New Audi Q7 gets 50mpg V6 diesel engine
Audi adds new entry level 215bhp 3.0 TDI engine to 2015 Q7 luxury SUV range. It's on sale now from £47,755
Audi's second-generation Q7 luxury SUV has just got a bit more affordable thanks to a new entry level diesel option. The Volvo XC90 rival gets a 215bhp version of the existing 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, promising nearly 50mpg.
Available to order now for UK delivery in October, the entry-level Q7 means the range now starts at £47,755 for the SE spec model. It's also available in sport S-Line trim, while efficiency-minded owners can opt for a smaller 18-inch wheel design to hit the headline combined cycle economy figure of 49.6mpg with emissions of 148g/km.
The standard 19 or 20-inch wheels hurt efficiency slightly, resulting in 48.7mpg and 150g/km, which is only a marginal improvement on the 268bhp version of the same engine. As well as losing 53bhp, the new unit gives away 100Nm of torque in the quest for lower running costs. 0-62mph is down from 6.5 to 7.3 seconds, while the top speed is 134mph.
Although now the cheapest Q7 in the range, the new version won't be the most efficient for long. Audi has previously revealed a diesel-electric Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid, which claimed some astounding economy figures of up to 166mpg and just 50g/km. That's despite a hefty 368bhp and 700Nm of torque. It's not due on sale until later in 2015, however.
The Q7 has a long way to go before it can trouble the most economical cars on sale. Check them out here...
