Audi pioneered four-wheel-drive in road cars but until the Q7 came along, the company had never produced what you would term a proper off-road vehicle. Some would say that they still haven't, citing the Q7's unashamed bias toward on-road driving. Whatever it is, the Q7 represents something of a departure for Audi and is an intriguing addition to the argument on how much the average driver really needs four-wheel-drive.

Prior to the Q7's appearance, the nearest Audi had come to an off-road vehicle was the Allroad, a beefed-up version of the A6 Avant. In contrast to the Allroad, the Q7 is a purpose-built luxury SUV with the full complement of off-roader styling features. It's tall, it's chunky, it's got big wheels - it must be an off-roader. Well, yes and no. What the Q7 doesn't have are the underlying capabilities that make a 'proper' off-roader. Audi makes no secret of the fact that the Q7 is meant for light off-road use only and primarily for travelling on the black-top. The Q7 does this very well but it does rather beg the question, what does the Q7 offer over the Allroad or any-number of other road-going Audis with quattro four-wheel-drive?

It doesn't take long in the company of the Q7 for the answers to present themselves. We've touched upon the styling already but the way the Q7 looks is crucial to its appeal. The sleek headlights and the high window-line almost suggest a coupe-like element to the Q7's shape but the precipitous nose finished by that domineering grille generates serious road presence. It may not be conventionally pretty, but it certainly lets other road users know you're about and whether you think this is a good or a bad thing will be central to whether you want to own a Q7 or not.

The interior of the Q7 feels very much like other Audis you may have sat in. The build quality is almost beyond reproach and expensive feeling materials abound. Some of the detailing is exquisite like the illuminating dials for the dual-zone climate control and the way the menu system on the central display screen is animated. Thought has gone into making the Q7 feel special inside and it's paid off but you could say the same for any of the German marque's products. Or any of those with a price tag approaching £50,000 anyway.

"?buyers have got to want that imposing SUV image"

In practical terms, the Q7 offers more than any other Audi before it for the simple reason that it's available with seven seats. Our long term test vehicle has the two extra berths in the boot and we can report that it is possible to get a pair of adults in them. The adults in question don't tend to be particularly comfortable as legroom is tight but the real point is that there's plenty of space for a couple of kids, which is how the seats will be primarily used by Q7 owners.

Headroom is ample in the front two rows but we did encounter an issue with legroom when sitting on the middle bench. There's no space to slide your feet under seats in front which can make things a shade uncomfortable if you're sit there for a while. Fold down the seating in the rear and a large load area is created with a flat floor. The Q7's lofty ride height places the loading lip at a convenient height and our test vehicle came with Audi's clever load restraint system to keep unruly items tied down. You'd have to say that the Q7 is a little more practical than an A6 Avant but substantially less so than a large MPV which would offer significantly more cabin space.

The Q7 manages to give you some of the practicality of a large MPV, without the frumpy connotations but where does the off-roader angle come into it? If people are buying the Q7 for its image, do they really need four driven wheels? Audi would say they do. Four-wheel drive delivers enhanced road-holding and greater security of grip helping the Q7 handle slippery conditions more safely than a two-wheel-drive car. The Q7 does deliver an assured performance on the road, deploying its 345bhp maximum power output without any drama. The air-suspension can be changed between comfort and Sport mode for on-road driving but the Q7's size means it isn't a car that you want to throw into corners, so the firmer Sport mode was largely left unused on our test.

When it comes to driving off-road, the Q7 will handles much more than the majority of owners would contemplate putting it through but the car lacks the features that would make it a serious off-roader. Stuff like hill decent control, a low-range gearbox and locking differentials, to be precise. On a more basic level, it lacks the underbody protection you get with something like a Range Rover that lets you drive up a rocky path without leaving important parts of your vehicle behind.

We've thoroughly enjoyed our time with Audi's Q7 and it would have been considerably more popular around the office if it weren't for the prodigious thirst of that V8 engine. The fact that we've been more than happy to bite the bullet at the pumps says a lot for the quality of the Q7s design and driving experience. The off-road issue is a little more foggy as the Q7 is clearly not a rugged off-roader. It's little more capable in the rough than Audi's own Allroad and probably a little less composed on the tarmac. You get some extra practicality with the Q7's seven seats and the elevated ride-height but it really means that buyers have got to want that imposing SUV image. Certainly, the huge growth of this sector over recent years would appear to indicate that plenty of people do.