Audi Q7 Facelift delivers a dose of Q8, mild hybrid and new interior

Audi’s big Q7 SUV gets a facelift, with new 48V mild hybrid tech, a new interior and a look which takes it closer to the Audi Q8.

Audi’s Q7 may not be the pick of big ‘Premium’ SUVs, but it’s loved by those who buy it and does a decent job of shifting up to seven people and their stuff around in a decent cabin.

Now, as the competition for the Q7 continues to intensify, Audi has given the Q7 a nip and tuck and added new technology to make it a bit moer appealing.

To deliver a more able, and less ‘gas-guzzling’, SUV, Audi has turned to the VW Group’s 48V mild hybrid setup, adding a Belt Alternator Starter to the mix to let the Q7 do a bit of fuel-saving coasting, a bit of stop-start at up to 13mph and comes on both the 228bhp and 282bhp versions of Audi’s 3.0 litre diesel.

The 48V mild hybrid setup also allows the Q7 to offer trick active anti-roll system as an option, so you’ll be able to throw your Q7 around like a Bentley Bentayga. Not that you’d want to.

Exterior changes are quite limited and include new headlights with new light signature, re-profiled side sills and a bit of a tidy up at the back end with a chrome strip between the tail lights.

Inside the makeover is more extensive, although dumping the rotary controller in favour of the Q8’s glitzy, but less practical, two-tier touchscreens is a case of style over function. But it does bring the Q7 up to date.

The facelifted Audi Q7 will arrive in Audi’s UK dealers in September.