A GREAT Q8?(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 68

The SQ8 isn't the ultimate Q8 model, but it might well be for some potential owners, especially in this updated form. After all, there's 770Nm of pulling power from its 4.0-litre TFSI biturbo petrol V8 and the kind of performance you might expect from a thoroughbred sports car. From a sporting large coupe-style luxury SUV able to carry the family and cruise to the Riviera. Quite a combination.

Background word count: 152

This SQ8 was originally launched with a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 diesel; these days it has a TFSI petrol V8 of the same size, but with even more power - 507PS. Which means it now sprints to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds. Otherwise, everything's much as its been since we first saw this SQ8 in 2019. This is theoretically an SUV, but you'd never take it off road. And all of that before you start to get your head around the styling concept this Audi wholeheartedly embraces, that of the SUV coupe. This SQ8 has always defied convention. It doesn't need the performance to rival the very fastest large luxury sporting SUVs like the Range Rover Sport SVR or the Porsche Cayenne Turbo because Audi has the petrol-powered RS Q8 model to do that. This SQ8 variant though, is arguably a more complete car than its RS stablemate. And here, we'll explain why.

Driving Experience word count: 297

There are no mechanical changes as part of this enhancement, but you may need bringing up to date with the fact that these days, this SQ8 is petrol-powered: in its earliest form, a six cylinder diesel featured beneath the bonnet. The change to the green pump brought this car into line with two close rivals, the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe 53 4MATIC+ and BMW's X6 M60i. So of course, it needs to deliver similar performance to those cars - and does. In this Audi, you get a 4.0-litre biturbo TFSI V8 delivering 507PS (72PS more than the original SQ8 model's diesel unit) and a mammoth 770Nm of torque (130Nm less than that old diesel), credentials that theoretically enable it to propel the SQ8 with sports car-style acceleration. Rest to 62mph requires only 4.1 seconds and top speed has to be restricted at 155mph. An electrically powered compressor aids the turbochargers when starting off and when accelerating at low engine speeds. All of that leads you to expect a really slingshot feel at the wheel, but the actual reality of torque to the tarmac is a little limited by the slight laziness of the 8-speed tiptronic auto gearbox - though you can quicken things up by using the manual gearshift paddles provided behind the steering wheel. Spend a bit more on your SQ8 (upgrading to top 'Vorsprung' trim) and your car will come fitted out with rear wheel steering, active anti-roll bars, carbon ceramic brakes and a Sport differential which helps to get the power down at speed through tight turns. Air suspension is standard. This V8 petrol unit sounds far more pleasing than the original TDI diesel of course and Audi has fitted speakers both in the exhaust and inside the cabin to digitally enhance the engine sound.