Overview
The Audi SQ7 is a luxurious family SUV with a heart of gold. That’s because it comes standard with a fantastic engine: a twin-turbocharged V-8 with 500 horsepower. This powerplant, which combines with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, delivers swift acceleration and a great soundtrack. The SQ7 is also surprisingly engaging to drive for a big SUV with three rows of seats, providing lithe handling and a comfortable ride. It fits in above the standard Q7 luxury SUV but is less expensive than the more ostentatious two-row Audi SQ8 and its even more powerful RS Q8 sibling. The SQ7 also offers an impressive array of technology features, but we aren’t huge fans of the abundance of screens and touch-sensitive interfaces that control them.
What’s New for 2024?
The only changes for 2024 include newly available remote-start functionality through the Audi smartphone app and the addition of traffic-sign recognition to the optional Executive package.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
No version of the SQ7 is affordable, so you might as well splurge for the Prestige trim, which has a bit of extra equipment as standard. There are numerous packages available, including a Sport package with an upgraded suspension and an Executive package with various interior niceties.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The SQ7 has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine with 500 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque that it shares with the mechanically similar two-row SQ8 SUV. That sounds like a lot, and it is: this is the same engine found in the even higher-performance RS Q8, and it only gives up a bit of power and torque in this application. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission, and at our test track, the SQ7 snapped off a zero-to-60-mph time of just 3.5 seconds. Despite its performance potential, the SQ7 still effortlessly doubles as a family SUV, delivering a faultless ride. Handling is nothing short of heroic considering that it’s a veritable heavyweight; it tackles curvy roads effortlessly and rarely feels unsettled.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel economy estimates are not yet available for the 2024 SQ7. We don’t expect it to change at all compared with the 2023 SQ7, which the EPA rated at 17 mpg combined, 15 mpg in the city, and 21 mpg on the highway. That’s about as thirsty as you would expect for a V-8–powered SUV. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the SQ7 nailed its rating and delivered 21 mpg. For more information about the SQ7’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The SQ7 offers the same practical interior as the Q7, but with a few special touches including sportier seats with different leather trim. A third row of seats is standard equipment on the SQ7, as it is in the Q7, making it a speedy seven-passenger family hauler—though the third row is not exactly spacious. Cargo space is limited behind the third row as it is in the Q7 but drop those seats and the second-row chairs and the SQ7 will likely hold the same 25 carry-on suitcases we were able to fit in the regular Q7.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Q7 received a refresh for 2020 that included a new touchscreen infotainment system, and the SQ7 shares this same setup. Three digital screens dot the dashboard, one serving as a reconfigurable gauge display, another handling navigation and entertainment, and a third providing access to vehicle settings and climate control. Depending on how you feel about physical controls versus touch-sensitive ones, the SQ7’s cabin may delight or infuriate.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Audi offers basic driver-assistance aids as standard on the SQ7, but more advanced tech will cost extra. For more information about the SQ7’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The SQ7 will be covered by the same warranty as other Audi models, and includes:
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Audi SQ7
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$99,390 (base price: $80,995)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
244 in3, 3996 cm3
Power
500 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
568 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 15.8-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV, 285/40R-21 109Y AO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 118.0 in
Length: 199.6 in
Width: 76.6 in
Height: 68.6 in
Passenger volume: 138 ft3
Cargo volume: 14 ft3
Curb weight: 5311 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.5 sec
100 mph: 9.1 sec
130 mph: 16.8 sec
150 mph: 28.0 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
1/4 mile: 12.0 sec @ 113 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 151 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 155 ft
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 14 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 21 mpg
Highway range: 470 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/21 mpg
