SINGAPORE – Some people say that once you have driven an electric car, you can never go back to one with a combustion engine. Besides the instant gratification an electric drivetrain often offers, electric vehicles (EVs) have gizmos spilling out from their wing mirrors that make them so modern, so high-tech and so cool.

To test that hypothesis, I take out an Audi Q7, a model which has not changed substantially since it first appeared 20 years ago. The variant on hand is a 3-litre turbocharged V6 putting out 340hp and 500Nm from 1,370rpm.

It is the second facelift of the second-generation Q7, spruced up with a new grille, new wheels, cabin inlays and seats with contrasting stitching. It is equipped with high-definition Matrix LED headlights and organic LED rear lights (with four selectable designs, no less).

The Q7 looks rather distinguished, having aged better than many cars of its era. Measuring 5,072mm long, 1,970mm wide and 1,734mm tall with a 2,995mm wheelbase, the car is still imposing, but it is no longer the bulkiest in town. That superlative belongs to a slew of electric behemoths, mostly from China.

At 2,115kg, the Q7 3.0 is not considered overweight either. Again, that honour belongs to the battery behemoths.

At the wheel, the Q7 acquits itself very well for an ageing Audi. The 0-100kmh sprint is done in 5.6 seconds and the top speed is an electronically regulated 250kmh. These figures compare well against sportier, dual-motor electric cars.

You may not get the instantaneous throttle response electric cars usually deliver, but you get the staccato progression in speed as the car’s eight-speed transmission matches cog to revs. The mechanical proceedings may be less efficient than electric drive, and even a tad sluggish when you want a quick getaway, but it is more emotional.