clearly tuned to severe off -road, and it will do everything to pull out this heavy car with the owner. There are no turnover restrictions if necessary, 2000 and 7000 are available. The main thing is not to overdo it, to be able to stop in time. Protection from the fool is not provided for in it, but it pulls to blow

Electronics Q7 works in a completely different algorithm: when the wheels rest thoroughly, then above 2000 revolutions per minute the engine can no longer be promoted. Jeepers will not like it, but will delight ordinary users. In this mode, it is impossible to ditch the box (and on the test GL after journalistic experiments one automatic transmission has already been changed).

As always, it is difficult to put the test results in several capacious offers. In peaceful conditions, both cars are adequate and there is no strict difference. We will talk about extreme. GL requires caution on a narrow highway with wavy asphalt, especially when overtaking trucks, where its next step, unlike Q7, must be predicted. Audi is a frisky and predicted always, but on unsteady soils (beach, quarry, snow field), where the competing GL lives a full life, Q7 only gets short -term pleasure. But who dares to say that one of them is worse than the other?