Audi Q7 safety levels are adequate for an SUV of this size, and it received a four star rating out of five from Euro NCAP, the independent crash test assessors – although a maximum five stars is now the norm.

The front occupants are protected by front, side and head airbags while the head airbag system extends back to protect all three rows. Additional side airbags can be specified for the second row too.

The standard electronic stability control has additional features including a rollover stabilisation program that intervenes if it detects the Q7 is in danger of toppling over.

More safety systems added in 2015 facelift

Standard safety kit after the update includes rear parking aid, adjustable speed limiter, rest recommendation and Audi pre sense city, which warns the driver of impending collisions and can also brake in an emergency, where a multi-collision brake assist system helps prevent the car from skidding.

Options include a cross-traffic assist, which warns the driver of other vehicles when driving slowly in reverse, and an exit warning system indicates vehicles or cyclists approaching from the rear before the door is opened.

Adaptive cruise control accelerates and brakes to keep the Q7 at a safe distance from cars ahead of it, and the traffic jam assistant will take over the steering in heavy traffic travelling slower than 37 mph.

A lane assistant makes small adjustments to the steering to help keep the Q7 in a lane,

Audi active lane assist uses a camera and small steering interventions to help the driver to stay in a lane, and a night vision assistant uses an infrared camera to detect pedestrians and animals in the dark.

With all seven seats in place, the Q7 still offers 330 litres of luggage space. Fold the third row (into the floor) and there’s a 775-litre load area which is 150 litres more than the Volvo XC90. The second row of seats also folds flat (with a 60/40 split), creating a flat load floor for larger items.

There are cargo nets on the side of the passenger footwell and the backs of the front seats plus a waterproof storage area beneath the boot floor for storing things like dirty boots.

An optional remote tailgate powers the boot open and closed at the touch of a button. This was made standard in the 2015 round of updates, as was a lower loading lip.