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Entry-level 4-cylinder Audi Q7 priced under $50,000
Audi dealers won't have a diesel engine to offer you if you're looking for a Q7 in the United States, but the automaker says its new 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine should help bridge some of that gap by delivering an estimated 22 mpg combined, all for a hair under $50,000.
Audi hasn't released detailed fuel economy specs yet for the Q7, but that 22 mpg combined figure is on par with the old base model's highway mpg. It's also better than the BMW X5 xDrive35i, although that model is quite a bit more powerful than the Audi.
MORE: Read our expert review of the 2017 Audi Q7
The engine will serve as the entry point into the Q7 lineup here, although it's hardly a low-end model. According to Audi, it will boast 252 horsepower from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 273 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. All Q7 2.0Ts will exclusively pair an 8-speed automatic transmission to the brand's Quattro all-wheel drive system.
Although there's a power deficit over the old base Q7 with its 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 engine, the Q7 2.0T weighs about 500 pounds less than its predecessor, which helps it overcome that engine room loss. And it's still a fairly robust engine, capable of towing up to 4,400 pounds when equipped with an optional trailering package.
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That said, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter engine will continue to be offered here.
The base Q7 will be offered in Premium and Premium Plus configurations, priced at $49,950 and $53,950, respectively, including a mandatory $950 destination charge. That's about $6,000 under the Q7 V-6.
Look for the new 4-cylinder Q7 to hit the market in early 2017.
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