Seven-seat Audi SUV tipped to feature a long-range PHEV
FELIX PAGE
Audi has started on-road tests of the new, third-generation version of its three-row Q7 SUV. Set for UK dealerships in early 2026, it will be one of the last combustion-powered cars Audi launches, because the firm plans to introduce only pure-electric cars from that year, on the way to phasing out ICE models completely in 2033.
In its design, the new Q7 follows the upcoming new Q3 and Q5 SUVs by adopting Audi’s latest corporate front end, with an expansive new version of the octagonal grille, sleek, split-cluster LED light designs and a clamshell bonnet.
Its straight-backed rear end and high roofline point to an emphasis on interior space and boot capacity. At this early stage, though, it’s not clear whether it will be tangibly larger than today’s model.
The new Q7 sits on an evolved version of the MLB architecture that underpins the current model, no doubt with revisions made to accommodate new powertrains – including longer-range plugin hybrids that will allow it to compete better with rivals.
The latest version of the smaller MQB platform, which underpins a raft of Volkswagen Group cars, can now accommodate a 19.7kWh battery, which gives an electric-only range of up to 62 miles in the PHEV versions of Volkswagen’s new Passat and Tiguan.
The extra floor space in the MLB means it is expected to accommodate this battery or even a larger pack, boosting the Q7 PHEV’s EV range beyond the 26 miles of today.
Official details of the new Q7’s powertrain remain under wraps, however, beyond Audi’s earlier confirmation that its final generation of ICE cars will be powered by a “completely new family of engines”.
The Q7 will no doubt continue to be offered with a choice of mild-hybrid petr
