Audi Q7 vs BMW X4

What's the difference?

The Q7 was at risk of irrelevancy due to the unfortunate timing of its rivals' life cycles, but Audi made sure that wasn't going to be the case.

As far as mid-life facelifts go, Audi has knocked it out of the park with the Q7, so much so that the case can be made it's now the class leader.

In many ways this Q7 feels like an all-new model, which is quite something. More importantly, the positives well and truly outweigh the negatives.

Okay, so the BMW X4 xDrive30i is neither an ass nor an elbow, to be fair, it's more of a bulky shoulder muscle, or two.

I can't say I'll ever love the X4, the idea of it is a bit too weird for me, but I can't help admiring the way it looks and the way it drives.

It's a bit like a sedan on steroids - or an SUV on a diet, depending on your perspective - but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s fun to drive, comfortable and retains just enough coolness, and just enough practicality, to make it worthwhile.

Good on Audi for throwing the kitchen sink at the second-generation Q7. As far as mid-life facelifts go, this is a really good one.

Up front, the headlights, 'Singleframe' grille and bumper have all been redesigned to ensure the Q7 isn't out of place in Audi's new-generation line-up. Either way, this is a large SUV with presence in spades.

Changes around the side are less drastic, limited to new sills and fresh sets of alloy wheels, including the 20-inch items seen here, which we reckon are pretty unexciting.

The rear end is the best angle thanks to the redesigned tail-lights and rear diffuser, both of which look great. We particularly like the former's segmented design, shared with the headlights.

That said, the real story is happening inside, where Audi has well and truly flipped the script. The old cabin was ageing well in some regards, but not others, and that was reason enough for a complete overhaul.

If the new interior design looks familiar, it's because it is, having been lifted from the much newer – and mechanically related – Q8 large SUV.

Needless to say, it's a technological tour de force, with not one, not two, but three large display screens dominating the cockpit.

Of course, Audi's much-loved version of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is one of them, although it's running new software now.

What is completely new, however, is the pair of stacked central touchscreens, with the top unit measuring 10.1 inches in diameter and the lower item checking in at 8.6 inches apiece.

Both are powered by Audi's latest-generation multimedia system, with the former handling most functions, while the latter is responsible for the climate controls.

Aside from being a fingerprint magnet, this set-up works pretty damn well. Yes, some functions require a few too many taps to get to, but the acoustic and haptic feedback bring some unexpected tactility to what is a largely buttonless system.

Look past the obvious, though, as it's more or less business as usual for the Q7, which is chock full of lovely materials, including the 'Cricket' leather upholstery seen here.

Take for instance the soft-touch plastics used on the upper dashboard and door shoulders. Even the hard plastics found lower down look and feel suspiciously good!

Metallic trims are used throughout to brighten up the interior, while gloss-black finishes are liberally applied to the dashboard and centre console. Frankly, we could do without them as they are fingerprint magnets. Yep, keep a microfibre cloth in the glove box.

So here's the thing. Obviously I have a personal beef with the existence of vehicles like this, but my eyes cannot deny the facts - the X4 looks fantastic. It's muscular, imposing and smooth all at once. Unlike the X6, a bigger and less visually successful attempt to play the same styling tricks with an X5, it doesn't have a ridiculous rear view that looks like it shoulders and buttocks have been fused (although it's hard to miss just how small the rear window is).

Even more impressively, there's no denying it looks better than the X3 that gave birth to it, so I can easily see why someone in a BMW showroom could be drawn to it. At least until they sit inside.

If the exterior style and eye-catching Sophisto Grey metallic paint don’t make an immediate impression then your eyes will surely widen at the interior, resplendent with bold Tacora Red seats, Aluminium Rhombicle trim finisher and the kind of sleek, classy styling that BMW excels in. 

Both the adjustable ambient lighting on the doors (we were partial to lilac) and door projectors that shot out what looked like robot wings onto the ground every time we hopped out of the X4 at night walked a fine line between futuristic cool and “parked out the front of a nightclub entrance” chintz, but over time the scales tipped more to the former. 

The big differentiator between the X4 and X3, of course, is the sloped coupé roof, a design feature that may make the X4 look a little cooler, but at the expense of cabin space, but more of that in a moment.

Measuring 5063mm long, 1970mm wide and 1741mm tall in facelifted form, the Q7 is large for a large SUV, which goes some way to explaining why it's only available with seven seats.

That said, the third row is more of temporary solution than a permanent one, even for kids.

Granted I'm an adult that's 184cm tall, and therefore not the target audience here, it's still tight back there, albeit up with the best in class.

With the second slid all the way forward, I manage to have my knees pressed up against the seat backrest, while headroom is severely limited.

Footwell space is okay, and so too is toe-room. Again, children will cope, but only on shorter journeys.

Ingress and egress to the third row is made easier by the 40/20/40 split-fold middle bench, which can tumble forward easily with the pull of a tab and then a latch. It's not glamorous, but it's doable.

Conversely, the second row is spacious and easy to get in and out of, even when set up to make the rear occupants as comfortable as possible.

Behind our driving position, around 10cm of legroom is available, depending on the positioning of the bench. No matter what, though, there's plenty of toe-room, and two inches of headroom is on offer, despite the panoramic sunroof.

Indeed, this is one of very few SUVs that can accommodate three adults abreast in relative comfort, even with the transmission tunnel reducing footwell space.

For reference, top-tether and ISOFIX child-seat anchorage points are spread across the second and third rows.

Cargo capacity with the power-folding third row stowed is generous, at 865L, and can be expanded up to 2050L with the middle bench stowed. An undisclosed amount of space is available with all seven seats in use. Either way, it's more than enough for the weekly shop (as you can see in our pics).

The boot is made more useful thanks to the inclusion of four tie-down points and one side storage net, while the lack of a load lip makes dealing with bulkier items a lot easier.

The only real issue we had was where to store the load cover when not in use. There's no false floor to gobble it up, meaning it'll annoyingly live at home when you've got six or more people on board.

That's not to say the Q7 doesn't have other storage options; it's got plenty of them, such as the useful storage nets on the back of the front seat backrests.

The glove box is pleasingly large, although the central storage bin is not, with most of its space taken up by the wireless smartphone charger.

The door bins are simply massive, with the front items capable of accommodating a large bottle and two regular ones, while their rear siblings can take one of each.

Two cupholders are located between the driver and front passenger, while another pair is hidden in the middle row's fold-down armrest. Rear occupants are treated to two smaller items.

Connectivity-wise, in an old-school twist, four USB-A ports are split between the first and second rows. In both instances, a 12-volt power outlet is found nearby.

The former's input options are located in the central storage bin alongside SD and SIM card readers, while the latter's reside at the rear of the centre console, below the central air vents and climate controls.

For a car that is very much a mid-sized SUV on the outside, the interior can feel a bit too snug, like you’re driving a compact car that’s tried on a suit a few sizes too big (for reference, I’m 175cm tall - above-average height drivers may find the snugness soon turns to claustrophobia). 

While comfortable - it is BMW we’re talking about, after all - there’s not an overly abundant amount of headroom available, a feeling that becomes more pronounced should you shut the big moon roof.

My two children felt slightly too close to “you’re annoying me” distance from one another, which is to say this isn’t really the kind of car you should be getting if you plan on regularly ferrying about passengers in the rear who are bigger than a child. But I really don't think many people with kids would choose the X4 over the X3.

Boot space also takes a hit when compared to the X3 (550 litres versus 525-litres in the X4 - I was surprised the difference wasn't larger - although that expands to 1430-litres with the rear seats folded down. 

The boot opening is also mouth-shaped, which makes packing in wide-load items more of an issue.

Cupholders are plentiful - two in the front, two in the rear, and bottle holders in each door - and there’s a decent-sized storage cubby in between the front two seats. 

The sloped roof, and big fat A pillars, also result in the X4 being a bit more pinched at the rear, which is not especially great for visibility, with the vehicle’s blind spots taking some getting used to.

Cost-wise, the X4 is roughly in the same ballpark as the other cars in this strange sub-segment, but when you add in optional extras - metallic paint, panorama glass sunroof and BMW Laserlight headlights among them - the base price of $95,900 plus on-road costs sneaks up to $101,800, which is is no small figure. 

It’s also a considerable $8000 more than the SUV-shaped X3, meaning you’re essentially getting the same car, but with less cabin and boot space, for more money. To be fair, this is just part of a long tradition of the style-conscious buyer being willing to pay more for less, one that the invention of the coupe pretty much invented.

That kind of money also makes exclusions like adaptive cruise control, heated seats and wireless charging a bit of a head-scratcher.

Still, there’s plenty to love, including an M Sport kit that comes standard with the X4 (a suspension/brake package and various styling embellishments), butter-soft Tacora Red Vernasca leather seats (Sport adjustable for the driver and front passenger), 20-inch M light alloy double-spoked wheels, a head-up display, adaptive LED headlights, and an automatic tailgate. 

There’s also a generous high-resolution 12.3-inch control display and digital 12.3-inch instrument display, the former operated by touch or via the rotary iDrive Touch Controller. 

Cable-free Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, but BMW allows you the option to use its iDrive system instead, just in case you're some kind of mad Munich fanboy - or you hate Apple. 

The 50 TDI is motivated by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, producing 210kW of power from 3500-4000rpm and 600Nm of torque from 2250-3250rpm.

For reference, the 45 TDI has the same unit but develops 170kW from 3250-4750rpm and 500Nm from 1750-3250rpm.

The former sprints from a standstill to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds, while the latter is 0.8s quicker, putting it in hot-hatch territory.

Either way, an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission sends drive to all four wheels via Audi's signature quattro system.

Both variants also feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which consists of a belt alternator starter (BAS) connected to the crankshaft, and a 10Ah lithium-ion battery pack located under the boot floor.

And for those looking to do a little more than usual with the Q7, maximum braked towing capacity is 3500kg.

Now, prepare to be confused. In the past, the 3.0 in the xDrive3.0i nomenclature might have led you to believe you'd bought a BMW with a 3.0-litre straight six engine. But in this case, you have not, the 3.0 just means you have a more exciting version of the 2.0; a TwinPower turbo 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine, making 179kW and 353Nm that the xDrive system delivers to all four wheels. 

The claimed zero to 100km/h time of 4.9 seconds feels completely realistic as this engine has plenty of poke. Put it in the Sport setting and you'll get some serious shove. Indeed, the switch between Comfort and Sport is very noticeable and changes the character of the car entirely.

The transmission is an eight-speed conventional torque converter automatic gearbox that’s both smooth and responsive. 

The 50 TDI's claimed fuel consumption on the combined cycle test (ADR 81/02) is 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres, while carbon dioxide emissions are 180 grams per kilometre.

Audi says the aforementioned 48V mild-hybrid system reduces fuel consumption by 0.7L/100km thanks to its coasting ability, which sees the engine turn off for up to 40 seconds between 55km/h and 160km/h. It also engages idle-stop from 22km/h. In reality, it all works pretty well.

During our week of testing, we averaged 8.9L/100km with limited highway driving, which is a pretty solid result. Naturally, longer journeys will see that figure come closer to the claim, if not exceed it.

It's also worth noting the standard fuel tank takes 75L of diesel, although the optional item accommodates 85L. The 50 TDI also requires AdBlue, with a 24L tank on board.

For reference, the 45 TFSI manages 7.0L/100km and 184g/km.

The X4’s 65-litre tank needs to be 95-octane at a minimum, and BMW’s claimed combined fuel consumption is 7.9 litres per 100km. The temptation to use its rorty little engine is going to push you higher, though - you chose the one with the 3.0 badge on it after all - and we averaged 10.9 litres per 100km in our week together, which was mainly city driving, to be fair. 

The Q7 is a big beast, but it's not as intimidating to drive as you may think.

In fact, it's very easy to live with, if you don't mind managing its size in certain scenarios, such as finding a park in a busy shopping centre.

The SUV's electric power steering is speed-sensitive, which means fewer inputs are required at low speed, making parking and other manoeuvres easier, while stability is improved at high speed.

While not the first word in feel, this system is nicely weighted and surprisingly direct, endearing the Q7 with some sports-car characteristics.

That said, our favourite element is its independent suspension set-up, which consists of multi-link axles with air springs and adaptive dampers.

Needless to say, ride comfort is superb, with the SUV just floating along, even on uneven surfaces.

Introduce a coarse-chip road or a pothole, though, and the Q7 does become unsettled. But this is probably more noticeable because the ride is otherwise so sublime.

Instead, it's through the corners where it's truly exposed, with body control decent but nowhere near class-leading. Yep, it's here that its 2135kg unladen weight (excluding 75kg for driver and luggage) is really felt.

Flick the SUV into its Dynamic drive mode and things noticeably pick up, with extra heft added to the steering and the suspension firming up and hunkering down by up to 40mm. It's an improved experience in the bends, but not a memorable one.

However, our biggest bugbear is the exaggerated turbo lag served up by the 50 TDI's engine. Below 2000rpm, it has absolutely no go. Above it, though, it hammers.

Being a diesel unit, it doesn't have a lot of revolutions to play with, so you find yourself hunting for its upper reaches when accelerating, even around the town.

Making the most of the situation, the 50 TDI's smooth automatic transmission is responsive to kick-downs, but it's not lightning quick, meaning progress is stunted more often than not.

It also doesn't help that the eight-speeder is tuned for economy and therefore likes to keep engine speeds just above idle. This is particularly evident when attempting to power out of a corner.

When playing in the engine's upper reaches, the 50 TDI well and truly comes alive, serving up punchy acceleration, which is easier to access with the aforementioned Dynamic drive mode engaged. It makes shift patterns more aggressive and prompts more consistency.

The impressive trick that BMW continually pulls off with its SUVs is giving them the same sensual, muscular steering as its sedans, and an impressively similar ride and handling balance.

The steering is the highlight here, but it's also noticeable how planted to the road it feels.

The X4 speaks to its looks, in fact, by feeling sportier and more alive to drive than you'd expect an X3 to be.  

This is less an SUV for soccer mums and dads, and more a bastard love-child that’s into loud leather and bright neon - a CEO who dressed punk rock-lite on weekends, if you will. 

If those weekends are bereft of child taxiing and loading up the boot with several tons of kid stuff, then you’ll have a blast in the X4. 

A 2018 test gave the X4 a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and an easily located button on the dash brings up the vehicle’s safety suite if you’re the kind of driver who likes to make a few adjustments. 

A 360-degree camera offers multiple viewpoints and is a godsend when parking the X4, since the cabin makes the car feel smaller than it actually is on the outside, and the range of safety features on offer are more than adequate. 

Those include autonomous emergency braking, dynamic braking lights, dynamic stability and traction control, rear-cross traffic alert, speed limit information and hill descent control. 

All Q7 variants come with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is well short of the premium market's new five-year standard.

Audi also bundles in three years of roadside assistance, although this term can be extended up to nine years if the vehicle is serviced at an authorised dealership, which is nice.

Speaking of which, service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Capped-price servicing plans are available, costing $2310 for three years or $3190 for five.

Despite all the brouhaha about other car manufacturers offering more generous warranty periods - seven years for Kia, for example - BMW has not shifted its stance, still offering its standard three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty. Frankly, it's just not good enough.

BMW also offer a Service Inclusive package for $2010 that covers owners for five years, or 80,000km.