06.05.2009
Audi’s new Q7 6.0 TDI quattro takes the super-SUV into uncharted territory in terms of price and power, but how does it stack-up against its petrol powered rivals? And can any of them claim to be true drivers’ cars? We went to Cadwell Park to find out… and to have a bit of a laugh.
Now read the feature magazine and then let us know your thoughts.
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14 Comments
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
May 6, 2009Posted on DR: Super-SUV test http://bit.ly/HxFCF
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
May 6, 2009Posted on DR: Super-SUV test http://bit.ly/HxFCF
Steve
May 6, 2009I demand a recount!
As a former ML63 owner and current X6 owner (35d rather than 50i) I’m beginning to wonder whether I moved in the right direction after reading Jethro’s review..
I thoroughly enjoyed the ML63 and as Jethro implies it has a freakishly capable (and fun) chassis – I have fond memories of blasting up and down the D 902 from Bourg St Maurice to Val d’Isere, drifting the big AMG around the tighter corners. I also remember blasting through the tunnels only to be stopped by the Gendarmes who heard me coming..
It was a 5 month gap between selling my ML63 and collecting my X6 and I had plenty of reason to doubt my wisdom, but 12 months on I’m happy with my decision.
I drove both ML63 and X50i when they arrived at DR’s offices and despite the ML63’s hideous interior (mine was black this was grey) I remembered why I loved the way it looks. The aluminium trim should be deleted, but the 21” wheels look far better than the 20” ones on my 2007 model and this new ML63 also sits a lot lower than mine. Driving it reminded me of something I didn’t like though, with 7-gears you’d expect the ML63 to have torque a plenty, but in reality it can feel really gutless unless in 5th gear or lower. I remedied some of this by fitting a device called a ‘Sprintbooster’ which alters the mapping of the Mercedes electronic throttle and brings the power delivery much more within the drivers reach.
It’s a shame Mercedes set up the ML63 this way, and when driven back-to-back with the X6 50i I was genuinely surprised that the X6 felt just as quick as the over-powered ML. The power is also more accessible in the X6 which means it can be driven almost as lazily as in the torque-laded 35d and yet it is much, much faster than the diesel when the throttle is applied.
I found the same reluctance to oversteer when we took our long-termers to Curborough circuit last Christmas – on the most slippery of surfaces I could trick the X6’s transmission into letting the tail play, but it was very hard to predict and even harder to sustain. But on the road that never actually matters, the X6 is so effortlessly quick and it’s the poise and grip that confer an advantage over not just SUVs but many supposedly sporting cars.
Given how fast the X50i was in our hands I can’t wait to see what the X6 M will be like – an extra 150bhp will be hilarious, but perhaps not as much fun unless the engineers at M GmbH are allowed to release that rear-end. Here’s hoping.
Steve
May 6, 2009I demand a recount!
As a former ML63 owner and current X6 owner (35d rather than 50i) I’m beginning to wonder whether I moved in the right direction after reading Jethro’s review..
I thoroughly enjoyed the ML63 and as Jethro implies it has a freakishly capable (and fun) chassis – I have fond memories of blasting up and down the D 902 from Bourg St Maurice to Val d’Isere, drifting the big AMG around the tighter corners. I also remember blasting through the tunnels only to be stopped by the Gendarmes who heard me coming..
It was a 5 month gap between selling my ML63 and collecting my X6 and I had plenty of reason to doubt my wisdom, but 12 months on I’m happy with my decision.
I drove both ML63 and X50i when they arrived at DR’s offices and despite the ML63’s hideous interior (mine was black this was grey) I remembered why I loved the way it looks. The aluminium trim should be deleted, but the 21” wheels look far better than the 20” ones on my 2007 model and this new ML63 also sits a lot lower than mine. Driving it reminded me of something I didn’t like though, with 7-gears you’d expect the ML63 to have torque a plenty, but in reality it can feel really gutless unless in 5th gear or lower. I remedied some of this by fitting a device called a ‘Sprintbooster’ which alters the mapping of the Mercedes electronic throttle and brings the power delivery much more within the drivers reach.
It’s a shame Mercedes set up the ML63 this way, and when driven back-to-back with the X6 50i I was genuinely surprised that the X6 felt just as quick as the over-powered ML. The power is also more accessible in the X6 which means it can be driven almost as lazily as in the torque-laded 35d and yet it is much, much faster than the diesel when the throttle is applied.
I found the same reluctance to oversteer when we took our long-termers to Curborough circuit last Christmas – on the most slippery of surfaces I could trick the X6’s transmission into letting the tail play, but it was very hard to predict and even harder to sustain. But on the road that never actually matters, the X6 is so effortlessly quick and it’s the poise and grip that confer an advantage over not just SUVs but many supposedly sporting cars.
Given how fast the X50i was in our hands I can’t wait to see what the X6 M will be like – an extra 150bhp will be hilarious, but perhaps not as much fun unless the engineers at M GmbH are allowed to release that rear-end. Here’s hoping.
Neville Contractor
May 6, 2009It does seem a shame that the lightest car here (and a BMW at that) does not allow you to consistently bring the rear into play. Seems to me that BMW have missed a trick that would further differentiate the X6 from its protagonists.
I’m quite pleased the X6 50i can live with the ML63 in a straight line though. As previously said, with an extra 150bhp the X6 M ought to be a real hoot…
Neville Contractor
May 6, 2009It does seem a shame that the lightest car here (and a BMW at that) does not allow you to consistently bring the rear into play. Seems to me that BMW have missed a trick that would further differentiate the X6 from its protagonists.
I’m quite pleased the X6 50i can live with the ML63 in a straight line though. As previously said, with an extra 150bhp the X6 M ought to be a real hoot…
Mark McTavish
May 6, 2009This article might mark an interesting milestone in the history of the ‘car.’ Might prove interesting to read again in 10 years time.
Mark McTavish
May 6, 2009This article might mark an interesting milestone in the history of the ‘car.’ Might prove interesting to read again in 10 years time.
Moe Khan
May 7, 2009You guys should’ve brought along the Infiniti FX50 S as well. It would’ve given the others a real run for their money.
Moe Khan
May 7, 2009You guys should’ve brought along the Infiniti FX50 S as well. It would’ve given the others a real run for their money.
Guy
May 7, 2009Another great read. Why didn’t you bring along the Turbo S for the test? They are available in the UK correct?
At Steve: Did you ever look to get the ESP fully disabled on your ML?
Guy
May 7, 2009Another great read. Why didn’t you bring along the Turbo S for the test? They are available in the UK correct?
At Steve: Did you ever look to get the ESP fully disabled on your ML?
JethroBovingdon
May 7, 2009No Turbo S on the Porsche press fleet, I’m afraid. Looking at the lap times maybe we didn’t need one on this occasion!
JethroBovingdon
May 7, 2009No Turbo S on the Porsche press fleet, I’m afraid. Looking at the lap times maybe we didn’t need one on this occasion!