2021 AUDI Q7 ground clearance

4M1012721BC
Storage and convenience

Luggage comp: Crikey ta
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment cover
[RAZ-0731|


B4L-1256

Fig. 78 Luggage compartment: removing and installing
the luggage compartment cover
Observe the safety precautions > page 87.
> To attach the luggage compartment cover, pull
the cover out by the handle @) and secure it in
the mounting eyelets (2) on the side trim pan-
els.
> To remove the luggage compartment cover,
pull the lever firmly in the direction of the ar-
row > fig. 78 and remove the cover upward.
> To install the luggage compartment cover,
place the cover in the mounts on the side trim
panels on the left and right side.
> Push the cover downward until it clicks into
place.

D_Incertain countries.
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension

Fig. 79 Left side of the luggage compartment: rear lower-
ing button
The rear of the vehicle can be lowered to make
loading and unloading easier.
Requirement: all vehicle doors must be closed.
The trailer mode for air suspension is switched
off.
> Open the luggage compartment lid.
> To lower the rear of the vehicle, press on the
lower section of the button @.
> To raise the rear of the vehicle, press on the up-
per section of the button @).
The LED in the button will turn on while the vehi-
cle is lowering. When the loading level has been
reached, the LED will stay on as long as the rear
of the vehicle is in the lowered position. The LED
turns off when the vehicle returns to the original
level.
The rear of the vehicle will be automatically
raised when you select another mode or start to
drive.
— Do not park the vehicle in a lowered loading
level.
—Also refer to the information about ground
clearance > page 114.
89

4M1012721BC
Driving

— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and
drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
— To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* offroad mode > page 113
— Hill hold assist* > page 111
—Inclinometer* > page 110
— Raising the vehicle > page 114
— Limit ESC > page 118

ZA WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
G) Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the

full braking effect will be restored.

@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
ter.
@ Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
eee
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
The “@ button is located in the function bar on
the lower display. It lights up when the system is
turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “ again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the a indicator
light will turn on.
Ready mode
If one of the requirements for active regulation is
not met, the system will be in ready mode. The
111
>

4M1012721BC
Driving dynamic

Driving dynamic
Audi drive select
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
Drive select makes it possible to experience dif-
ferent types of vehicle characteristics in one vehi-
cle. With different driving modes, the driver can
switch the setting, for example from sporty to
comfortable. This allows you to adjust the set-
tings to your personal preferences. This makes it
possible to combine settings such as a sporty
drivetrain setting with comfortable steering.
Selecting an Audi drive select mode
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The size button is located above the selector lever
in the center console.
> Press the left or right arrow key until the de-
sired mode appears in the MMI. Or:
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
You can change the driving mode when the vehi-
cle is stationary or while driving. If traffic per-
mits, briefly remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal after changing modes so that the mode
you have selected will be activated for the drive
system.
The following modes may be available depending
on the equipment:
offroad - Provides assistance when driving off-
road. The vehicle will be raised to the second-
highest level using the air suspension*. The ESC
will be restricted and the hill descent assist* will
be activated. The vehicle will exit this mode after
the ignition is switched off.
allroad - Provides balanced vehicle handling. The
vehicle will be raised to the second-highest level
using the air suspension*.
comfort - Provides a comfort-oriented vehicle
setup and is suited for long drives on highways.
auto - Provides an overall comfortable yet dy-
namic driving feel and is suited for everyday use.
dynamic - Gives the driver a sporty driving feel
and is suited to a sporty driving style. The “S”
driving program is selected.
Individual - Provides the option for personalized
vehicle settings. Press ¥ to configure the mode
=> page 113, Individual settings.
G) Tips
When the ignition is being switched on, indi-
vidual systems, such as the drive system, will
be reset to a balanced setting. Select the cur-
rent mode again to attain its full configura-
tion.
Individual settings
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The equipment in your vehicle will determine
which settings you can adjust.
Drive
The drive system will react to accelerator pedal
moves more quickly or in a more balanced man-
ner. The shift points are placed in higher or lower
speed ranges.
Depending on the setting, the drive power at the
rear axle will be distributed with the sport differ-
ential* to be more sporty or moderate
=> page 117.
Steering
The power steering will adapt. Light steering is
suitable for long trips on highways or smooth
driving around curves, for example.
Suspension
The suspension adjusts to be tighter or more
comfort-oriented when it comes to compensat-
ing for uneven spots on the road.
Based on the selected setting, the air suspen-
sion* will adjust the ground clearance and the ac-
tive roll stabilization* will provide various de-
grees of compensation for vehicle movements.
113
>

Driving dynamic

Engine sound
The engine sound adapts and can be subtle to
sporty. In the automatic setting, the engine
sound depends on the selected driving program.
Suspension
PCED La mer ele)
Applies to: vehicles with suspension control
The adaptive dampers are an electronically-con-
trolled damping system. The firmness of the sus-
pension will adapt to the driving conditions and
the driving situation. The settings depend on the
selected Audi drive select* mode.
Air suspension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The air suspension is an electronically-controlled
suspension and leveling system. The firmness of
the suspension will adapt to the driving condi-
tions and the driving situation. The system balan-
ces out changes in load. The vehicle level will also
adapt gradually to the vehicle speed in order to
reduce the wind resistance at high speeds and in-
crease the ground clearance at low speeds. The
settings depend on the selected Audi drive se-
lect* mode.
Displaying the vehicle level
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
The filled-in boxes represent the current vehicle
level. The more boxes that are filled in, the high-
er the ground clearance. The box that corre-
sponds with the current vehicle level will flash
while the vehicle is lifting or lowering. The target
level is highlighted in color.
Raising the vehicle
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
> Press Raise to reach the highest vehicle level
and thus the maximum ground clearance.
> Press Lower to lower the vehicle down again.
The Audi drive select* mode will be changed if
necessary when the vehicle is raised.
114
The vehicle will lower at speeds of approximately
20 mph (30 km/h) and below. This function may
only be used temporarily when increased ground
clearance is necessary. It is not intended for long
drives.
() Note
— Also refer to the information about ground
clearance > page 114.
— When transporting the vehicle on a road
carrier, rail carrier, ship carrier, or other car-
rier, it may only be secured at the running
surfaces of the tires (circumference). Secur-
ing the vehicle at the axle components, sus-
pension struts, or towing eyes is not permit-
ted because the pressure in the air suspen-
sion struts can change during transport. The
vehicle might not be secured sufficiently if
this happens.
Active roll stabilization
Applies to: vehicles with active roll stabilization
The active roll stabilization enhances the air sus-
pension with an electromechanically-controlled
suspension
system. It influences targeted rolling
movements when driving on curves and during
fast swerving maneuvers. The settings depend on
the selected Audi drive select* mode.
Ground clearance
The vehicle height and clearance can be influ-
enced by the following factors:
— Change in temperature
— Change in load
— Change to the Audi drive select* mode
— Lifting and lowering via the air suspension”
— Lower the rear* of the vehicle

ZA\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, make sure no one
gets pinched when the vehicle level is chang-
ing, for example when cleaning the under-
body or the wheel housings. >

4M1012721BC
Driving dynamic

@) Note
Always make sure there is enough clearance
above and below the vehicle. This is especially
important for entrances with height restric-
tions, for example, before driving into under-
ground garages. You could also scrape the
ground when driving over the edges of curbs
or on steep ramps, which could damage your
vehicle.
Bair suspension: malfunction! You may con-
tinue driving slowly at max. XX mph (km/h)
There is a malfunction. Driving stability may be
limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately. Do not
drive faster than the speed given in the message.
B Air suspension: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. Speed limited to max. XXX
There is a malfunction. Driving stability may be
limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately. The
maximum speed has been limited.
B Air suspension: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle. Steering and ground clearance limited
There is a malfunction. Do not continue driving.
Secure the vehicle against rolling before exiting
the vehicle > page 99. Avoid turning the steering
wheel, because the vehicle ground clearance may
be so low that turning the steering wheel could
result in damage to the wheels and wheel hous-
ings.
EB active roll stabilization: malfunction! Limit-
ed stability. See owner's manual
There is a heavy load on the vehicle electrical sys-
tem or the roll stabilization. The roll stabilization
functions have already been switched off tempo-
rarily. Driving stability is reduced. Continue driv-
ing with caution.
If the indicator light does not turn off after a
long period time and after switching the ignition
off and on, drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected. Otherwise, con-
ditions such as an uneven road surface can lead
to vehicle damage.
1 ¢ | Suspension: malfunction! You can continue
driving
There is a malfunction. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
B Air suspension: vehicle too low. Limited
ground clearance
The vehicle ground clearance is very low. Wait un-
til the air suspension system has restored normal
ground clearance. Have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility repair the mal-
function immediately if the indicator light does
not turn off after a significant period of time.
B Air suspension: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction. The driving stability may
be limited and the ground clearance may be low.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension low-
ering. See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 31.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension lift.
See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 31.
Steering
Electromechanical steering supports the driver's
steering movements by electronically adapting
the power steering depending on the vehicle
speed. The settings depend on the selected Audi
drive select* mode.
All-wheel steering
Applies to: vehicles with all-wheel steering
Additional steering ability at the rear axle im-
proves the driving dynamic and stability. Atlow >
115

Trailer towing

If you must drive on roads that are in poor condi-
tion, you can raise the vehicle again after hitching
the trailer or after adjusting the tongue weight
=>page 114.
You can also increase ground clearance by select-
ing the Audi drive select* offroad or allroad
modes > page 113.
Vehicle levels below the values set in the comfort
level will no longer be available, even if you are
lowering the vehicle manually.

ZA\ WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
— Never turn off trailer mode while driving
when a trailer is hitched, because then the
restrictions for controlling the vehicle level
will be turned off.
— Driving with a trailer on unpaved roads when
the vehicle is raised may change the vehicle
handling. Adapt your speed.
— Note that the vehicle will lower automatical-
ly at certain speeds if you have lifted the ve-
hicle manually.

@) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with air suspension: Se-
lect the Audi drive select* comfort mode.
Otherwise, the tongue load specified for
your vehicle will no longer be applicable.
— Attachments retrofitted on the vehicle may
cause damage, especially on the trailer
hitch ball head. In cases of damage, have
the function checked by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@ Tips
— Block the wheels with chocks when parking
on inclines if the trailer is loaded.
— Audi recommends having the vehicle in-
spected between the inspection intervals if
you tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
Driving with a trailer
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.
122
Speed
Adhere to the legal speed limits. Follow the legal
regulations that are applicable in the country
where you are operating the vehicle.
As the speed increases, the driving stability of
the trailer decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the maximum legal speed limit when
there are unfavorable road, weather, and/or wind
conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.
Hill
When you start driving uphill or downhill, trailers
may tilt or sway sooner than when driving ona
level surface. If small swaying movements have
already occurred, you can stabilize the trailer by
firmly braking immediately. Never attempt to
“straighten out” the trailer by accelerating.
Downshift before driving on hills to utilize the en-
gine braking effect > A\.
Brakes
When using a trailer with overrun brakes, first
brake gently then quickly. This reduces the risk of
jerking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up.
Engine coolant temperature
Pay attention specifically to the coolant tempera-
ture display when there are high outside temper-
atures, and when driving on long inclines
=> page 14. Shift to a higher gear in a timely man-
ner.

ZA\ WARNING
Constant braking causes the brakes to over-
heat and can substantially reduce braking per-
formance, increase braking distance, or cause
complete failure of the brake system.

Driver assistance

— The system has a limited ability to detect
vehicles that are a short distance ahead, off to
the side of your vehicle, or moving into your
lane.
— Objects that are difficult to detect, such as mo-
torcycles, vehicles with high ground clearance,
or vehicles with an overhanging load, may be
detected late or not detected at all.
— The system does not respond to people, ani-
mals, or objects that are crossing or approach-
ing from the opposite direction.

Z\ WARNING
Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 123.
Display overview
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

3| | | IN| | G3

Fig. 104 Instrument cluster: driver assistance display
Indicator lights and messages in the speedome-
ter @ - @ inform you about the driving situation
and the settings. In the Driver assistance display
@- @, you can find more detailed information
about the system. The displays depend on the
country and equipment.
Display in the speedometer
The display in the speedometer is not available in
all layouts*.
140
@ Marking for the set speed
@ Current vehicle speed
@® Available speed range for adaptive cruise as-
sist (example)
Image in the Driver assistance display
The display only appears when the Driver assis-
tance display is open in the on-board computer
=>page 15.
Messages and settings
Your vehicle
Detected vehicle driving ahead
Messages and settings
Set target distance
If you fall below the set distance, the dis-
tance bars turn red from the bottom upward.
Lane departure warning availability
O©©
©©0OO®
Availability of lane guidance for adaptive
cruise assist
Indicator lights
BA - The speed/distance control is active. No
vehicles were detected ahead. The stored speed
is maintained.
A - The speed/distance control is active. A vehi-
cle was detected ahead. The system controls the
speed and distance from the vehicle driving
ahead, and accelerates and brakes automatically.
A - The speed/distance control is active but the
vehicle is not ready to drive. A vehicle was de-
tected ahead. Your vehicle is stationary and will
not start driving automatically.
SB - The speed/distance control is active but the
vehicle is not ready to drive. No vehicles were de-
tected ahead. Your vehicle is stationary and will
not start driving automatically.
B.- The automatic braking is not enough to
maintain a sufficient distance from a vehicle driv-
ing ahead. You must intervene > page 147, Driv-
er intervention request.
- Lane guidance is active.
- Lane guidance is switched on but not active.
> 4 - The limits of the system have been reached.
Take over steering.