A new diesel Audi Q7 is here and it can run on vegetable oil: Is it worth £82,000?

The Audi Q7 has entered its third generation and is surprising car buyers by coming with a diesel engine.

The seven-seater is more than 20 years old and has an entirely new look - but it's the German carmaker's decision to avoid a multi-powertrain lineup and opt for a sole 3.0-litre diesel V6 that's causing a stir. And the fact the Q7 can run on vegetable oil.

This is quite different to the Q7’s luxury European rivals such as the Mercedes GLE and BMW X7 which offer a range of engines and push towards plug-in hybrids.

But even more notably, Audi's approach is the antithesis to cheaper Chinese 'luxe' options which come as plug-in hybrids and offer EV-only ranges of up to 91 miles.

The Q7 interior has been entirely restyled too, and the large family SUV has moved onto the Audi's new Premium Platform Combustion architecture.

How much will all of these changes cost you? Just under £82,000 minimum - over £36,000 more than the new Jaecoo 8 from China's Chery Group and a massive amount for today’s cash-strapped car buyers.

The third-generation Q7 comes with a 'powerful and highly efficient' 3.0-litre V6 engine with mild hybrid plus (MHEV) technology.

The engine is combined with an electric-powered compressor to generate 295bhp and 630 Nm of torque and high efficiency.

You can drive for short spurts in the city on partially electric driving, and the electric boost kicks in to aid with power delivery at all speeds.

The most surprising part of the Q7 engine set up? That customers can choose to fill up their new SUV with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

The oil, which is produced from residual and waste materials such as used cooking oil and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 to 95 percent compared with petroleum-derived diesel, can be added pure or as an admixture.

Audi is yet to confirm if there will be other engines added to the launch V6 diesel to match the outgoing model's expansive mix of petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Audi says the Q7 will have 'outstanding ride comfort and its all-wheel drive will handle 'any terrain with ease'.

Very, which isn't always the case with new generations.

The Mk2 Q7 was curvy, sophisticated, and elongated with an aggressive front and powerful quarters.

The Mk3, however, is a very different looking machine: it's much boxier, with a squarer back end, straighter, hollowed out sides, a high bonnet and more prominent nose.

It's leaner and more EV-looking - in fact we think its styling isn't too dissimilar to the Mercedes GLE at a glance.

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Unlike some of its competitors, the Q7 will come with seven seats as standard 'for ultimate luxury'.

But for the first time, the Q7 will also be available with five or six seats - although these options are yet to be confirmed for UK buyers. All of the seats are electronically adjustable.

The six-seat option is designed for 'a business class' experience which is similar to rivals including the Hyundai Santa Fe and Jaecoo 8 which offer a 4+2 configuration.

Boot space is up to 581 - 722 litres with the third row down, depending on the position of the second-row seats, expanding to a huge 2075 litres with the middle row also folded.

The rest of the interior has been overhauled since the last generation bowed out with a new large, panoramic sunroof with switchable transparency (a top trim option), wireless smartphone charging, decorative trim across the centre console, new materials, contour lighting in the dash and doors, and indirect lighting behind the infotainment screen to make it appear 'floating'.

The infotainment suite is a full-width display, the same as fitted to other recent Audi models, but comes with haptic controls on the steering wheel and central roller wheels for things like aircon.

There's a 4D sound system - which vibrates to low-end bass frequencies - with headrest speakers, as well as electronically adjustable air vents, bespoke trim options, and head-up display.

The system comes with in-built ‘self-learning’ voice assistant that can control key functions and uses ChatGPT to answer questions on the move.

Audi's digital Matrix LED headlights have many pioneering safety features, but one world-first is the use of 'advanced turn signals'.

At night, the advanced turn signal is projected onto the ground in sync with the dynamic signals at the front and rear. It is activated automatically when the low beams are on and the turn signal or the hazard lights are activated.

The rear light digital OLED panels display a special static signature with warning symbols instead of the regular rear light graphics in critical driving or traffic situations. It also lights up when other vehicles come too close to warn the driver behind.

Additionally, the rhombus projection light beneath the rear doors lights up if a cyclist or car approaches when a passenger is about to exit to alert other road users to danger.

This tech is joined by a comprehensive suite of active and safety tech from a 360-degree camera to park assist - it can park itself.

And those towing trailers or horseboxes will appreciate the trailer manoeuvring assist and trailer stability control tech.

Audi says that exact details of which versions will be available to UK buyers, and how much they’ll cost, will be revealed next month.

But we know that UK sales commence in July with prices starting below £82,000.