PARK CITY, Utah – It’s not typically that I am going to a press occasion to drive 4 vehicles, but right here I’m, smack dab within the mountains of Utah with scheduled time within the 2024 Audi Q8 and SQ8 in addition to the 2025 Audi Q7 and SQ7. The excellent news is that there are lots of similarities to those midsize luxurious SUVs. The dangerous information is that regardless of being refreshed for every of their mannequin years, each (all?) are exhibiting their age.
The Q7 is in its second era, which began manner again in 2016 with the SQ7 becoming a member of the lineup for 2020. The Q8/SQ8 may be in its first era, however even that began in 2019. This mid-cycle refresh is one factor, however there are a couple of key components that may solely be fastened with a next-generation relaunch.
First, the seems. All 4 automobiles share the identical 118-inch wheelbase, however the Q7 and SQ7 are about 3.5 inches longer general. This additional size, and the squared-off rear finish, permits Audi to shove a 3rd row into the Q7/SQ7. In the meantime, the Q8/SQ8 will get a sloping rear roofline and a bit extra of an athletic presence.
For his or her respective mannequin years, these midsize SUVs get revised fascias, together with grilles and squinty headlights. Bumpers and diffusers have been tweaked. The SQ7/SQ8 get digital OLED taillights and the SQ8 goes a bit additional by providing 4 selectable lighting signatures. Additionally readily available are new wheel designs and exterior colours. The inside simply will get a couple of new bits of trim, however the screens, format and design all stay the identical.
Audi didn’t change up the engine choices. The Q7 is obtainable with the 45 TFSI – a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, accessible on the Premium and Premium Plus trims. The 55 TFSI, accessible on the Q7 and commonplace on the Q8, is a 3.0-liter turbo V6 with 335 ponies and 369 lb-ft of torque. The SQ7 and SQ8 pump up the bass with a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 with 500 ponies and 568 pound-feet of torque. All engines are paired with an eight-speed computerized transmission and all-wheel drive.
I didn’t get to pattern the bottom engine, however the 55 TFSI is a strong selection with sufficient zing for many drivers. When driving round city, the eight-speed computerized does its job within the background, though it falters a bit when pushed – extra on {that a} bit later. Even with out the SQ’s fancy energetic roll stabilization choice, the Q7 and Q8 deal with like a dream. Each my testers have the non-compulsory four-wheel steering, and so they assault winding roads with equal aplomb, remaining principally flat within the corners and making quick work of fast slalom-like turns.
Drive modes in all 4 automobiles embody Consolation, Auto, Dynamic, Particular person, All Highway, for flat filth roads, and Off Highway for extra tough stuff. Thoughts you, I wouldn’t take these automobiles too far afield of their inventory kind, however it’s good that Audi will permit drivers to show off the ESC for individuals who need to attempt.
Moving into the SQ7 and SQ8 is the place the enjoyable begins. My take a look at drive takes place on a few of the greatest again roads Utah has to supply, and these midsize SUVs assault them with vigor that belies their large-ish stature. In Dynamic mode, throttle response is speedy, and I’m capable of cross slow-moving vans safely on the quick passing sections Utah has seen match to permit.
Each my SQ testers have the non-compulsory electromechanical energetic roll stabilization, and this tech brings one other stage of cornering prowess to already fantastic-handling SUVs. This 48-volt system on the entrance and rear makes use of an electrical motor that rotates the cut up stabilizer bar in reverse instructions, decreasing physique roll. This implies I can keep extra velocity within the turns and energy out faster, all whereas remaining flat and secure.
Nonetheless, throughout all 4 vehicles, the transmission in Dynamic mode is a little bit of a letdown. I can let it go within the Q7 and Q8 since people selecting these are unlikely to be driving fanatics, however it’s a sin within the uprated SQ7 and SQ8. The transmission doesn’t reliably downshift on braking, permitting the automotive to lavatory down on nook exit till the pc realizes I would like extra energy. That is one thing Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have mastered of their Sport modes, and I count on nothing much less right here. Thankfully, the SQs have a guide mode with paddle shifters to resolve the issue, however it’s nonetheless one thing that needs to be addressed within the Audi’s subsequent era.
One other quibble throughout all 4 vehicles is the steering really feel. It weights up properly in Dynamic mode, however there isn’t a lot communication coming from the highway. This can be a robust nut to crack with electrical energy steering, however once more, Audi’s rivals simply do it higher.
It’s laborious to get a learn on gas economic system on a primary drive, however the EPA offers Audi’s midsize crossovers effectivity scores which can be merely OK. Midsize three-row SUVs from the likes of Acura, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all do it higher. The 45 TFSI does the very best, returning 20 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 26 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed. The 55 TFSI sits at 18/23/20, whereas the SQ7 returns 15/21/17. The SQ8 returns the very same, however curiously, the two-row Q8 55 TFSI returns 1 mpg worse within the metropolis and mixed scores than the Q7 model.
The Q7/SQ7 in idea has room for seven passengers, however you higher hope these sitting within the third row are tiny people. As a full-sized grownup, I’d moderately be strapped to the roof like Aunt Edna in “Nationwide Lampoon’s Trip” than endure one minute again there. The second-row seats are additionally a little bit cumbersome to flip and fold to permit entry into that third row, however a minimum of the third row is energy folding, which is handy. Within the 7 fashions you’ll get 14.1 cubic ft of house behind the third row (you may see how a lot that interprets into precise stuff right here), increasing to 35.7 when the third row is folded. Tuck all the things away and also you’re taking a look at 69.6 cubes. That’s about mid-pack within the class. The Q8 with its sloped roofline and shorter physique solely manages 30.5 cubes behind the rear seats and 60.7 cubic ft of house general.
The infotainment is fairly straightforward to determine, menu-wise, however you actually must push on the tiles to activate them. It received’t settle for a easy faucet. I’m additionally not a fan of all of the HVAC controls being on a second, smaller display screen. Once more, I’ve to actually use finger power to activate the tiles, and the display screen takes up what might be a invaluable small storage location in what’s in any other case a storage-light heart console.
Nonetheless, I’m completely in love with Audi’s configurable digital gauge cluster. Audi was one of many first producers to implement this type of tech, and it nonetheless seems as recent because it did after I was wow-ed by it these a few years in the past. Largely what I dig is the supply of a map, in satellite tv for pc view no much less, entrance and heart within the gauge cluster. And I imply the entire cluster – not a little bit sq. or rectangle or circle. The entire thing. Please by no means change this.
In terms of the Superior Driver Help Methods on this lineup, there’s excellent news and dangerous information. The excellent news is that just about all the things is customizable. You may set the system as a complete to be Most or Primary, however you can too dial within the settings for issues like your velocity and distance warnings, facet help and lane departure warning. You may even set the adaptive cruise management to Consolation, Customary or Sport mode, inform the system to take corners a bit faster and set the velocity restrict help to have some tolerance. Nonetheless, Audi doesn’t have any sort of hands-free/eyes-up freeway driving assistant. As an alternative, there’s adaptive cruise management and lane centering to alleviate some stress of freeway driving, however the lane centering isn’t nice. It bounces forwards and backwards within the lane and doesn’t actually encourage confidence. Like the game transmission, that is one thing opponents do higher.
The 2025 Audi Q7 begins at $61,795, together with $1,295 for vacation spot. Patrons who need the bigger 55 TFSI engine pays an additional $5,300. The fully-loaded Status tester is a whopping $88,790. The SQ7 begins at $92,095 together with vacation spot, and my tester with each single choice sits at $116,540.
The Q8 begins at $75,695, together with $1,295 for vacation spot. Our bells-and-whistles tester sits at $100,440. In the meantime, the SQ8 could be had for $98,895, together with vacation spot, however once more, our tester has all of it and sits at $127,640.
Frankly, these six-figure value tags are fairly laborious to swallow when the usual ADAS tech is behind the instances and the transmission falls wanting time. In case you can maintain the choices at bay, then go for it. Nonetheless, it may be higher to attend till the next-generation of those midsize Audis present up.