2025 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 First Drive Review: Space vs. Fun

The Audi SQ7 and SQ8 sit someplace between the posh, practicality, and athleticism of the common crossover fashions and the outright lunacy of the RS Q8. Just like the RS Q8, the seven-seat SQ7 and the five-seat SQ8 boast a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, however making what we’re tongue-in-cheek going to name a saner 500 horsepower, quite than the 2025 RS Q8’s 592 or (or 631 hp within the Efficiency trim). 500 hp remains to be fairly a bump up over the common Q7 and Q8’s outputs 261 hp and 335 hp, respectively.

To go along with that healthy dose of energy over the common Q7 and Q8, the S fashions get a pleasant checklist of performance-enhancing options desiring to make them household automobiles with one hell of an edge. In a market section stuffed with opponents, just like the BMW X5 M60i and M50i fashions and its platform-sharing Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus siblings, the SQ7 already stands out as a seven-seater quite than 5.

Audi introduced us to Utah to drive each fashions back-to-back so we might discover the variations following their respective refreshes because it prepares to roll them into 2025 fashions. All of the fashions we skilled have been upgraded from the bottom fashions with the Status package deal and S Sport package deal, in addition to different choices and packages.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted atmosphere below sure time constraints. Regulate DrivingOnRoad for our complete Check Drive assessment which can observe quickly.

Exterior: Beneath The Radar Efficiency Fashions

Neither the SQ8 nor SQ7 screams about their efficiency credentials based mostly on their appears to be like, and as an alternative, each merely exude confidence of their skills – notably with the flared wheel arches including form. The SQ8’s slope-back coupe-like roofline hints at its sportier intentions, versus the SQ7’s boxier define. The latter form is critical to incorporate the third row of seats within the again. Given its extra conventional look and the way Audi has put in numerous element with out going excessive, the SQ7 is the sleeper mannequin right here, in our opinion.

Plenty of element has been given to the brand new Audi Singleframe grille, however the spotlight is Audi’s obsession with headlights and taillights. The Matrix-design LED headlights and digital OLED taillights with 4 selectable lighting signatures are pure luxurious. We discovered ourselves transfixed by how the taillights glow and shift round with out preserving an total constant degree of sunshine.

Audi’s laser gentle know-how is on the market, giving a a lot brighter most important beam than another know-how accessible. That is a good profit, however Audi is able to open up the complete advantage of its system by means of a software program replace when US legislation advances to permit it.

Though Audi promotes the SQ7 as the most important S mannequin, it comes as customary with 21-inch wheels, which might be upgraded to 22-inch items, whereas the SQ8 arrives with 22-inch wheels which you could swap out for 23-inch items.

Infotainment: Greatest In The Enterprise

Audi is true up there with one of the best within the enterprise with its newest MMI system and even higher with its much less fussy enter responses. We did not discover ourselves having to recollect to carry on the icon we wished to activate, and the response is super-sharp. Nonetheless, like all automakers, Audi’s navigation system is a step down from Apple and Google’s on-phone choices. Fortunately, we discovered wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto able to go.

We needed to flip backwards and forwards on the devoted display for working the local weather controls, however it labored nicely for us spending the day in the summertime desert. The principle display is simply massive sufficient to not be too huge, however the spotlight is Audi’s Digital Cockpit Plus for the driving force: It is sharp, the fitting measurement, fairly, and customizable. We by no means discovered ourselves wanting all the way down to hunt for info that ought to be available.

Inside: Select Properly

Each fashions are spacious up entrance, and the inside is of the upmarket high quality and magnificence you need to anticipate from Audi. Nonetheless, the SQ7 loses some legroom within the second row of seating to assist make room for the tight third row. As we talked about in our common Q7 and Q8 assessment, the Q7 wants an extended wheelbase to grow to be a three-row crossover for a big household. Because it stands, the third row has no air vents and is simply too cramped to anticipate youngsters to get into day by day.

By way of styling and supplies, there’s little to no distinction between the SQ7 and SQ8. Our check fashions have been fitted with the Luxurious package deal, which takes the sporty inside and provides components like additional leather-based overlaying the dashboard and a Dinamica microsuede material headliner. This package deal is barely accessible to high trims, nevertheless, and on the SQ8 prices extra as a result of it additionally provides therapeutic massage perform to the entrance seats.

The general impact is a plushness that softens the sensation of sportiness when simply cruising. Nonetheless, the steering wheel’s sport-focused design consistently reminds us that it has aces up its sleeve for later.

Beneath The Hood: Twin Turbo V8 Goodness

The primary of these aces is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with its 500 hp and bucketloads of torque. Whereas the SQ8 does not shove so arduous that the entrance lifts just like the RS Q8, it shoves arduous off the road to not be embarrassed by its shut kin, the far more costly and outrageous-looking Urus. The SQ7 is not any completely different, and the Tiptronic eight-speed transmission is crisp and assuring round city and on the freeway, then snappy when exploring the all-wheel-drivetrain’s athleticism.

On The Street: A Satisfying Smile Per Mile Ratio

On the highway is the place the 2 fashions separate themselves, though you want some corners to seek out the tangible variations. The SQ7 and SQ8s we drove have been fitted with the $6,000 S sport package deal, which provides lively roll stabilization and a sport differential for efficiency and purple brake calipers for the look. On the freeway, each automobiles are clean and deceptively quick – as in 75 mph appears like 55 mph.

Round city, they don’t seem to be an excessive amount of completely different from the common Q7 and Q8. Nonetheless, get out into lengthy, winding, and tightly curving roads, and the distinction is palpable. Each fashions need to flip in and maintain a nook, then eject out the opposite facet with extra pressing vigor. The larger distinction we perceived was between the Q7 and SQ7, which have been evening and day. It is extra nimble and keen to vary route and holds on with extra confidence by means of a nook.

Alternatively, the SQ8 appears like a logical athletic development of the Q8 quite than two completely different fashions, and holds its line extra confidently on a again highway compared to the SQ7. It doubtless has to do with the Q8’s additional few inches of width, decrease top, and being engineered to be sporty within the first place quite than upgraded to grow to be a efficiency car. That is not a slight, although. The rise in energy and efficiency is demonstrable, and we had far more enjoyable within the SQ8 when selecting up the tempo.

Conclusion: Some Fascinating Propositions

The SQ8 is a straightforward suggestion for somebody with the means and urge for a efficiency crossover with out going to the bonkers craziness of the RS Q8, however the SQ7 requires extra thought. It is far more enjoyable behind the wheel than the common Q7, however the Q7 already has its flaws, and our conclusion is that it ought to discover a residence with a household that solely wants occasional use of the third-row. Being that busy household after which spending the additional preliminary price in addition to the operating price of a twin-turbo V8’s gas consumption appears, nicely, extravagant.

After all, the SQ8 is extravagant as nicely, however it presents extra legroom within the second row in addition to glorious cargo capability behind that. Because the non-primary household automobile or the enjoyable but sensible set of wheels for empty-nesters, it makes extra sense to us. A key issue, after all, is pricing: The 2025 SQ7 begins at $90,800 for the bottom Premium Plus, earlier than choices and vacation spot, whereas the highest Status trim goes for $96,900. The SQ8 is priced from $96,600 to $103,600, so it’s the dearer car by fairly a bit.

Each, nevertheless, are glorious efficiency crossovers with out straying throughout the road into absurdity. The massive promoting level for the SQ8 is you are getting a lot of the efficiency of a Lamborghini Urus at close to half the worth and nothing near the obnoxiousness. The SQ7 is not so clear-cut however, if it suits the use case, then we would not cease anybody from visiting an Audi dealership.