If you are attracted to the idea of an Audi Q7 but in your head are a little too dashing for all that sensible-knickers, seven-seat stuff, you could always splash your cash on the catwalk-friendly Audi Q8 instead.
The Q8 is a Q7 clothed in a coupé-inspired body, and there’s room in its opulent interior for only five. Squint and it could even be the Lamborghini Urus, of which it is indeed a cousin.
Initially, you could have only a 282bhp 3.0-litre diesel V6 (badged the 50 TDI) or a 335bhp 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 (55 TFSI). But Audi recently added two petrol-engined plug-in hybrids: the 375bhp 55 TFSIe and the 456bhp 60 TFSIe, both of which can do 28 miles on electricity.
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For the very dashing driver, there’s also the sporting SQ8, which began life as a 427bhp diesel of enormous oomph before turning into a 507bhp petrol with the same twin-turbo V8 as found in Porsche’s Porsche Cayenne GTS.
And if you really do love the idea of a Deutscheghini, there’s now even an RS Q8, replete with the same 592bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 as the Urus.
Mind you, every Q8 provides plentiful performance, plus a sportier bent than the Q7. This is reflected in the ride: it’s never uncomfortable, but you feel lumps more, even when the adaptive suspension is set in its most compliant (Comfort) mode. And the handling is really rather good for such a hefty vehicle, with minimal body roll, while four-wheel steering makes a hot Q8 a bit of a revelation.
Entry-level S line models get near enough everything you could ever wish for, including 21in alloys, LED headlights, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital display, heated front sports seats and adaptive air suspension.
Black Edition trim brings a black styling package (obviously), 22in alloys, a panoramic glass roof and four-zone climate control.
Vorsprung tops it off with cooled front seats, plusher leather, a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi and four-wheel steering.
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