In Audi’s Nimitz-class SUV, the Q7, base motivation has been a supercharged V-6 with 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. For 2017, however, Audi will also sell you its three-row hauler with the brand’s 2.0-liter turbo four. Those who sign up for two fewer cylinders will save a significant lump of cash?but they should expect little, if any, additional savings at the pump.
At $49,950, a base 2.0-liter turbo Q7 Premium is $5800 cheaper than a supercharged Q7 3.0T. And the $53,950 Q7 2.0T Premium Plus undercuts the 3.0T Premium Plus by the same price margin. All of the standard equipment on the V-6 models carries over to the fours. But if you want all the goodies available on the top Prestige trim, you’ll be forced to go with the V-6 (at $65,250), since the 2.0-liter isn’t offered in Prestige form. In the latest A4, this revised turbo four, at 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, is downright quick. In the Q7, it has to schlep another 1200-plus pounds, not to mention the weight of cargo and potentially five adults and two kids stretched out over its three rows of seats.

So it’s not surprising that the fuel-economy benefit of the four-cylinder in this 5000-pound car is minimal: just 1 mpg. Compared to the 3.0T’s EPA-estimated 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, the four-banger delivers 20 mpg city and the same 25 mpg on the highway. It also loses 3300 pounds of towing capacity, now rated at 4400 pounds.

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