New 2007 Audi Q7 Safety Review [ 2009 , 2008 ]
Audi Q7 Safety Review
Safety - 9.4 (Excellent)
Reviewers are impressed with the innovative accident avoidance features on the 2007 Audi Q7. Road and Track comments that Q7 owners "have a remarkably safe passenger hauler." To back up this praise, the 2007 Audi Q7 receives the highest ratings possible in government front and side crash tests.
Accident Avoidance
Standard accident avoidance features include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control and electronic stability control with rollover sensing. But the feature that draws the most attention from reviewers is an option, Audi's new Side Assist (available with the Technology Package), which tells the driver whether there's a car in the SUV's blind spot. If there is, and it's not safe to change lanes, lights start to flash.
Reviewers have mixed opinions on the usefulness of the Side Assist. The Kansas City Star says, "I soon found this to be extremely helpful in freeway traffic" and the New York Times calls it "very smart." But Ward's AutoWorld observes that "[t]he lights are mounted neatly on the edges of the side-view mirrors. A little too neatly, because they are sometimes difficult to see from the driver's seat. However, a slight turn of the head accomplishes the task, which is a far sight easier than the full head-swivel required to check blind spots the traditional way." Although the CNET reviewer liked the feature, the praise was qualified: "In heavy traffic, we had to ignore the flashing and move into the next lane over anyway."
Several reviewers also praise the Rearview Camera and Parking System (which, like Side Assist, is available with the Technology Package). This shows a rear camera view with computerized guidelines indicating what path the vehicle will take based on the current angle of the steering wheel. "We found this to be an extremely useful feature that would be valuable when backing up to a trailer," writes New Car Test Drive. "It's also a great safety feature, whether backing out of the driveway or out of a space in a crowded shopping center parking lot, because it helps spot people or objects that might be difficult to see from the driver's seat."
The Q7's available adaptive cruise control uses radar to detect oncoming objects in front of the vehicle and can bring the SUV to a full stop if necessary. The New York Times notes that the "adaptive cruise-control settings remain in effect even when you've come to a stop in traffic, so there is no need to reset every time you resume - just brilliant."
Crash Protection
In the event of an accident, Q7 passengers can rest assured that they are protected. The driver and front passenger have dual-stage front impact and side-impact air bags, and there are head protection bags for all three rows of seats. The rear passengers have side curtain air bags.
In government crash tests, the Q7 its top 5-star rating in frontal crash tests and side crash tests, and a good 4-star rating in rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet rated the Q7.
