K2audi

Exactly...I learned my lesson years ago when I bought an older Jeep Wrangler. I went with the 4cyl. for gas mileage reasons. Found out that I got about the same gas mileage as the guys with the 6 cyl. were getting and I was down quite a bit on HP too.

A lot has to do with the type of vehicle. A 4 cyl. Honda Accord sees better gas mileage the the 6 cyl. version but they are low to the ground and relatively light vehicles and much easier than the Q7 to keep moving down the road. Being that the Q7 is a heavy rig and not really aerodynamic makes the 3.6L work harder to move it. The 4.2L works less hard to move it and you see that in the close mpg. figures seen.

Same kind of scenario with the Corvette...huge motor with gobs of HP and torque that gets in the high 20's on the freeway. Low aerodynamic car with an engine barely working to keep it moving equals pretty good gas mileage.

K2audi

Not up here in the PNW...Diesel is still up there with premium. With that said...it is still the much better choice even with price that it is.

DUTCH VanAtlanta

I think that's called "contempt prior to investigation".

She really ought to drive one before she makes such a radical statement.

WVUrS6

I drove a 14' cube truck around Manhattan and the boroughs for 2 years so I can relate. Your a brave man to drive the Q as a DD in Manhattan.

RoMeS5

Hi, my Q7 TDi has about 6k miles logged now. Avg mpg is 23 in city and highway. Did Chicago - Denver and back with avg. 30 mpg. at 70mph. 700+ miles per tank. Had an outside temp in Winter Park, CO, at -40°F. Car was parked outside. First turn was rough, idled a bit ugly but after 10 seconds ran better and after a minute ran smooth. Diesel is 20 ct lower than reg here.
Would love an A3 two door with the German 2.0TDi 170HP quattro.
Drove that in Germany last month Phantastic car. Would race any Bimmer in the city.

iconoclast

i love it on the highway and on road trips... the car handles very well, pull strong, and can fit another audi inside it... i really have no complaints with the car outside of its weight... i think for the price tag audi could have used a bit more aluminum to shed a few more pounds.

JDeW

Our 2011 tdi averages 24-25 in mixed driving. If it wasn't so fun to feel that low-rpm thrust I'd get more mpg I imagine. Plus I try sport mode more and more. I LOVE getting close to 600 miles a tank. Plenty of power, efficient, quiet and clean. I'm surprised that clean diesels (Audi, Mercedes, BMW) aren't more popular than they are here in the US. This is my 1st diesel ever and I'm more satisfied with it than any engine I've ever owned by far. Nothing against the gas q7s, I've never owned one of those. But I'm loving my tdi.

Oldmxnut

TDI wins every time. Sound is important... they are suprisingly quite for a diesel, but growls like a Gas V8, when you push the pedal.. I have a 4.2 TDI (yes i love to remind my americans buddies of their limited q7 Motor range.. ) ... so its even better..