Audi Q7 Review: Built For The Surfer’s Dawn Patrol

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby marvel at Californian surf culture in Malibu.

Green Lane: Audi Q7 Review

Jeremy Just like a fierce debate over whether to spread jam or cream first on a scone – obviously the latter – Californians are prone to an argument about the real home of surfing USA.

Santa Cruz or maybe Huntington Beach, or should that be Hawai’i? All are preferable to a cold dip in the Atlantic off a Cornish beach. For many, the place where it all started is Malibu, just up the coast from Los Angeles and a World Surfing Reserve.

Famous for its long, peeling right-hand point breaks, from daybreak to dusk, Lagoon State Beach is a mecca for any self-respecting surfer. 

Whatever your ability, the day starts for most with an equally daunting challenge – trying to find a parking space. And if your motor is a whopping Audi Q7, it could be a trying experience. The ultimate luxury basecamp for surfers, the big Audi SUV is simply massive, spreading across three rows of seating for up to seven passengers. 

Built for the dawn patrol, when you are chasing the perfect wave the Q7’s expansive cabin easily adapts to a surfer’s lifestyle. Folding the third row flat reveals a massive cargo bay that provides ample room for wetsuits, dry clothing and camping gear.

And while electric SUVs dominate modern headlines, the diesel-powered Q7 TDI, starting at just over £81,000, still offers a blend of long-distance efficiency and rugged practicality that aligns perfectly with the demands of the coast.

Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system gives flawless traction on loose gravel and wet sand too. When paired with optional adaptive air suspension, the Q7 can raise its ride height to clear rough terrain, protecting the underbody from stray rocks. 

Once back on tarmac, the suspension lowers, transforming the SUV into a planted, serene motorway cruiser that masks the fatigue of a long day in the water.

Fortunately, we don’t need camping gear, thanks to a reservation at the legendary Malibu Beach Inn, right on the water’s edge. This 47-room property between Malibu Pier and ‘billionaire’s row’ is a great location to rub shoulders with some of the Hollywood elite, from Lady Gaga to Leonardo DiCaprio.

Perched directly over the Pacific surf, the hotel boasts a coastal escape with mesmerising sunset views. Sleep with waves crashing beneath the bedroom window and a real fire adding to the atmosphere.

The Beach Inn is an ideal sanctuary for travellers and ‘wannabe’ surfers seeking a refined, intimate retreat beside the sea. A stunning property that perfectly captures the breezy, upscale spirit of Malibu.

Jessica It might prove a struggle rolling out of bed for an early morning surf lesson staying at the Malibu Beach Inn! We breakfasted at the hotel’s Carbon Beach Club restaurant, then took the Q7 a mile up-coast to the town’s own surfer’s paradise.

The big Audi feels every bit as robust as a Range Rover and excels as an upmarket, family SUV. It’s a seriously cool blend of sophisticated design and everyday utility.  Inside, a luxury cabin is a masterclass in craftsmanship, boasting high-end materials and Audi’s intuitive Dual-touchscreen Virtual Cockpit. 

The Q7’s standard all-wheel drive and turbocharged engine option provides effortless acceleration and confident handling. And while cargo space behind the third row is tight and ownership costs run high, the Audi remains a top-tier pick for families and well-heeled surfers alike.

Malibu Beach Inn is a Leading Hotels of the World (lhw.com); visitcalifornia.com

Discover more about the Audi Q7 at audi.co.uk

Dr Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, with a PhD in sustainable e-textiles.