Safety is the price of entry in the 21st century automotive marketplace, and the 2007 Audi Q7 arrives with plenty of features and technology designed to keep you, and your loved ones, out of harm’s way. Standard equipment includes dual two-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, and Audi’s Sideguard system of side-curtain airbags that, in the Q7, inflate to protect occupants of all three rows. Audi offers side-impact airbags for the second row of seats, too. Seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters further protect against injury, and the Q7’s structure is designed to deflect crash energy away from the high-strength steel passenger cell.

Working in tandem with the braking system, the Audi Q7 is equipped with a stability control system that includes an off-road mode with downhill speed regulation to assure safe descents. Audi also features brake assist on the Q7, which senses a panic stop and produces full braking power before the driver can, as well as Audi Braking Guard, which automatically dries the brake pads during inclement weather.

These, along with the Q7’s rain sensing wipers and parking assist system with reverse-view camera, are increasingly common features in the luxury class. Uncommon, for now, are features like adaptive front lighting, adaptive cruise control, and a lane-change assistance system that Audi calls Side Assist. Side Assist constantly monitors the Q7’s blind spots. During normal driving, yellow lights visible only to the driver when she looks at the outside mirror will illuminate when vehicles are within 16.5 feet of twin radar sensors mounted in the Q7’s rear bumper. When the Q7’s driver signals a lane change and a vehicle is located in the blind spot, the warning lights glow brighter and flash to warn that other motorists are too close for a safe lane change. In practice, Side Assist is brilliant, and effectively negates the need for an over-the-shoulder look into the blind spots, which can be especially dangerous if traffic ahead suddenly brakes to a stop.

The Q7 also marks the world premiere of adaptive cruise control in an Audi product. Adaptive cruise control monitors traffic conditions ahead of the Q7 using a radar unit mounted to the front of the SUV. Active at speeds up to 90 mph, adaptive cruise control automatically adjusts the Q7’s speed for traffic conditions, maintaining a safe distance from vehicles ahead. Additionally, it works in rush-hour traffic, too, able to bring the Q7 to a complete stop without intervention by the driver. Once traffic ahead starts to move, the driver simply taps the cruise control button to re-engage the adaptive cruise control.

Now, let’s say all this technology has put you at such ease that you fall asleep behind the wheel. Suddenly, traffic ahead comes sliding to a stop, but since you’re off in dreamland you haven’t noticed. The Q7 has, and will warn you with an audible alarm and a flashing red light on the dashboard. If that doesn’t rouse you to action, the Q7 tries to shake you awake with a sudden jolt as the braking system automatically prepares for the most panicked stop of your life. If you still don’t stab the brake pedal, well, there’s always airbags and seatbelts.