Now in its third year, the Audi Q7 offers a combination of luxury features, excellent build quality, and a smart-looking interior. Looking for a solid five- or seven-passenger luxury crossover SUV? The Q7 is a solid choice with high-end accoutrements, sporty handling, and the ability to transport kids and cargo with perfect ease.

The 2009 Q7 is a four-door crossover that comes in three gasoline driven trims: 3.6 Quattro, 3.6 Quattro Premium, and 4.2 Quattro Prestige. This distant relative of the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne is more than 12 inches longer than the others, and as such, offers more space for cargo and a third row of seats. However, it also weighs more than its counterparts, making it one of the slower crossovers on the block and more dependent on fuel. Audi has come up with a partial answer to these dilemmas for 2009 with a new TDI-powered version (which will be the fourth trim in the family of '09 Q7s), which is scheduled to arrive in dealerships shortly after its gasoline-powered counterparts. The TDI's 3.0-liter clean-burning diesel engine is 50-state legal. It's rated at a modest 221 horsepower, but as is typical of diesel powerplants, makes a healthy amount of torque - 369 lb-ft, to be exact. The advantages of the TDI Q7 include not only improved overall fuel economy, but increased range, which in turn reduces the number of trips to the pump.

Under the Q7's hood lies one of three engines: a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 280 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, a 4.2-liter V8, and at some point soon the new 3.0-liter diesel V6 good for an estimated 221 hp and 369 lb-ft. All trims come with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive, and all engines are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. Expect a 0-60 time of 8.3 seconds for the V8 and about 10 seconds for the gas V6. Properly equipped, the Q7 can tow 6,600 pounds. Fuel economy for the 2009 gas V6 is rated at 14/20 mpg, with the V8 getting 13/18.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the ‘09 performed very well, scoring five out of five stars in front- and side-impact testing. In addition, Audi's blind-spot warning system alerts the driver when another vehicle is along the Q7's side. Optional lane assist alerts the driver if the car drifts out of its lane.

Q7s come with Audi's MMI (MultiMedia Interface). It uses a dashboard screen and a console knob and switches to set audio, navigation, suspension, and many other functions. Among available features are a voice-activated navigation system with rearview camera, rear obstacle detection, keyless entry and starting, and a three-panel sunroof. The optional S line Package includes steering-wheel shift paddles and unique trim and can be equipped with 20- or 21-inch wheels.

What the 2009 Audi Q7 is meant to do is carry people, not goods, in style. This it does with mechanical finesse and excellent all-weather road manners. It’s a good-looking machine despite its appetite for fuel and, with the exception of the TDI, its donkey-like acceleration. Audi’s design and workmanship also get a nod.