This is one of those cars that bring the auto buffs out of the cracks in the pavement. At stoplights, in parking lots, and on the curb in front of my house, Audiphiles who had read about the German automaker's forthcoming SUV wanted to know: Is it sweet? Does it haul a--? Does the technology blow your mind?

Yes to all of the above. But before I overgush, let's make clear that this is a $50,000 vehicle, and you can easily up that to $60,000 when you add some of the options a lot of buyers are going to want. For that kind of money, it ought to be impressive. OK, having issued that disclaimer, now I can gush. The Q7 is a wowmobile that will thrill techies, pamperhounds, gearheads, and performance snobs alike. A third-row seat is standard, which makes the Q7 a seven-passenger family hauler. And it's quite an antidote to the minivan you'll instantly want to trade in the moment you see the Q7. The interior fulfills Audi's reputation for some of the richest refinements in the business, with leather upholstery, wood inlays, and brushed aluminum trim that blend into each other like the colors in a Renoir. Add the optional panorama sunroof—two separate glass panels overhead—and it feels like you could be in an airy museum. Don't bother comparing the Q7's road performance with that of other SUVs--with the aid of optional 20-inch tires, the model I drove handled curves better than many sport sedans. Audi's “quattro” all-wheel drive is standard, which is obviously good for snow and muck but also enhances everyday handling.

As for technology, there are more electronic features on the Q7 than I could figure out in the mere week that I drove it. Some of the most important technology is stuff you hope you'll never notice: a sophisticated antirollover system, along with a full set of air bags. Audi's “multimedia interface,” or MMI, packs loads of functionality into a centralized computer system that controls the audio and climate operations, along with other vehicle settings; it's complicated, but then, that's part of what you're paying for, right? The Q7's three rows of seats also fold, stow, and tuck in so many ways, you can fit practically any combo of kids and stuff in there. Yeah, 60 grand is a lot to pay for a family car, but instead of having two or three vehicles in the driveway, it might be worth putting your whole automotive budget into this pleasure machine. Oh, you'll fight over it, that's for sure. But winning will be so much fun.