2023 Audi SQ7 review: First Australian drive

Some things in life are sure things, as certain as death and taxes, as the hackneyed old idiom goes.

And yet, as sure as night follows day (another hackneyed cliché), Audi will, at some point in a model’s life cycle, release an ‘S’ variant.

That’s ‘S’ for ‘Sport’, not to be confused with ‘RS’ for ‘RennSport’, that designation reserved for even more hardcore versions of any given model.

Which brings us the car we have here, the 2023 Audi SQ7.

A quick explainer. The regular Audi Q7 is the brand’s large, seven-seat SUV, sitting above the mid-size Q5 and below the similarly-sized, but swoopier Q8.

Throwing an ‘S’ badge on the tailgate however, promises a level of driver engagement a regular Q7 simply can’t match.

And it starts under the bonnet where a growling V8 provides the SQ7’s momentum.

And it’s here where the 2023 Audi SQ7 sees its biggest change over the model it replaces. Where once a 4.0-litre twin-turbo diesel did the hard work, you’ll now find a 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8. It’s the same engine, albeit in a tamer state of tune, found in across the Volkswagen Group’s portfolio.

Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, Audi RSQ8, Porsche Panamera, Audis RS6 and RS7, this list goes on. It’s possibly the hardest working engine within the group.

In the SQ7, the thumping V8 makes 373kW and 770Nm, up in power but down in torque over the diesel it replaces which put out 320kW and 900Nm.

Audi says the decision was driven by customer demand, a spokesperson telling us, “[petrol] goes with what our customers are wanting in [an] S or RS model”.

Audi has listened.

Plonking a 2023 Audi SQ7 in your driveway will set you back $164,100 plus on-road costs. That’s a slight increase ($2023) over the older diesel-powered model.

Standard exterior equipment highlights include 22-inch wheels, LED matrix headlights, adaptive air suspension, all-wheel steering, red brake calipers, metallic paint, an electric tailgate with gesture control, heated wing mirrors, privacy glass for the rear and rear side windows, and S-specific body styling, helping to set the SQ7 apart from regular Q7s.

The list of standard equipment continues inside where a panoramic sunroof, Valcona leather seat trim, four-zone climate control, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, twin haptic touchscreens (one for infotainment, the other for the SQ7’s functions), satellite navigation, digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Audi’s virtual cockpit digital driver display, ambient lighting, and S sport electrically adjustable and heated front seats.

A full suite of advanced active safety technologies are also on board.

The SQ7 doesn’t play alone on the field of sporty large SUVs. Rivals to the Ingolstadt brawler come in the shape of the BMW X5 M50i, also powered by a stonking V8, 4.4 litres in this instance. It starts at a near-identical $164,900. Mercedes has its AMG-fettled GLE53, but it’s powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre six petrol and starts at around $185,000. To score V8 power in the Merc, you need to outlay around $245,000 plus on-roads for the GLE63.

Similarly, comparing like for like in the Porsche Cayenne range will see you hand over a minimum of $206,700 plus on-road costs for the GTS variant with the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as found under the skin of the SQ7.

Of course, starting price is one thing, final cost another. Our SQ7 at launch came equipped with some options, around $35k worth including big ticket items like the $13,300 Sensory package which adds a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, Dinamica headlining finished in black, front-seat ventilation and massaging, heated outer second-row seats, interior fragrance and ionisation package, and a leather-trimmed upper dashboard. We'd argue the niceties in this pack should be standard.

As for the optional $19,500 ceramic brakes fitted to our launch car, they fall into the unnecessary column, and lift the price as-tested to in excess of 200 large, $200,021 plus on-roads, or around $214,000 driveaway (in NSW).

Audi has a knack for making its high-end cars feel pretty damn special inside. And that remains the case with the new SQ7 which exudes Audi refinement at every turn, every touchpoint.

The S sport seats, finished in quilted Vacona leather, look good, feel even better. They’re heated, electrically adjustable, with in the case of our test car at launch, optional cooling. Finding a comfortable driving position is a cinch, and once ensconced, you really get that feeling of premium buyers at this end of the segment so crave.

The perforated leather-wrapped and steering wheel looks smart, and feels beautiful in hand with a solid heft that’s hard not to like.

The dash is dominated by twin screens, one sitting atop the other, while the digital driver display – Virtual cockpit – is nicely framed by the steering wheel.

The second row is brimming with room, with plenty of space in all key areas for occupants. The seats slide fore and aft for added comfort or more space for third-row occupants while the seatbacks tilt back for a more relaxed time in row two. Separate climate controls back there keep things nice and cosy too.

The third row is okay in terms of space, certainly for this 173cm reviewer. The reality is, no seven-seat SUV is ever going to be supremely comfortable in the third row. If that’s your requirement, buy a people mover. But, when seats and six and seven in the SQ7 are needed, they provide adequate space for occupants. We’d suggest they’re for occasional use only.

Stow the third row away and the cargo area measures in at 617 litres, expanding to 1890 litres with the second row of seating folded away in 40:20:40 fashion. A space-saver spare wheel and tyre lives under the boot floor.

Twin haptic touch screens dominate the SQ7’s dash and centre stack. The top 10.1-inch screen house the SQ7’s infotainment system, equipped with satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and digital radio.

Running Audi’s MMI navigation plus software, the system is intuitive to use while the graphics are top-shelf. We like the haptic feedback given at every touch of the screen, a soft click under finger that feels satisfying to use. Less satisfying, however, is that sometimes you need to effect two or three touches to change a menu item, the system not always responding to the first touch command. It’s mildly annoying, especially while on the move.

That said, when it works, which is most of the time, it’s a beautiful use of modern technology.

The lower screen, measuring in at 8.6 inches, houses the SQ7’s climate controls and other vital car functions, such as drive modes. Usually, we’d decry a lack of physical dials for climate control, but the second screen, dedicated to the function, is easy to use and intuitive, even while on the move. It’s a good use of the technology.

Audi’s 12.3-inch virtual cockpit digital driver display continues to be amongst the best in the automotive landscape, with sharp graphics, and configurable data in multiple ways. It’s intuitive use via steering-wheel mounted buttons make it simple to bring up information while on the move.

And because you can never have too much driver information, a head-up display which projects critical driving data directly onto the windscreen is also fitted as standard. Like the wider supply of information inside the SQ7, it’s a well-executed and nicely-designed setup.

Four USB points, two out front and two in the second row ensure devices remain charged.

The Audi Q7 range wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded back in 2019 for all variants from model year 2020 onwards. And that includes the SQ7 which remains structurally identical to its tamer siblings.

ANCAP scored the Q7 at 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent child occupant, 71 per cent vulnerable road use and 71 per cent for its safety assist systems.

The SQ7 carries the full complement of Audi’s advanced safety technologies including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Eight airbags cover all three rows of occupants.

Audi covers the SQ7 with its newly-minted (in 2022) five-year unlimited kilometre warranty. Roadside assist is also included for the duration of the warranty period.

Service intervals are every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever occurs first. A comprehensive five-year service plan asks for $4100, prepaid at time of purchase.

A comparative insurance estimate for a 35-year-old male in Chatswood NSW comes in at $4333 per annum. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Audi says the SQ7 will use 12.1 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. And it’ll only drink premium of 98-octane unleaded.

Our extensive test drive at launch returned an indicated 12.3 litres, which is decent against Audi’s claim.

There’s a muted rumble inside the cabin when you press the SQ7’s starter button, the petrol V8 bubbling to life much in the same way as the rest of the big SUV goes about its business – understated.

It’s not what you expect from a V8 making 373kW and 770Nm and capable of propelling the 2340kg seven-seat SUV from standstill to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, numbers that conjure up thoughts of an altogether louder more visceral sound. Instead, it’s all a little bit sensible.

And that sits nicely with the philosophy of the SQ7, the sensible and discreet choice when it comes to performance SUVs.

The SQ7 goes about its business with little of that ‘look at me’ fanfare some of its rivals display. Instead, everything feels and sounds mature, an effortless driving experience underpinned by that heroic V8.

Sending the 4.0-litre V8’s outputs to all four wheels is Audi’s excellent eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s an engaging partnership, as capable of providing fuss-free city-speed driving as it is of unleashing a furious turn of acceleration and driver engagement (and enjoyment) when the situation warrants on some nice stretches of rural backroad.

The SQ7 sits on Audi’s adaptive sport air suspension that provides a balanced and cushioned ride, even in its firmest ‘Dynamic’ setting that also lower’s the ride height by 15mm.

It’s remarkable just how comfortable the SQ7 remains, despite being shod in large 22-inch alloys and slimline rubber. Our launch route encompassed plenty of recently-potholed roads thanks to the deluge of rain in rural Victoria, a perfect canvas to test the SQ7’s ride composure. It passed with flying colours, easily gobbling up the potholed and scrappy conditions with minimal fuss.

That underscores the subtle and refined nature of the SQ7, at once quiet, composed and comfortable, but capable of unleashing a – muted – fury.

And park any notions that an SUV this size can’t be hustled with intent. Aside from straight-line acceleration, the SQ7 can hold its own on twisting rural back roads. Flick the drive mode selector into Dynamic and not only does the suspension firm up a touch, but there’s a noticeable increase in steering weight while the eight-speed auto is happy to let that lovely V8 run off its revolution leash.

And, while 2.3 tonnes of SUV will always have the limitation of physics and inertia, thanks to Audi's four-wheel steering set up, which turns the rear wheels in line with the front wheels at higher speeds, and counter to the front wheels when driving at a more sedate pace.

This has two benefits. At higher speeds, the SQ7 behaves with an agility and stability around corners and the big SUVs ability to navigate tighter confines at slower speeds, belie its five-metre-plus length.

Our only minor gripe is that heroic V8 under the bonnet could be a touch more theatrical, its sonorous growl never rising above the level of muted background noise inside the cabin. But that’s also likely the point, the Audi SQ7 a mature take on the performance SUV in a segment were loud and brash options abound.

Everything from the Audi SQ7’s understated yet unquestionably refined interior, the suppleness of the adaptive air suspension and the quiet yet effortless nature of its engine and transmission combination, underscores the clinical and technological precision that has gone into the large SUV’s engineering.

That it can transform from a refined family hauler to an accomplished grand tourer and even, when the right situation presents, a capable rural backroad brawler is a cause for celebration.

Some will no doubt lament the SQ7’s lack of character, with its softly-spoken approach to the job of performance motoring.

But we’d venture that's exactly what some buyers are after, the very embodiment of luxury, performance and practicality in a discreet package.