Big, fast, luxurious, seven seats, leather everywhere, more tech than you can use: the Audi Q7 is the ultimate German luxury SUV. And yet you can pick up a 2021 model for $31,350. That is less than the base level Toyota RAV4 LE, which starts at $31,900. A RAV4 is a great car, but the Q7 is in another league. Back in 2021, the price of a new Q7 ranged from well over $50,000 to just north of $70,000. A new Q7 today starts at $62,000. How can this be? Would it be a good idea to buy this car?
Let’s take a clear-eyed look at the factors in play to help you decide if you should consider buying this great car at that fantastic price. Let’s start by finding out why it is now so affordable. We will also look at what levels of luxury the Q7 has to offer inside and out, the performance and driving characteristics, and ownership costs and related considerations.
Depreciation And Pricing: Why The ’21 Audi Q7 Is Now So Affordable
All cars depreciate once they roll off the showroom floor. A 20-percent drop in the first year is about average, and about 15 percent per year over the next two or three years. Expensive cars like the Q7 or any of the other luxury models out there depreciate faster than mass market models like the RAV4. Brands like Toyota and Honda also tend to depreciate less than other brands.
The main reason is the smaller market. There are fewer people who buy expensive luxury cars, and they tend to buy new ones after a few years or lease. They don’t want to sit with the cost issues of an aging car. Replacing the Q7’s original set of tires, for example, can set you back anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on which brand you choose. A lot of these cars are also leased, so the lease expires after three years, and the used market is artificially flooded with used Q7s and similar cars.
Original Selling Price Vs. Current Market Value
In 2021, the Audi Q7 starting price ranged from mid-$50,000s to over $70,000. Today, the average price is $31,350, ranging from as low as $23,000 up to $43,000. That means the Q7 lost anywhere from nearly 50 percent to over 70 percent in value. The plus side is that most of the depreciation has already happened, and the depreciation curve flattens out a lot at about five years. In contrast, the 2021 RAV4 new cost between $26,000 and $37,000, and the average used price today, according to Edmunds, is $25,060. That value will also not come down much, so the difference is $6,000 between a true luxury large SUV and a nice, but mass-market compact SUV.
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Why Luxury SUVs Depreciate So Fast
Used car value is largely determined by market patterns. As the price of new cars skyrockets — topping $50,000 for the first time in September last year — buyers seek value in used cars, and that drives up the prices of these cars as well. While the luxury aspects of the Q7 will always be attractive, buyers already squeezed for price will tend to prioritize the lower running costs and price of repairs of mainstream vehicles such as the RAV4. There is a massive demand for used RAV4s, and this keeps used prices higher, while the converse is true for the Q7.
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Luxury Inside And Out: What The Audi Q7 Offers
All cars are not equal, and the Audi Q7 is the very essence of spacious luxury. It is also a big car, and bigger cars feel more solid and planted on the road than smaller ones. Even if the Q7 and RAV4 had the same fittings and features, which they do not, the big Q7 would feel more luxurious.
Interior Quality And Technology
The soft-touch finishes, fine detailing, and carefully curated layout combine to give the Q7 a luxurious feel. The virtual cockpit digital instrument display, comprehensive infotainment, and top-end features included as standard move the luxury needle firmly to the north. Technology like driver-assist is strong in current Toyotas, but even those in the 2021 Q7 may still have the edge.
Utility And Comfort
The Q7 can seat seven, even if the third row is more aimed at children than large adults, and the first and second row seats offer generous head- and legroom. The RAV4 has five seats, and the back row can be slightly cramped. The interior of the Q7 has a more refined ambiance, and this, coupled with the quiet ride and more assured road feel of a bigger car, gives the passengers in the Q7 a better driving experience.
10 Used Turbocharged Six-Cylinder SUVs Ranked By Fuel Efficiency
These used SUVs pack a lot of power while remaining fuel-efficient for their size.
Performance And Driving Dynamics
The thing about buying a used luxury car is that the expensive optional extras that originally bulked up the purchase price tend to get discounted when the vehicle is five or six years old. You may well find a Q7 at a good price, with features like four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, or one with the turbo V6 in place.
Engine Options And Drive Experience
The 2021 Audi Q7 came with two engine options. The base trim had the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that made 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbo V6 with 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The latter was tested doing 0 – 60 mph in five seconds, quick for a three-row SUV.
While the RAV4 is available in FWD and AWD, the model used for price comparison is the FWD option. The Audi Q7 comes standard with the legendary Quattro AWD. The RAV4 does offer a significant fuel efficiency advantage over the Q7, especially if the buyer’s choice of car is driven by economic necessity rather than a quest for affordable luxury.
Towing And Versatility
The Q7 can tow from 4,400 to 7,700 pounds, depending on the engine size. While you would not use the Q7 as a work truck, it does mean extra versatility, taking a boat or trailer along on a holiday or weekend away. The RAV4 can tow between 1,500 and 3,500 pounds, depending on the drivetrain.
Costs Of Maintaining A Pickup-Truck Or An SUV
If you are looking for a vehicle to get the job done, some of the best choices are either a pickup truck or an SUV, but which one is cheaper to own?
Ownership Cost And Consideration
A big car costs more to drive than a smaller car, just on fuel alone. The Q7 with the 2.0-liter turbo gets 21 MPG combined, costing $4.63 per 25 miles, and $6,000 more than the average new car over five years. The standard gas RAV4 gets 30 MPG, costs $2.45 per 25 miles, and costs $750 less than the average new car. Those are important figures if your purchase decision is guided by budget.
Reliability And Maintenance
The reality is that bigger cars cost more to maintain and repair. So do luxury cars, and large German luxury cars are right at the top of this list. Even if nothing breaks, services and replacement parts, from tires to air filters to cabin knobs and levers, will cost a lot more on the Q7. If the service record is clean, you may get away with it, but when things break, it can break the bank.
Final Thoughts
Getting a 2021 Audi Q7 with around 50,000 miles for the price of the entry-level RAV4 is an automotive sweet spot for a buyer who really wants a big luxury car. It gives you that fantastic combination of size, comfort, quality, performance, and driving characteristics normally well beyond the means of most buyers.
Some savvy buyers who could afford a new Q7 or similar vehicle might opt for the used one anyway, because someone else has already eaten the depreciation, and they would have the money to spend on maintenance and repairs. It is the buyer with less of a budget, drawn to the value proposition of the Q7, who should weigh up both the perks and financial penalties and pitfalls associated with such a purchase. YOLO does not pay the bills.