Audi Q7
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and ElddisWe have a 2023 Elddis Avante 868 dealer special which is up-plated to MTPLM of 1800kg (which is often done).
We tow with a 2014 Q7 3.0 TDi V6. The "Face Lift" models (from late 2010) have a slightly more powerful engine at 245PS (243hp). Our Q7 has been remapped to 293hp and 570Nm.
Towing the 868 caravan with the Q7 is almost effortless. The 8 speed auto gearbox rarely drops down from 8th gear when towing on motorways. The journey is comfortable and quiet. The Q7 is easily able to maintain road speed limits when towing up steep hills on A roads (some very steep hills) even with a car full and 1800kg of caravan behind.
The powerful V6 engine provides quick acceleration when asked. Indeed, even with a full car load and 1800kg in tow, the Q7 can still accelerate faster than some family cars when they are empty! Acceleration is always smooth, and gear changes are hardly noticeable.
Gear changes up and down, under heavy load are smooth and the cruise control works very well when travelling on dual-carriageways and motorways.
Because the Q7 is a wide car, it makes it easier to tow a modern 8ft wide caravan. The Q7 and twin axle caravan feel very stable at speed. On dual carriageways and motorways, need to keep an eye on the speed (or use cruise control) as it is very easy to be going faster than you realise!
Average fuel consumption when towing is around 22mpg to 25mpg. Fuel consumption on combined and extra-urban cycles is about 30mpg to 40mpg.
I have no hesitation to recommend the Q7 as a superb tow car for large and heavy caravans.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and SwiftI bought the Q7 originally to tow a lunar alaria which it pulled with ease. I had the car remapped for towing which proved even better as the car is only a basic SE 218bhp. I now tow a challenger x850 with a plate upgrade to 2000kg.I cannot fault the pulling power of the Q7 and would highly recommend it for any heavy twin axle caravan. the mpg I'm getting is quite good for a 3L. Around 28/29 to the gallon although I don't boot it, steady away at around 58 mph seems to be the ultimate speed for getting the most out of it.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and Baileyhaving previously towed with a vectra with an avondale dart and the bailey ancona gt65 i have got to say the audi q7 pulls faultless sometimes i forget i even have tit on the back until i glance in the mirrors this for me has been the perfect towcar no snaking at high speeds plenty of pover for steep 16% gradient hills havnt founmd one the car doesnt like yet
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and ElddisI added a non-factory removeable towbar to the Q7 and it tows extremely well. We have towed both single and twin axle caravans and it handles the extra weight of the twin axle with no issue. Very stable at all speeds, never felt the caravan was influencing the car as it is so much heavier than the van. Very reasonable fuel economy is a bonus. Highly recommended!
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and CoachmanThe Audi Q7 M (current model) fitted with the factory fitted Trailer Pack is, in our (horrendous) experience, a POTENTIALLY LETHAL combination - if you intend to use an Alko friction stabiliser, when towing your caravan.
This is because, the electrically operated tow-ball is fitted with "Trailer Assist".
This means that the tow ball itself has a channel cut into it's surface (horizontal to the road), in which, floats a steel braced ring embedded with magnets, that "tell" a Hall Sensor, set into the tow hitch, where it is, in it's rotation.
The information is passed to the MMI and you can (supposedly) reverse the caravan using the large control dial, next to the gear lever and viewing the manoeuvre on the pop up MMI screen.
The ring assembly is coated in plastic, with small tabs, on the bottom circumference revealing where the magnets are but at first glance it appears to be a completely plastic assembly. It protrudes, from the channel, proud of the surface of the tow ball. It does not recede, into the channel, when hitched up.
So there will never be full contact of the stabiliser pads with the ball, as intended by Alko.
Unfortunately, when hitched, the stabiliser friction pads (Audi call these clutch pads) compress the assist "ring", so it's distorted.
The normal motion experienced, when towing (a properly packed) caravan is sufficient to cause these small plastic tabs to break off. They can't go anywhere, as they are clamped in situ, so they bond themselves to the surface of the friction pads, due to the heat generated in the hitch/ball assembly.
The supplying dealer had no experience of this towing hitch, in fact when we bought the car -TO TOW A CARAVAN- there were only a few Q7's, in the country, advertised as having the factory fitted towing hitch and the dealers were not knowledgeable (and are still not, to this day) about this "innovation".
According to Audi customer services, Audi UK are "importers" and it is the responsibility of the dealers to familiarise themselves with what they are selling!
Most encouraging Audi!
So, in ignorance of the potential, undeclared, risk- due to the car having this "Trailer Assist" we used the car for the purpose for which we had bought it - to tow our van.
In our case, on our trip to the South coast we experienced the most violent and unexpected loss of control, that we had ever experienced. The caravan and car were swaying and lurching violently and traffic behind was reacting accordingly.
HOW we escaped tragedy, I don't know - but we did, with me using the experience gained from towing, for over forty years and a massive slice of good luck.
It really was the worst situation we have experienced.
It must have been "spectacular" on the dash cams of following vehicles.
Why had this happened, so quickly and so unexpectedly, with no forewarning?
On examining the tow ball - the assist ring had broken apart - it came off the ball easily! Many of the plastic tabs were missing? Later, I found that the "missing tabs were embedded onto the friction pads!
The sudden lack of control, presumably caused by the tow ball floating on a film of molten plastic, on the friction pads.
No friction = no stability!
The pads could not be repaired and I had to replace them with new ones and have had to leave the assist ring off the car.
We have not used the caravan since. I have contacted Audi, who initially stated that the Alko AKS 3004 WAS compatible with their tow ball. I disagreed totally, due to the horrendous incident, that we survived. I have sent photos and a full description of the incident, to the C.E.). of Audi U.K.
The C.E.O has shown no interest and has not acknowledged receipt of my two (follow up two weeks later, after no first response) letters, (and many photographs of damaged components), in which I tried to alert Audi to the inherent danger, of using this Trailer Package with a friction pad stabiliser.
I have been in contact with my servicing (not supplying) dealer, who initially said that Audi's position was that the assist ring tow ball and Alko tow hitch WERE compatible. Their comments, made as a result of information from Audi Technical.
The value of the correct type of assistance, regarding towing, at car dealerships, depends on the representative having knowledge and understanding of towing. This has not been the case with the Audi Customer Services agent nor the dealership liaison. They are not Technical people, themselves and they rely on Audi Technical to advise them and pass this information to the customer.
I pointed out that two sets of towing components, that mutually destroy each other causing a life-threatening situation CANNOT (logically!) be considered compatible.
I then sent additional photographs - this time of the inside of the tow hitch (photographed from underneath), to the dealership and asked if these could be passed on to Audi Technical.
Within 48 hours, I had an email from the dealership saying that Audi Technical's view, NOW, was that the Alko hitch is NOT compatible and only a hitch that has: Quote:
"friction pads fitted to the sides and none to the front or rear of the unit"
Audi customer services are now denying things that have been said, to me (that necessitated the dealer's involvement) and are back-tracking, that they have said that the unit was compatible, in the first case. The unit is incompatible, based on advise from Audi Technical, so there is nothing further that they can do.
They have stated this advice declares their final position. (They are only importers, remember!)
In other words they have told me that, I spent a HUGE amount of money buying a car, that last week, they have told me is unsuitable for the purpose of towing a caravan.
And........ there is nothing that they are prepared to do!
I pointed out that the car is not fit for purpose - I bought it to tow a caravan - as implied by the presence of the, ADVERTISED, fitted tow-ball mechanism.
It was therefore mis-sold.
More to the point, the car is STILL being sold, with this towing system, and since the huge majority of new and used caravans have the Alko AKS 3004 (the 2004 has even larger front and rear pads!) , Audi are selling a car with a very substantial tow-hitch (3500Kg), that CANNOT tow a caravan!
So, if anyone buys this absolutely wonderful car (it really is a pleasure - unhitched!), to tow a caravan, they are being knowingly (not to themselves but to Audi!) being mis-sold a car that could cost them their lives!
Any person considering buying this car to tow - forget it. Read the internet forums, that describe the "oft-changing" advice, from Audi, given about this very issue and see the Practical Caravan Magazine article in which a Q7 owner (having bought the car!!!) is told it cannot tow with the Alko hitch and then after the magazine intervenes and contacts Audi, they change their minds and say it IS compatible.
This is exactly the reverse situation, that I have experienced. It WAS and now it IS NOT compatible.
Who do we trust? Who do we believe?
Spend your money elsewhere or take your life into your own hands!
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and ElddisTowing is great with the Q7 people say you don't know the van is there they are lying you can always feel a van when towing but it doesn't affect the car in any way the car was built to pull and the air suspension is great the car has a towing mode and adjust to suit.
only down side is need to change tyres at the same time as is a permeant 4 wheel drive ££££
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and CaravanThe Audi Q7 is a great tow car. The air suspension tow mode is a great feature. The car is very stable and has plenty of power. Have driven hundreds of miles and find it a pleasure to drive. I would 100% recommend!
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and BaileyThe Q7 is excellent for towing makin easy work of even the heaviest van. Our outfit is just so easy with bags of power so you dont even notice it is there. The trailer stability on the facotry fit towing equipment is very good preventing snaking if needed plus the air suspension is simply excellent at keeping level plus useful when hooking up as it can be manually raised and lowered (also useful for clearing ramps on boats etc).
I would recommend 100%, also the car is great for every day use unlike some 4x4's.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and BaileyI have used our 2007 3.0ltr Q7 to tow our Pegasus around Britain and found it to be a joy the car tows excellently well with no stress to me or the car.....100% recommend from me !!! ps. Love the Pegasus as well...........
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and HobbyThe car has ample power to pull even the largest of caravans and still has plenty of power to overtake. Hills are no problems at all and take off is still very quick. Highly recommended, especially with the air suspension with tow mode and towing stability control built in. Fuel economy is about 22 mpg on long journeys at a steady 60 mph.
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