I suppose I'm target market for Audi's Q7. A relatively high earner. A need to sometimes carry more than five people. Occasional towing and light off road requirements. And the need for plenty of luggage space. Oh, and my wife and I like SUVs - and, as it happens, Audis.

Before I get too carried away though, I have to say that before this test, my Audi of choice wasn't a Q7 at all. Instead, I preferred the thought of the company's latest Allroad model. OK, so it didn't have the extra seating capacity I would have occasionally like but in every other respect, it seemed to be a better bet. And I wouldn't have a member of Greenpeace stationed every morning at the end of my driveway.

A few weeks into life with my Q7 however, and surprise, surprise, my feelings have changed somewhat. For a start, the extra seating capacity I'd previously seen as simply 'nice to have' seemed now to be essential - according at least to my wife Katie who now regularly offers other kids the opportunity of coming home with our three for tea. Those leviathan looks are also growing on me too. Though I still wouldn't describe this as a pretty car, what large off roader is? The stance is certainly imposing and other road users tend to scuttle out of the Q7's way with alacrity.

Since this was a long term test car provided by Audi, I didn't get to go for the 3.0-litre TDI diesel-engined model I would otherwise have chosen had I been shelling out around £40,000 to own one of these. Instead, a fully-specified 4.2-litre V8 S line variant arrived, complete with a silky-smooth petrol powerplant but also with 21mpg average fuel economy, rather than the diesel's return of closer to 30mpg. To be fair, the economy difference between the two units wasn't as great as I'd expected and for motorway work, it shrinks still further.

"The stance is certainly imposing and other road users tend to scuttle out of the Q7's way with alacrity..."

First impressions of the car were good, as I've said, though the middle seats in the second row wouldn't be too comfortable for an adult over very long distances and it's quite tight to strap three large child seats in line across that row. Just as well then, that there are two fully-sized seats in a third row at the back, chairs my eight and five year-old children delight in heading for every time we jump in the car. One slight irritation at the beginning was the retractable parcel shelf that sits right at head height (and right in the way) if the third seating row is occupied. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if you would store it somewhere else in the car but the thing is so long that you can't. It now resides in the garage.

Otherwise, apart from the lack of heating for the gorgeous black leather seats (they're freezing on cold mornings), there's nothing in the debit book for this car thus far. One extra my wife and I particularly approve of is the clever gadget incorporated into the front door mirrors that warns you if there's a car in your blind spot if you're about to overtake. Mind you, visibility is already very good in this car. We also like the way the sat nav system stores road traffic reports and allows you to check by A-road and motorway whether there are any impending problems ahead on your route.

Audi claim 28 seating and loading configurations are available in the Q7 and the seats in the second row are adjustable for fore/aft movement. This allows Audi to not only lay claim to the most generous second row legroom in the class but also - with the second row slid forward and the rear folded - to also pinch first prize for luggage capacity, a huge 775 litres.

With a length of 5,086mm and a wheelbase of 3,002mm, the Q7 isn't the most nimble luxury 4x4, but it does feature variable ground clearance (from 180 to 240mm), hill descent assist and an off-road mode whereby the ESP stability control system backs off to allow for loose surfaces. There's also a trailer stabilisation system which reduces the risk of fishtailing via targeted brake intervention.

Let's not kid ourselves here though. The Q7's off-road aspirations aren't anything much greater than muddy tracks and wet grass. This is a car which has a sensibly tarmac-biased set-up, from its 60:40 torque split to its 18-inch alloy wheels. An option fitted to my test car was air suspension.

You don't tend to use all the performance reserves available to you in a car like this but it's nice to know that if I wanted it, sixty is 7.4s away from rest on the way to 154mph. That's thanks to the healthy 350bhp being cranked out by the powerful 4.2-litre FSI V8 petrol unit.

As you'd expect, the Q7 is equipped as standard with quattro permanent four-wheel drive. Its Torsen centre differential directs power to all four wheels, on-road and off-road, which means fast-reacting power to whichever wheel can best deploy it and excellent lateral stability - the prerequisites for optimum driving dynamics and safety. The driver benefits - also thanks to virtually balanced axle load distribution - from even better agility and steering precision that remains practically free of torque steer. The chassis of the Audi Q7 comprises numerous aluminium components - independent wheel suspension with double wishbones at the front and rear - and also excels with its all-round qualities. Steel spring suspension and twin-tube shock absorbers are designed for sporty driving and superior comfort, even off-road. The tilted position of the rear spring and shock absorber unit reduces overall height and creates more room at the rear.

Assuming you want a large petrol-powered luxury 4x4 and don't expect to treat it like a Land Rover Defender, then on this showing, I'd have no hesitation in recommending you to an Audi Q7. Of course, we've got quite a few miles to travel together yet before I hand the keys back but it's a journey I'm looking forward to.