Autobild Test: Q7 vs. X5 Vs. Cayenne S
 

Test by Autobild. Q7 is # 1 followed by X5 and Cayenne S at the third spot. Text translated using Google so take it for that.
http://media.autobild.de/bild/B/44d5...4b7de6fb_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/7/4d20...21eda0b7_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/E/e9b4...e047b1ee_1.jpg

Video of X5
Video of Porsche

Audi Q7
http://media.autobild.de/bild/B/48a5...b970edab_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/B/c96d...0f8db83b_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/5/5671...30e60215_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/1/53f7...9fcb4e21_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/2/85b1...d970a0a2_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/F/b7ec...fd19f18f_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/9/e946...e6a0c219_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/3/71fd...736bc163_1.jpg

http://media.autobild.de/bild/4/f17f...7917b6c4_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/7/244b...997ec297_1.jpg



BMW X5
http://media.autobild.de/bild/4/8c21...e4ff3fd4_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/2/331d...04af8b22_1.jpg

http://media.autobild.de/bild/1/2655...d58f3a91_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/B/0c66...423f42db_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/D/5855...2a4128ed_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/6/78a3...942674a6_1.jpg

http://media.autobild.de/bild/3/b27e...01494f33_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/D/8e86...a5d12c9d_1.jpg




Cayenne S
http://media.autobild.de/bild/3/d07a...0e2b92b3_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/9/c1ca...abc70669_1.jpg

http://media.autobild.de/bild/E/a212...2972228e_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/D/a4e3...17e805dd_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/8/3031...35cce5c8_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/3/b718...6b2f1613_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/E/195f...d5f6e83e_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/1/2860...7a044591_1.jpg

http://media.autobild.de/bild/F/e416...950b9e6f_1.jpghttp://media.autobild.de/bild/7/06b7...e0cf0347_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/9/5e3f...f0b95ef9_1.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4596/gw1qo3.jpg

The formula for SUV is fast avowed, it results from the abbreviation: SUV stands for sport utility Vehicle. Sporty, useful vehicles thus. Useful is plentifully present. There bundle themselves overview, much place, variability and all wheel climbing art in just as practical as weighty prosperity package. Whereby alone this collection of everyday life virtues contributes heavily to the fact that large SUV is sosuccessful despite all CO2-Schelte to time. Sportyness is not really against it the first purchase argument for hochbeinige thick ships. Except, if AUDI, BMW or Porsche draufsteht. More exactly: the Q7 4,2 FSI quattro with 350 HP, newBMW X5 4.8i with 355 HP and the recently revisedPorsche Cayenne S with 385 HP.

In addition, straight one for these splendour copies applies: The letter V stands for Völlerei. Because the cost prices of at least 66,610 euro (Porsche) and/or 67,200 for the AUDI and 68,700 for BMW are not only happig, also at the Tanksäule require them all together an extra impact. But we do not want to place this topic into the center. Who can afford these jumbo jets, does not begin to cry also at the gas station. This time we are interested rather in the intelligent technology, which makes the thick ships Chefdynamikern.

Extreme road-hugging properties owing to stabilization
The magic word is called owing to stabilization. Here the side inclination in curves is reduced during full travel or prevented even completely. AUDI is this stabilization function into the 2575 euro expensive pneumatic cushioning adaptive air suspension. BMW connects the active absorption adaptive drive with a hydraulically supported body reconciliation (3290 euro). Porsche offers a completely similar principle, required for the PDCC to 3213 euro however must this extra as well as the electronically regulated pneumatic springs for additional 2963 euro be ordered.
Those are proud prices for a willful (body) attitude. How effectively the systems are real, we determined on the racing course (see tables on page 2). With all on highest conditions: the equipment, the security situation and fürstliche available space inclusive of best transportation qualities. Whereby we to finely differentiate here want: BMW shines with an equipment projection/lead and its comprehensive security concept inclusive adaptive stop light and xenon light. AUDI holds with functionality and variability as well as the best seats against it. Porsche makes itself strong at other front, leaves the strongest engine of the line.


4,8-Liter-V8: In 6.8 seconds the Cayenne on speed is 100.
At all are in the drive Porsche - as also with AUDI and BMW naturally - leaking first added. The bitingly winding up V8 is supplied by a gasoline direct injection with Sprit, receives support by the cam shaft adjustment Variocam plus and scoops torque reserves from an adjustable air intake system. Thus it is easy for that to setthe thick Cayenne in march. After 6.8 seconds it heaves it on speed 100, only with 250 ends the thrust. However: The potent eight-cylinder sounds rather reservedly mechanical. Only with an optional sport exhaust system (2606 euro) the Cayenne with adequate sports car voice roars. That would be also in accordance with the high drivingdynamic Potenzial.

Driving safety stands before exaggerated Agility
With pointed, to very direct steering element the Cayenne reacts extremely spontaneously on course changes. Felt the structure remains thereby into the frontier inside in the balance. In addition comes a helpful load change reaction, which lets the Porsche in curves pivot spontaneously. Fast-reacting cooperation of the driver requires - however otherwise only sedans or hochkarätige sports cars feel so wonderful actively. There AUDI cannot keep up. The Q7 is rather adjusted to journeys despite variable spring temper. In principle it moves likewise actively and stably by curves, can with its sensitive steering element perfectly be corrected. But the ESP fights each beginning of Ausrutschern overeagerly. Slogan: Absolute driving safety stands before exaggerated Agility.
Comfort: In the Q7 - oh which hammers, - as in the Porsche a muskulöses direct injecting RH ore pounds. Only sounds the 4,2 FSI von Audi more fullly, stronger. The V8 on the paper is more schlapper than the strong piece in the Cayenne.

Hiding places does not have itself the AUDI powerfully in the wind. Passages and the impressive maximum speed of 248 km/h show: The FSI technology has AUDI firmly in the grasp. Exactly like sovereigns the handling with high speed. Starting from speeds of 120 and 160 km/h the body of the Q7 lowers itself in steps. Together with the variable steering element a outstanding straight line discharge results. Like a rifle bullet the Q7 sweeps nearly ballistically stable over the motorway. In addition the balanced character of the pneumatic cushioning fits. In the Comfort mode the gently bouncing Q7 resembles a luxury sedan.

On the other hand the X5 behaves almost zappelig. Particularly with high speed the driver must hold sensitivly the course. The synthetically responding active steering element with variable translation requires frequent correcting. That does not add itself for the otherwise steadfast picture of the largeX5. As consistently the Trumm forward-storms, is a poem. Brachial breaks the Bavarian a flight corridor by the wind, pulls through bärig, sounds sportily bad knurrend and storms in 7.3 seconds on 100. And with low consumption. Exemplary also the brakes with mad delay.

The comfort in addition, is braked - by the taut basic adjustment of the X5. Particularly passengers in the rear suffer from unsensiblem responsing mode. The X5 gives in spontaneously, remains left in alternate attempts, works alone over the Wankausgleich around worlds more agiler, than it lets its weight class assume. Objectively the X5 is however hardly speedier than the Q7. Close radii does not like BMW, pushes here over the front tires outward. Against the Cayenne it looks even expressed old with this interpretation. Because that is really the Porsche under the super SUV.

AUDI Q7 - totally safe: AUDI uses the electronically regulated shock absorbers (with adaptive air suspension), in order to minimize structure movements. The absorbers place themselves harder, if the Q7 in fast driving along curves threatens to bounce outside more strongly. However the system can affect only the immersing speed, which in change curves or when avoiding is very favourable. A longer continuing support does not carry this stabilization out. In far curves - for example in a motorway departure - the AUDI leans. Only easily, but in the interior noticeably. To the driving dynamics applies: In principle the ESP of the Q7 is extremely carefully adjusted - however speed on the dynamic distance robs.

BMW X5 - fast, but does not provoke-expenditure: A hydraulic system lifts itself with up to 850 Nm of the wankenden body of the X5 against. Divided stabilizers are connected in front and in the back by one placing element each. Threatens to the right to bend for example BMW in a link curve, hydraulics links the right side up of the stabilizer, supported then the vehicle suspension system. In consequence the X5 at the curve exterior cannot bounce so strongly. In our driving dynamics tests the X5 remains subjective impressing upright. However in extreme cases the reinforcement of the Stabis affects the handling. The X5 under in fast curves, loses thereby time.

Porsche Cayenne - dynamic compromises: The owing to stabilization works similarly as at BMW. Divided stabilizers hold the Porsche in the balance. A hydraulic actuator works on the ends of the Stabis, to 180 bar pressure from a belt-driven pump at the engine rotates the halves against each other, relieves and/or stretches the suspension. Thus the Cayenne up to a transverse acceleration remains of about 0,65g upright. However: The system costs Sprit - up to a litre increased consumption. Porsche besides co-ordinated the Cayenne extremely drivingactively. Inclusive more easily pivoting tendency with the load change. Result: best round times in the Contidrom.

Result

All super, this SUV. Whereby S like sportily particularly applies to the drivingactive, fast Porsche. Nevertheless it must swallow also the V for losers - the costs are too high. BMW sets on dynamics, affords however Ausrut with additional load and trailer weight. Winner, because Jack of all trades is, the Q7.

LM,
You are the Man, for these continual array of outstanding pics & digs!
Whew! ....
BR,mD

You gotta love machine translation. Nice pics, though!

Cool, Thanks!! Pics are very cool.

Thanks, MD. serving the community.;)

did anyone notice that they said the X5 only goes 0-100 in 7.3 sec? shouldn't it be just as fast as the cayenne?

Tyre wear on the Porsche appears rather harsh!

the cayenne looks out-of-place

you see the tech-laden ultra-chic X5
the classic and elegant Q7

and then this thing that looks like a hyundai

i never saw any review that says the 4.8 x5 does 0-100 km in 6.4 sec or less, they all say its above 7, why!!!!! is it unable to do it in 6 seconds

Poor Bimmer, never seems to take top honors :(

Of course, Porsche never gets out of the back of the pack. Porsche needs to stick to performance cars.

Thank you so much. Based on this I'm going to look at a Q7 this weekend. Before we bought BMWs we used to own Audi's. It can't hurt to look.

I happen to love the looks of the new Porsche - inside & out. Beyond that though, I just dunno...

Its very impressive...I almost bought the Q7 before ultimatly deciding on the X5. The BMW Ultimate Service was the deciding factor for me...it was that close.

o, I also prefer the look of the X over the Q

Yes I think the Q7 is fugly at least from the front. But I don't think I've ever seen one in person. The test tells me they're worth a look. The website says (to me) that they're quite reasonably priced and have a much better interface than the I Drive. $500 for an installed trailer hitch is a lot more reasonable the 12 to 16 hundred BMW wants.

The Porsche, IMO, is just hideously overpriced and represents a very poor value. While I own one (a 911 not a Cayenne) and love the marque everything- and I mean everything- is optional at an extra cost. If you want poor reliability why not get the Toureag and save thousands? You can buy the Porsche logo and stick it on for less than $20.

On the other hand, unlike BMW, Porsche can apparently supply the options it advertises.

Their version of the Idrive is very similar to the X5's...I dont recall it being that much better. The interior is larger and the 3rd row is superior, it also has 3rd row airbags. The carpet they use is pretty cool, has a very nice, elegant appearance and looks like it would hold up much better than the BMW's. And of course it has Quatro...overall a very worthy competitor and worth a look.

Another point that led me to the X5 was in doing a google search on service and reliability it generally got low marks.

I guess we are swaying a bit off topic here but I was once REALLY impressed with the Q7. Until the E70 came out. The exterior of the Q7 leaves a lot to be desired, it feels VERY tight inside even with the pano roof and the dash/console area are very cluttered. Not to mention, I currently drive an Audi A4 and while I *love* the car, Audi service and customer service need a MAJOR overhaul! If my family didn't know much about cars, we would have been screwed out of thousands of dollars by now. Thankfully, we are smarter than they are! :)

Back to the Pepper- I can't get far enough past the looks to appreciate what it offers in performance!

I tried to buy a Cayenne, the dealer would not speak to me. I was dressed for work (corporate lawyer), showed up dirving my BMW, no other customers in the showroom. I felt like the invisible man. I guess he saw the BMW and he figured that his cause was hopeless!

I think the Q7 looks a bit odd, but not bad. Unfortunately it seems like they're having some trouble moving the Q7s off the lot..........my local Audi dealer has a zillion sitting while the E70 X5s are moving relatively quickly.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

funny thing is, I had the same experience at the BMW dealer.
When I finally got a salesman to talk to me, he unlocked the only X5 he had on the lot and showed me the interior. Then another salesman came up to him, took the key and said he was taking it for a test drive...just left me standing there.

I'm on my 3rd. Audi A8, great cars. We checked out the Q7 and it's real nice. Much more plush than the X5 and Audi's computer system is far superior to BMW's. The main computer difference is that with Audi you just push a button to get to the different functions (nav, radio, phone, etc.) and then use the wheel to navigate throught that function rather than having to go to the menu in I-Drive every time you want to change functions. The reason we're getting the X5 is that the Q's just too big and we don't need the extra space and my wife doesn't like the looks of it not to mention the fact that the X5 handles better and all service is free. The X5 is more of a drivers SUV.

Q7 interior is very ugly. Exterior is not that bad. I like the Porsche Cayenne all the way around. I like the new X5 exterior. I do not like the joystick in the interior.:rolleyes:

Yeah Porsche options you to death. A fully optioned Cayenne S is much more $ than an X5. You can probably add $25000 in options if you wanted to. I'm a Porsche guy but when it comes to SUV's I think they missed the mark unless you want a high performance off road capable machine, then maybe. However when it comes to high performance sports cars it's a different story.

i had a Hertz Audi Q7 3.6 rental for a whole week. Boy, am i glad not to drive this bus anymore! honestly, it is long, clumsy, and as mentioned before fugly! dont get me wrong, but compared to the Q7, the new x5 seems to be so much sexier, more driver-oriented and exciting. Driving the Q7 required so much more attention that it would in the X5. When it came to some fast driving, the Q7 behaved rather unpredictably.( initial understeer, but suddenly too much oversteer; all that with absolutely no feel in the steering wheel. WOW! past 70mph, the car felt extremely top heavy and again clumsy. Thus, it is just not pleasurable to drive this car fast. Oh, lastly, the throttle response was very imprecise and made the transmission shift unexpectedly. Alright, enough of negativity; compared to its american rivals, it is an S-class, but for some reason it doesnt go along with my personal driving habits. However, if one wants a comfortable car but yet requires no driving exhilaration, the Q7 is perfect.OK, i must give it to audi, the materials are quite nice inside and everything is nice to touch, but driving it................................................ ....... sigh
On the last note, the car i drove had xenons, but it seemed that they would only adjust vertically but not horizontally. they might have been broken, it is a rental after all!
So, after a week of crazy driving all around Napa Valley. The bus made me miss my x5 every moment!
P.S this i just an opinion, not hatred! i do love some audis, mostly the S and RS line!;)

Well if I can check it out I'll let y'all know what I think. I have NOT driven the new X5 yet but have a 2001 4.4 sport with 20s that I love (the wife drove the new one on our one test drive). I've driven the Cayenne (S), pretty extensively, I prefer my X. Makes for arguments at the local Porsche events believe me. We put both my x and a 2002 Cayenne on the skid pad one day (I'm a PCA DE Instructor) and while they were both great the x was firmer, more direct and better IMO. Most preferred the Cayenne but it was a Porsche event.

By PCA DE instructor do you mean you are a Porsche PDE instructor in Birmingham. I took the 2 day performance driving course there and I'm taking the Masters Class this year. It was an amazing experience and I learned a great deal not to mention the fact that i had allot of fun. All the instructors were great. I also prefer the X5 to the Cayenne other than the Turbo but that's over $100,000.

No I instruct at Porsche Club Driver Education events. These are a bit different from the Porsche factory PDE in that there are no lead/follows. Every beginning student has their own instructor and is allowed to drive at their own (or instructor dictated) pace. Students move up within five groups based on their skills and at the third (middle) level they may participate without an instructor. They may pass but with a signal from the car in front.

The upper groups are for people like me- club and wanna be racers without big bucks or club racers testing. I've been doing it for about ten years now.

Try to join your local club and check them out- they are terrific fun and a natural way to keep honing your skills after a PDE (cheaper too).

BTW I took one of the first PDEs at Road Atlanta about eight or nine years ago. It was a blast- my instructors were the famous Hurley Haywood and Doc Bundy. I've heard Barber is a fantastic track but I've never been there. If you are a New Yorker NNJC may be your local club and your "home" track would be Watkins Glen. A terrific, fast but unforgiving track in that there is little room for mistakes. We go there every fourth of July.

It can't hurt to look, well, i think regarding look, the Q are damn ugly.It looks like Audi tried to make the Q look bigger than it actually is, and it is really BIG.
I don't get it.
:confused:
A ton of buttons in the interior as well.:rofl:

I agree that the Q7 looks odd and is not selling well. Based upon this test it is close to the X5 and at this time will cost a fare bit less.

It's funny how beauty (or perceived beauty) can sell cars. I do have to hold my nose when looking at that "horse collar" on the front of the Q- a fairly big strike against it IMO. The rest of it isn't bad but not exactly compelling either.

IMO the X is far and away the best looking SUV. Thank God Chris didn't go radical on it.

Doc Bundy was my instructor in Birmingham, a real nice guy and a great driver. Barber is a beautiful track, I'm looking forward to going back for the Masters class. I'll check out the NYNJ club events, sounds like fun. I'm looking to track my GT3 a bit so it sounds lke a good idea.

If you own a GT3 you must track it. It's the law.

But do take it easy...that car is a beast and can get away from you. We had 17 incidents at an event two weeks ago- high horsepower, cold track.

If you can (or want) go to PCA Potomac's web site and sign up for the Glen. We're there over July 4th.

I know it's the law, if I don't track it the Porsche police will come and confiscate it.
Cold track equals lousy traction for sure especially with tires that need to be pretty warm to get reliable adhesion.
I'm a bit nervous because the GT3 doesn't have any high tech traction control to save my butt if I screw up but that's what real driving is all about.
I'll check out the Glen, thanks.

Those of you that think the 3rd row in the Q7 is bigger and more comfortable than the X5, please go and actually sit in it. At the LA Auto Show I first sat in the X5's 3rd row and thought that it was pretty tight, but I at 5' 8" can sit in it for short drives (30 minutes to an hour max). Then I walked to the Audi section and at first look the 3rd row seat looked bigger and wider than the X5's. Then I actually climbed in and notice that not only was the leg/knee room not much better than the X5, but it had one major flaw that made it almost impossible to sit there. It had absolutely no foot room. There was a bulge on both sides where you would normally put your feet, so there was no way to put my feet there. On top of that there was no room at all under the 2nd row seat for feet either. I could not last more than 5 minutes sitting like that.

It seems like some people are under the impression that while the Audi has direct buttons that let you go into the various menus with one step, with BMW's iDrive you need to go back to the main menu first and then go into the various sub-menus. That is not necessarily the case......you can go directly from anywhere to any other menu by pulling the iDrive knob in the appropriate direction and holding it for 2 seconds. For example, if you are in the Navigation section and you want to go to the entertainment menu you don't need to push the main menu button, then pull the iDrive knob down, and then click it to get in the menu. You can just pull the idrive knob down in the direction of the Entertainment menu and hold it for 2 seconds and it will take you directly from the Navigation section to the Entertainment section in one step.

Yes and furthermore, when holding the knob for 2 seconds in one direction...it not only goes to that mode, but also goes to your last configuration.

For example, lets say you have your Nav set so the left screen is the Map and the right screen is the Position graphic (my primary setup) and you go to the entertainment section for a minute then want to return to the previous nav setup. Simply pull and hold the shuttle knob right for 2 seconds and it brings both screens back up. As opposed to just pushing the knob right breifly which brings you to the Nav menu.

I really like the IDrive...it was one of the deciding factors in selecting the X5. I had heard all the bad press about the Idrive, but I immediatly found it to be an intuitive solution to managing the system. Not to mention it looks far better than a dash full of glowing buttons.

Thanks for the explanations re. I-drive. I was concerned that navigating from place to place was going to be a PITA.

Great find LeMansX5! Thank you!

However, i find their conclusion is a bit off though. S is most agile and the fastest but just cost too much. Oooookey... Winner is the "Jack of all trades", Q7? You know what they say, Jack of all trades, Master of none!!!!