2009 Audi Q7

During our three full days behind the wheel of a 2009 Audi Q7 fitted with the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel, we were easy on the throttle, coasted a lot, and worked to maximize fuel economy, not speed. The results were impressive, as we achieved almost 31 mpg during one jaunt from Mammoth Lake to Monterey, California. Furthermore, when we drove with complete disregard for fuel efficiency, we still couldn't push our average gas mileage below 26 mpg. This kind of fuel economy matches that of many smaller sedans and is similar to what we observed when driving the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.

On the road, the 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI drives like a buttoned-down full-size SUV. You'll never mistake it for Audi's R10 TDI Le Mans winner, but acceleration is brisk, with 0 to 60 mph coming in about 8.5 seconds. The six-speed automatic clicked off shifts effortlessly and proved to be a good partner for the diesel. The ample torque made the big Q feel ready to accelerate at any moment.

The 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI hasn't been rated by the EPA, but Audi claims that the U.S.-spec model should return at least 25 mpg on the highway and travel about 600 miles between fill-ups.

The rest of the German-spec Q7 3.0 TDI's driving experience is virtually identical to that of other Q7 models. The interior is gorgeous, although third-row seating is not nearly as spacious as the Mercedes GL's. Body control is impressive, but the price you pay is a brittle ride at low speeds; our test vehicle's twenty-inch wheels only exacerbated that situation. The Audi Q7's diesel engine isn't as smooth or as quiet as the Mercedes diesel, either, and the 2009 Q7 is cursed with a poorly calibrated, nonlinear accelerator pedal (as are many other Audis).

In a year when Audi has lined its awards cabinet, its Q7 quattro luxury SUV has added another accolade to the maker's resume, this time KBB's 2009 Best Resale Value Award. The award recognizes vehicles that are expected to retain the highest proportion of their original retail value price five years after purchase, per the vehicle's specific segment.

The 2009 Audi Q7 quattro has won other awards this year, including the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and leading consumer research firm Strategic Vision's SmartGreen Index and Total Value Index for luxury SUVs. In addition to the Q7 quattro winning the Best Resale Value award for luxury SUVs, Audi's A5 coupe won the Best Resale Value award for luxury cars.

A 221-horsepower, 406-pound-foot engine that hustles this big honkin SUV to 60 mph in a claimed 8.4 seconds and achieves 25 mpg on the highway. How's it drive? Unlike any gasoline-powered SUV. Big thrust comes online just off idle, peaking from 1750 to 2750 rpm then tapering off as the needle approaches its modest 4600 rpm redline. Smoothly accelerating from a stop or a low cruising speed requires some right-foot finesse, or things can get jerky when the boost comes on. The 2009 Audi Q7 V-6 gets a tiny bit coarse at higher revs too -- a problem that's utterly erased by the 326 hp, 560-lb-ft, 6.4-second 4.2 TDI V-8 or the 500-horse, 737-lb-ft, 5.3-second 6.0 TDI V-12 -- neither of which is yet slated for U.S. sales.