Written by Luke Wilkinson Updated: 2 January 2025

Overview

If you want a seven-seat SUV with plenty of performance, the number of choices available is surprisingly limited. But a long-time favourite at Parkers is the Audi SQ7. Based on the excellent Q7 SUV – the only Audi available with three rows of seats – it was first introduced in 2016 with a large V8 diesel engine, which could return surprisingly good fuel economy for a performance SUV. 

But in late 2020, Audi swapped out the popular diesel engine in favour of petrol power, with a mighty 507hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 fitted under the bonnet. At the time Audi said it was so that it could sell the SQ7 in America, as diesel cars aren’t very popular over there. The result was a much quicker and better-sounding performance SUV, but one that is noticeably more expensive to run. 

The V8 is the same unit found in the Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne albeit with less power. However, all three cars share the same basic eight-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive system. And, because it’s a petrol engine rather than a diesel engine, it’s around 100kg lighter than the original car. That makes a difference in the bends.

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Audi first facelifted the SQ7 (and wider Q7 line-up) in 2019, but with the next-generation model not due to arrive until at least the middle of 2026, it’s now refreshed its largest SUV again to help tide it over until then. 

But it should be said, the 2024 update was fairly minimal visual changes and just a few improvements in tech. The front end gets a redesigned grille made up of a new honeycomb-like structure and new headlights. Around the rear, the Q7 gets Audi’s digital OLED lights for the first time, which lets you choose from four different LED rear lights. Various new colours and wheel designs can be had, too. 

Changes elsewhere include directly integrated third-party apps into the infotainment, such as Amazon Music and Spotify, for example) and a redesigned digital instrument cluster. But, even by Audi’s conservative standards, it’s a small update. 

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But has Audi not pushed the Audi SQ7’s updates enough, or is it starting to feel a bit old? We’ve been behind the wheel of the updated car to find out, including putting it through its paces in the practicality stakes. Read more about how we test cars.  

What’s it like inside?

Massive. The driver and the passenger have loads of headroom, stacks of legroom and a billiard table-sized central armrest to share. The build quality is great for the most part, although we’re not sure about the piano black plastic Audi has used to trim the centre console. We reckon it’ll look quite tired once it’s had a couple years’ worth of keys dragged across it. Our new test car already had a few marks.

The interior itself is also showing its age a bit, and we’ve never been a fan of the SQ7’s twin touchscreen layout – the upper screen being used for sat nav and media functions, and the lower for the climate control. You find yourself looking down to change the temperature, and it can be quite distracting. That said, Audi has kept physical buttons for the driver assistance menu and to change the driving modes – two things that are gloss black buttons in other Audi models, such as the mechanically similar Q8 SUV. 

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Those in the back don’t have much to complain about, though. Six-foot adults enjoy a good three inches of headroom and there’s so much space in the footwells, you could stretch out even if you’re wearing clown shoes. The rear seat back reclines, too, which takes the strain out of longer journeys.

The third row is tight for adults , but it’s manageable. Unlike lowlier seven-seat SUVs such as the Skoda Kodiaq and the SsangYong Rexton, the SQ7’s rearmost seats are also electrically operated. They rise out of the boot floor at the touch of a button, which is sure to amuse children and big kids alike. To get into the third row you have to tumble the second row seats down, however, which is a slightly older-style solution compared to the tilt and slide method used in newer rivals. 

Leave the back row of seats in their holsters and you have a gigantic 705 litres of boot space. Granted, that’s 65 litres less than you get in the standard Q7 and 45 litres less than the BMW X7, which looks like a point off for Audi. 

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Even with seven seats upright, there’s still room for some luggage, and you can lower the SQ7’s rear air suspension with a button in the boot to make it easier to load larger and heavier items. It came in very handy when we used the SQ7 to carry a chest of draws, which managed to fit behind the second row of seats. Yes, this SUV’s boot is absolutely huge. 

Engine

It’s a riot. Audi’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine produces 507hp and 770Nm of torque, so a flex of your big toe is enough to overtake almost anything. Its character is a lot different to the old diesel engine, too. Peak torque doesn’t arrive until 4,000rpm for the new petrol V8, compared to a lazy 1,000rpm with the old diesel. That means you need to wring the engine out for the best results – but it sounds great, accompanied by a ground-sounding sports exhaust, so that’s no hardship.

The SQ7 is far quicker than it has any right to be. It’s a 2.2-tonne seven-seat SUV that can get from 0–62mph in 4.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph. In a straight line at least, it’ll outstrip thoroughbred some sports cars, such as the Porsche 718 Cayman. 

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Acceleration is visceral and comical in equal measure. Floor it with the chassis in comfort mode and the SQ7’s nose rises like a speed boat getting on a plane. Then, once the turbos have spooled and the eight-speed automatic has found the correct gear, you’re fired towards the horizon like a missile. 

Considering how highly strung the engine is, it’s surprisingly refined at a cruise. When you’re not hammering it, the V8 recedes into the background, stifled by the SQ7’s generous sound deadening. Wind and road noise is well-suppressed, too – which is impressive given how enormous the alloy wheels are and how blunt the styling is. 

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Running costs likely will not be a top priority if you’re buying a V8-powered SUV, but the SQ7 is equipped with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that marginally helps to improve fuel consumption. You’ll get 20mpg or less driving around town but up to 28mpg at a steady 70mph motorway cruise. Expect low 20s in day-to-day driving. 

What’s it like to drive?

We were surprised by how well the SQ7 manages its weight. You couldn’t call it agile, but Audi’s adaptive air suspension controls the body with admirable precision. 

The chassis is supported by a 48-volt electrically operated anti-roll system (only on Vorsprung models), which jacks up the outside wheels through the corners to keep the body flat. We found there’s noticeably more body roll on cars without this system, but even still for an SUV of this size, the SQ7 handles well. An Audi RSQ8 is the more engaging, better-handling Audi SUV, though. 

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Couple that with the four-wheel drive system (standard on every new SQ7) and you’ll find you can take corners far quicker than physics should allow. Sport mode quells the oh-so-amusing speed boat sensation when accelerating, too.

And it gets better. When you’re finished tearing around your local B-roads and start driving with a little more care, the chassis breathes out and relaxes into the road. The SQ7’s ride is effortless which, again, is very impressive. Most manufacturers (including those from Audi’s Volkswagen Group sister brands) struggle to achieve the same level of refinement with such large alloys and low-profile tyres. It’s one of the best features of the SQ7.

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Just be mindful of the SQ7’s size, it is a big SUV (unsurprisingly) and will take up most of an average car park space, though it is fitted with a 360-degree camera as standard to help with this. 

What models are available?

As part of this latest update, Audi has discontinued the entry-level standard model, leaving a choice of Black Edition and Vorsprung models, which are priced from £92,240 and £112,590 respectively. 

Standard equipment is largely very generous, including 22-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, Bang & Olufsen sound system, full leather upholstery and matrix LED headlights. 

It is rather lacking in driver assistance technology, however, as standard. Adaptive cruise control, which you get as standard on a Volkswagen Polo costing a fraction of the price, is only included on the top-spec Vorsprung model. 

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Other extra features the Vorsprung model gets include HD Matrix LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, soft-closing doors and ventilated and massaging front seats to name just a few features. 

We recommend choosing the Black Edition and a few choice option packs as this is the best way of getting the most bang for your buck.