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-   -   Nowhere to go from an Audi Q7? No car under 2-crore feels like an upgrade! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/luxury-imports-niche/289271-nowhere-go-audi-q7-no-car-under-2-crore-feels-like-upgrade.html)

Hi all, first thread in a while so please bear with me!

Context

We have a 2018 Q7 petrol and are looking to upgrade to a better/more modern car.

Our primary use case is city driving with occasional highway trips. We have a driver to take care of most trips and need a 4 or 5 seater max (Q7 is a 7 seater but I can't remember when we last tried to use them).

We have decided to upgrade but are faced with quite a quandary - no car upto 2cr feels like a worthy upgrade :Frustrati.

Would love your thoughts on this as I am unable to make a decision here.

The contenders

We are not picky with the form factor - sedan or SUV anything works.

Here are the vehicles we are considering:

1. Mercedes S class - Very fancy and luxurious but somehow I felt the back seat to be a little low. Also the middle seat is almost useless.

2. Mercedes GLS - Massive car but again the extra space doesn't seem to be in the middle row. Third row is much better than the Q7 and so is the boot space.

3. BMW 7 series - Competes well with the S but again useless middle seat and very confusing UI in the back seat with the tablets in the door pockets

4. BMW X7 - Felt better than the GLS in the front but I am not a fan of the captains chairs in the middle.


Here are a few we didn't consider:

1. Porsche Panamera - Very poor standard equipment and somehow space seems less than the competition at the back

2. Porsche Cayenne - Doesn't feel like an upgrade after shelling almost 2cr

3. Audi A7 - Very dated compared to the Merc/BMW land yachts.

4. Audi Q7 - Didn't feel like going in for seconds

5. Range Rover - In a different price bracket all-together

6. Defender - Haven't researched much, should I consider this?

Additional Information

While this would mostly be driven by the driver, I do love to drive as well - 65/35 split in terms of comfort vs driving pleasure.

We don't mind looking at the used car market but prices are notoriously high in Bangalore.

Looking forward to everyone's thoughts on this! :)

Ah, the classic dilemma of being unable to upgrade from a car that punches above its weight. I adore the Q7 - great pricing (priced way below direct competitors), 3.0 turbo-petrol, fast gearbox, air suspension, timeless styling.

Since your car is just 7 years old, why not wait for Audi to bring the all-new generation Q7 here? It's being spotted testing and will debut in 2026.

Defender is all about style and will make you feel good like no other :thumbs up. But from the Q7, I think you should test-drive the Range Rover Sport whose pricing has just become better due to CKD pricing. Both are exceptional SUVs, the Range Rover Sport more so.

Interesting Dilema :)

If you are comfortable with electric cars I would suggest you to do consider the Mercedes Maybach EQS 680.
It has acclaimed range of 600 kms and being a Maybach comes fully loaded with tech as well as luxury.
The pricing would be a little bit over 2 cr, however the additional depreciation benefits and lower rate of gst should help you compensate the same.

2 cars that immediately pop to mind (they're probably in a much lower price bracket compared to the Q7), are the 2025 Kia Carnival (pretty damn good for a Kia), and the Volvo XC90, it is a bit old now and the tech may be dated..

Then there's the Japs, The Lexus LX (of you want the body on frame ruggedness, probably doesn't drive as good as the Q7 though), and it's counterpart The Toyota Land cruiser.

Q7 is a dressed-up Volkswagen, so unless you’re comparing your new purchase to the Q7 value versus, an upgrade should be easy :coldsweat

If you primarily use the driver and do most city runs, consider checking the Vellfire as well. It’s an excellent vehicle for city runs, but only for the rear seats.

However, if you drive yourself more than occasionally, the X7 is the car to consider. The captain seats work very well, and the third row is decent. This car has a different chassis than the X5, and you can feel the difference in back-to-back drives. With the current discounts, it’s a very good value for money.

The Range Rover is well within your budget of 2 Cr, but the deliveries might be a challenge. You should definitely check it out.

Porsche: A common rule I’ve learned with Porsche, is to consider around 20% extra over the base prices as options as acceptable. There are some free Cayenne GTS's available in the market, and they’re very different from regular ones, especially when configured correctly. However, if you spend more time in the rear, it’s better to ignore this.

We are a 1 car household so we're not too keen on electric as the only car.

The RR sport does seem nice but the backseat doesn't feel like an upgrade. Any how, I will pay a visit to the Land Rover showroom to check out the defender 110.

Kia Carnival does seem nice but unfortunately the brand appeal just isn't there. XC90 is too old now.

LX and LC are in a different bracket all-together :)

Turbanator, could you explain what you mean by the deliveries being a challenge and free GTS's available in the market?

This is a good dilemma to be in. Unfortunately for you, you have one of the best cars in the business downwards of Rs. 2Cr. Maybe if you could give up a bit on the comfort, the Defender is a good choice if not it was going to be the Prado which unfortunately isn't on sale right now.

Well said. Along the same lines, my one line review of any Audi thus far has been- VW in Fancy clothing and some fancy lights.

The RR Sport rear seat may not as luxurious as compared to a full fat RR.
Trying to be true to the name, the rear seat of the Sport is slightly lower. Hard to miss.

However, for what you are comparing with, the defender maybe an odd choice. It does not exude luxury. Under the skin technology is the same as in a RR Sport for the most part. It's the user experience that is not poised towards luxury in the defender.

Your personal experience may be different than mine. Do update post your visit.

Good place to be in.
I feel that your post has RRS HSE written all over it.
X7 / GLS are far too common, relatively speaking and also considering that 3rd row is of no use to you, these cars will feel tad too large to manage without added advantage (to you).
Defender may feel very utilitarian in design and coming from Q7, it may be asking for quite a bit of mindset change.
Having said that, I wouldn't miss on giving a fair chance to Cayenne if your budget allows crossing 2Cr territory.
That also opens up the options like LC300 while RR is still a whole stretch away.

I understand the apprehension but do consider the following:

1. EVs currently offer you tremendous value for money at the luxury end because of 5% GST vs 50% for ICE. Cars like EQS further benefit because they are CKD assembled in India and skip the 100% duty and instead pay 25%. You can skip multiple price levels with EV. This level of price arbitrage may not exist in the future.

2. Cars in this segment have very long range. 500 - 600 KMs in a single charge. With single DC session of 20-30 mins, easy to extend that to 800+ KMs. Your dependence on charging infra is much lower compared to budget EVs.

3. Highways in and around Bangalore have seen charging infra mushroom. Given your location, that's an added advantage.

Many of us are one car households with lots of highway driving and it has worked out fine. Do consider the trips you take, the charging infra on those routes and make an informed decision.

There's a used Vogue on sale at BBT. It looks good. In the used car market, a Bentayga might be an upgrade to your Q7. Nothing like newer models LX if they come within your budget.

I think the XC90 would be a good fit to the requirement.

>Performance
>classy looks both interiors and exteriors
>Surely more reliable than Audi or Range Rover
>upfront cost also much better and great value
>Space
>7 seats
>Feature and tech.

It’s pretty hard to upgrade from BS4 era luxury cars. Anything that seems like an “upgrade” ends up costing twice as much sadly. If you take the usual upgrade budget of around 30% more than the previous car, you will get a lateral upgrade at best.

That being said, take a look at the Vellfire. It will be a compromise in driving pleasure but if rear seat comfort is your main issue, then there is no other car for the job.

Ok, what will be your idea back seat? You don't like the captain seats so what exactly are you looking for?


And not available atleast in 2025. LX700h may come but will be 3 + and the wait list :Frustrati


RR Sports or Vogue both have a 6 Month + wait list. I expect this to even increase since we now get HSE trim in CKD.

Cayenne in base 6 cylinder will be very similar to what you have or let's say a dressed up Audi/ VW. GTS does get some very different equipment and a lot of standard options over the base Cayenne. But the rear seat of Cayenne will not be any different/ upgrade over your Q7.

So, Range Rover Sports should be your best bet, do consider the same.

Since you’ve mentioned you are a one-car household, don’t get the Range Rover Sport because buying that brand is a gamble and there is a chance that you might end up with a rotten product. As a third car, RR makes sense because you need a backup car for it.

I would suggest the X7, as it has great driving dynamics, a pliant ride, and the captain chairs are quite comfortable. The X7 gives you the best of both worlds.

The GLS is better in interior vibe.
You can’t go wrong with either BMW or Merc. Both will give you better comfort than the Defender. Get the Defender if you want road presence, but again, I won’t suggest it as the only car in the garage; it can be a second car.

Don’t get the Vellfire if you like to drive; it’s strictly a chauffeured car.
In sedans, I would recommend the S class because it has all the comforts and road presence. It should suit your needs because you are fine with a four-seater.