You know what some journalists do when we get behind the wheel of a test vehicle... we hammer the throttle, shift at redline, late-apex every corner, and hope the manufacturer doesn't measure tire-tread depth after the car is returned. Different behavior wouldn't be in-line with The Official Journalist Creed.
Well, the creed is more a set of guidelines than rules, so our responsible behavior whilst participating in the Audi Mileage Marathon can be excused. During our three full days behind the wheel of a 2009 Audi Q7 fitted with the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel, we were easy on the throttle, coasted a lot, and worked to maximize fuel economy, not speed. The results were impressive, as we achieved almost 31 mpg during one jaunt from Mammoth Lake to Monterey, California. Furthermore, when we drove with complete disregard for efficiency, we still couldn't push our average mileage below 26 mpg. This kind of fuel economy matches that of many smaller sedans and is similar to what we observed when driving the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.
What makes the new Q7 TDI's mileage remarkable is that it comes from a full-size, luxurious SUV that seats seven, tips the scales at more than 2.5 tons, and has fourteen cupholders.... Read full article