The Audi SQ7 is a little bit of a dinosaur in 2023, however it’s a loveable one.
Not solely is the bottom Q7 itself now eight years outdated, the flagship SQ7 hasn’t fallen sufferer to downsizing or hybridisation.
Having launched with a tough turbo-diesel engine, this leather-lined household bus now incorporates a turbocharged petrol V8. You don’t even get a kind of in some correct Audi RS automobiles.
There’s extra to this automobile than its engine, although – even at eight years outdated, the most popular Q7 is a compelling choice.
How a lot does the Audi SQ7 TFSI price?
The SQ7 TFSI wears a sticker value of $166,400 earlier than on-road prices, making it $37,000 dearer than the 55 TFSI quattro petrol sitting under it within the vary.
That’s not a small chunk of cash, though the SQ7 does pack considerably extra energy, torque, and package than the 55 TFSI.
Within the context of its rivals, the SQ7 goes head-to-head with the BMW X5 M60i ($172,900) and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 ($181,400).
Whereas the AMG provides an non-obligatory third row of seating, the hi-po X5 doesn’t supply three rows – if it’s a Bavarian efficiency seven-seater you need you’ll must stretch to the BMW X7 M60i ($197,900).
What’s the Audi SQ7 TFSI like on the within?
The SQ7 appears like a top quality merchandise from the second you drag its vault-like door shut.
It takes a agency tug, and shuts with a reassuringly uninteresting thud. When you’re in, you’re sat in larger variations of the fastened headrest sports activities seats that function on all the things from the S3 to the RS6.
They provide a near-perfect mix of consolation and help, with beneficiant bolsters to carry you in place within the corners, and beneficiant padding to maintain you contemporary on lengthy drives.
The quilted-effect stitching is a pleasant contact, as is the therapeutic massage function included as a part of the Sensory Pack. Ought to they actually be non-obligatory on a $170,000 luxurious SUV, although?
They’re accessible in black, purple, and gray; the gray on our tester was trying a bit pale on its bolsters after ~7500km on the media fleet. It’s fairly in distinction with the Navarra Blue of our tester, however we’d be choosing one of many options.
Infotainment expertise is normally the place automobiles across the Q7’s age begin to look outdated, however a heavy mid-life overhaul means the SQ7 nonetheless feels up-to-date once you begin swiping and scrolling.
The primary touchscreen has slick graphics and responds rapidly to inputs, and the very fact Audi backs every button press with a satisfying haptic click on makes it straightforward to make use of the system with out taking your eyes off the highway. Its wi-fi CarPlay was extra vulnerable to dropouts than some newer programs, nevertheless.
As for the underside display screen? It’s one of the best touch-based local weather management setup I’ve used, however it isn’t with out its quirks.
There’s spare slots on the prime of the show, however for some motive Audi hasn’t seen match to place the complete unfold of controls up there – so you continue to want to make use of a sub-menu to regulate your therapeutic massage seating.
Audi’s digital devices stay one of the best within the enterprise. They’re crystal clear, and supply all the data you could possibly presumably want with out ever being overwhelming.
Cupboard space is strong up entrance. There are two cupholders beneath a flip-up lid and deep door pockets, though the underarm bin is sort of small, and is eaten up by the wi-fi telephone charger.
House is the second row is strong. Every of the seats slides and reclines individually, which permits for spectacular flexibility, and of their rearmost place there’s loads of legroom for tall youngsters or adults behind a regular-sized driver.
The boxy roofline affords glorious headroom again there, even with the panoramic sunroof fitted to our tester, and the broad bench options not solely three top-tether factors, however three ISOFIX factors for youngster seats.
That’s a win for folks, as is the very fact the cumbersome doorways open good and extensive. That makes it straightforward to load youngster seats, or youngsters, into the rear seats.
The rear air vents are backed by their very own temperature and fan velocity controls, together with heating for the outboard seats.
Entry to the third row is easy sufficient, courtesy of the tumble-and-fold second row. As soon as again there, area is tight for anybody aside from youngsters or shorter adults.
Headroom is once more respectable, however legroom – even with the second row slid ahead – is tight, and there’s hardly any toe room. You additionally don’t get air vents within the rearmost seats, which received’t win too many followers on a scorching Australian summer time day.
When not in use, the sixth and seventh seats (each with top-tether factors), could be folded flat to open up 740L of bags area in five-seat kind. There’s area for an enormous canine again there; house owners will need to be certain that they’ve pet insurance coverage regardless.
Drop the second row and there’s an enormous 2050L on supply, whereas there’s an honest 295L behind the third row when all seats are in use.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Gone is the turbo-diesel engine from the SQ7, changed by a 4.0-litre turbocharged petrol V8 as a substitute.
It pumps out 373kW of energy and 770Nm of torque, despatched to all 4 wheels by means of an eight-speed automated transmission. The quattro system incorporates a self-locking central differential, and has a 60:40 rear:entrance torque break up by default.
Relying on the highway situations, it may well ship as much as 70 per cent of the engine’s torque to the entrance axle, and 85 per cent to the rear axle.
Claimed gas economic system is 12.1 litres per 100km, and the claimed 100km/h dash time is a sports activities car-worrying 4.1 seconds. 95 RON premium unleaded gas is required, and the gas tank holds 85 litres.
How does the Audi SQ7 TFSI drive?
Prod the beginning button and the SQ7 fires with a velvety growl that winks subtly on the energy on supply.
Sure, the outdated turbo-diesel engine was technically extra attention-grabbing, however there’s one thing pretty a couple of petrol V8.
The SQ7 is large beast, and the management weights don’t strive too onerous to cover that reality. The steering is meaty at low speeds, the throttle requires a agency stab to get the engine singing, and the way in which it thuds over sharp-edged bumps offers you the sense it’ll beat the highway into submission moderately than making an attempt to drift over it.
That’s to not say it’s a blunt instrument, although. Audi hasn’t tried to show the SQ7 into one thing it isn’t – perhaps it hasn’t been in a position to, given the automobile’s age – however there’s one thing very satisfying about driving an unabashed bruiser. Put your foot down and this large ol’ bus can actually shift, too.
It packs baggage of torque down low within the rev vary, pulling onerous from 2000rpm, and actually rips round to the redline once you maintain your foot in, backed by a really polished, very German V8 bark. The automated transmission is clean and sensible on the transfer, kicking down decisively once you delve deep into the throttle’s journey and ripping off fast upshifts with a satisfying crackle.
The torque converter is usually a bit jerky off the mark, nevertheless, when the beginning/cease system is energetic. The engine fires, it engages, and the automobile lurches ahead awkwardly for those who don’t undertake a really light contact on the throttle.
If there’s a chink within the automobile’s armour round city it’s the trip, which ranges from very good (over velocity bumps, or patchy tarmac) to very harsh (over sharp-edged bumps or potholes). For all of the adaptive air suspension cleverness that’s occurring, there’s no hiding the very fact it is a 2000kg SUV using on large wheels wrapped in skinny tyres.
Up the velocity and the SQ7 settles down properly. It’s a really pure cruiser, with a rock strong feeling on the authorized restrict in Australia and baggage of torque in reserve when it’s good to blast previous slower visitors.
Refinement is great. There’s a touch extra highway noise on coarse-chip surfaces within the SQ7 than lesser fashions as a result of its wider, extra performance-oriented tyres, however the engine disappears into the background, and there’s no wind noise from the pillars or mirrors.
Audi has additionally finished a wonderful job calibrating its energetic driver help programs, too.
The adaptive cruise management well maintains a spot to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping help solely intervenes when required – it’s additionally straightforward to show off, as a result of it’s managed utilizing a button on the tip of the wiper stalk. No foolish contact buttons and no sub-menus right here.
Slung right into a bend, the SQ7 handles as you’d count on of a really large automobile carrying the warm-but-not-hot S badge.
It was truly a little bit of a pioneer again within the day, debuting the 48V-driven energetic anti-roll bars which have proliferated by means of the Volkswagen Group. In 2023 although it feels fairly heavy, and by no means shrinks in the way in which a BMW X5 M50i does.
What do you get?
SQ7 TFSI highlights:
22-inch alloy wheelsS entrance and rear bumpers, grille, aspect sills and rear tailgate spoilerRed brake calipersAluminium-look aspect mirrorsMatrix LED with laser headlights and dynamic indicatorsRain-sensing window wipersPanoramic sunroofPrivacy glassHeated, folding aspect mirrorsPower-assisted door closureRoof rails (SQ7 solely)All-wheel steeringAdaptive air suspensionValcona leather-based upholstery, diamond patterned contrasting stitchingHeated, electrically adjustable S sport entrance seats incl. 4-way lumbarDriver seat reminiscence (SQ8 solely)Inside ambient lightingAluminium sprint inlay10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment system8.6-inch secondary touchscreen12.3-inch Digital Cockpit digital instrument clusterSatellite navigationWired, wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android AutoDAB+ digital radio17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound systemHead-up display4-zone local weather controlHeated steering wheel
Choices
Dynamic Bundle:
Quattro sport differentialActive roll stabilisaton
Sensory Bundle:
23-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound systemBlack Alcantara headlinerVentilated entrance seats incl. therapeutic massage functionHeated outboard rear seats (SQ7 solely)Leather-based centre console, door armrests, dashboard, door railsAir ioniserTwo fragrance scents
Is the Audi SQ7 TFSI secure?
The Audi SQ7 wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on testing of the common Q7 in 2019.
It scored 92 per cent in grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent in youngster occupant safety, 71 per cent in susceptible highway person safety, and 71 per cent in security help.
Customary security tools contains:
Entrance, entrance aspect, aspect and curtain airbagsAutonomous emergency braking (AEB)Adaptive cruise management with cease & goTraffic jam assistLane maintain assistBlind-spot assistRear-cross visitors assistSurround-view camerasTyre stress monitorSeat belt reminders for all seats
How a lot does the Audi SQ7 TFSI price to run?
The SQ7 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
A five-year pay as you go service bundle is $4100, and upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi SQ7 TFSI
The SQ7 is exhibiting its age in locations, however it nonetheless has loads to supply.
In some methods, it sits in a wierd area. It seems sporty and incorporates a petrol V8, however it’s not a wannabe sports activities automobile within the mould of a BMW X5 M Competitors or Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S – however it’s additionally not totally sensible both, given the common Q7 50 TDI and 55 TFSI variations aren’t precisely in need of grunt.
Regardless of that, the warm-but-not-hot recipe of the SQ7 makes for a beautiful, habitable SUV in the actual world.
The mix of a strong, sonorous petrol engine and a (largely) comfy, refined drive make it a beautiful automobile to cruise round in, and once you do really feel like getting a transfer on there’s loads of grunt beneath your proper foot, together with sufficient poise to cover its appreciable heft.
Generally, strolling with dinosaurs doesn’t have to be scary.
MORE: All the things Audi SQ7
Execs
Who does not love a V8Impressive inside technologySolid area in second row
Cons
Third row tight alongside newer rivalsIt’s a thirsty ol’ busFeeling its age in locations
High Line Specs
Energy: 373kWFuel Kind: Premium Unleaded PetrolEconomy: 12.1L/100kmCO2 Emissions: 278g/kmANCAP Security Score: 5
