Audi Q7

Unlike the Q3 and Q5, every US Q7 is strictly quattro by default — and without Ultra: permanent mechanical Quattro with a Torsen and the 8-speed classic ZF (Tiptronic), the most dependable drivetrain on the market. There is no front- drive in the stock.

There are two engines. The 2.0 TFSI ('45 TFSI', 248–261 hp) — four-cylinder, fine for town, with the standard EA888 gripes (water pump, PCV). The 3.0 TFSI ('55 TFSI', 333–340 hp) is the real engine: up to 2019 supercharged (EA837) — durable, but watch the chains at mileage; from 2020 single- turbo (EA839) with a 48-volt mild hybrid whose Continental starter-generator (BAS) likes to fail suddenly.

The body uses a lot of aluminium — front fenders, hood and structural rails. In a heavy front-end hit the frame needs costly argon welding on a jig. If the lot has adaptive air suspension and the air springs or compressor are deformed, restoring it here is steep.