2025 Audi SQ8

If you like the powerful and poised type, the Audi SQ8 is the SUV for you. Its powerful twin-turbo V8 engine is quite the riot when you push the pedal to the floor and its chassis is rock-solid to the core. The SQ8 seamlessly blends German engineering with well-crafted precision to give drivers a luxuriously sedate experience when driving around town, and a hair-raising one when on the open road.

I spent a week in the Audi SQ8 and was nothing short of impressed with how it handled, drove, and felt as a large luxury SUV. Of course, I shouldn’t have been that surprised, considering it is an Audi, after all. But there is something that Audi’s “S” models have that its rivals cannot duplicate, even if their badges start with an “M” and a “B.” Maybe it’s the immense power that it produces matched with the car’s looks that make it so underrated.

Exterior

When it comes to its looks, the Audi SQ8 is like a heavyweight MMA fighter in a tuxedo. It’s exterior bodywork has a sculpted look without being too overbearing. There are some sporty touches though, like the unique grille and air-intake surrounds that cannot be found on the regular Q8. The single frame grille, now slightly revised with sharper contours and a more three-dimensional effect, dominates the front fascia. Flanked by advanced matrix LED headlights, which display the coolest “welcome” lighting effects that I have seen on a car in the last decade.

The SQ8’s side profile is also beautifully sculpted, with bold wheel arches hovering over bicolor 23-inch alloy wheels. Gloss black mirror caps, quad exhaust outlets, and subtle ‘S’ badging provide further distinction from lesser Q8 models. At the rear, a full-width LED taillight signature and a revised bumper structure complete the SQ8’s sporting yet stately appearance.

Interior

Sit inside the SQ8 and you’ll see where Audi’s knack for understated luxury truly shines. When settling into the driver’s seat, you’re enveloped by a sense of comfort and the feeling that everything is right where it should be. The materials found around the cabin are top notch, from the soft leather to the cool metal accents and subtle ambient lighting that appears when the sun goes down. The dash layout is easy to navigate and refreshingly uncluttered, without looking like a barren landscape like you’ll find some EVs and it’s packed with some thoughtful touches.

There is also plenty of space up front for the driver and passenger, and the second row has plenty of space for three, although the middle seat should be reserved for kids. The seats themselves are supportive on long drives but are never stiff, and the cabin is quiet as not much wind noise was detected. 

The cargo space is pretty generous, with 30.5 cubic feet available behind the rear seats, expanding to over 60 cubic feet with seats folded, making the SQ8 as practical as it is plush.

Powertrain and Driving Impressions

Pop the hood on the 2025 Audi SQ8 and you will find a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that’s pure performance magic. It cranks out a hefty 500 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and the brand’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. When the power hits the pavement, that’s enough ponies to get the large SUV up to highway speeds in around four seconds.

What I really love is how balanced it feels. Audi’s adaptive air suspension and all-wheel steering make the SQ8 just as comfortable cruising on the highway as it is taking on twisty roads. You’re riding high, but the handling is tight and responsive, thanks to that smart suspension and the way the Quattro system shuffles torque to wherever it’s needed most. There’s even torque vectoring for sharper cornering. Additionally, Audi’s Drive Select allows you to tailor the car’s ride and handling dynamics with the touch of a button. 

As for fuel economy, the EPA estimates that the Audi SQ8 can achieve up to 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, with 17 mpg combined. After my week of driving the SQ8 on regular highways and city streets, I averaged 17.3 mpg, which is on par with the EPA estimate.

Technology

The Audi SQ8 is filled with all the tech goodies you could want, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display that uses Audi’s MMI touch interface, wireless smartphone charging, Amazon Alexa integration, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a Bang and Olufsen 3D sound system.

The audio system sounds amazing, but my main gripe with the infotainment system is the haptic touch controls, which vibrate a little when you press the “buttons,” which are more icons than buttons, on the screen. However, in order to get that feedback, you have to press down on the icon hard, which is annoying while driving. Audi started using this system in 2019 and I think it’s time for a change.

Safety

The Audi SQ8 comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance features for safety and convenience. Adaptive cruise assist, lane-keeping assist, intersection assist, and a 360-degree camera system are all standard. Optional features include night vision assist, traffic sign recognition, and remote park assist, enabling the SQ8 to park itself in tight spaces.

Over-the-air updates ensure that the infotainment and safety systems remain current, and an available head-up display projects key information directly onto the windshield, minimizing distraction.

Summary

The 2025 Audi SQ8 takes power and prestige to another level. Despite its dated infotainment controls, the SQ8 gives drivers everything they need and want in a luxury SUV with a hefty dose of performance. The twin-turbo engine, superior handling characteristics, precise steering make the SQ8 feel more like a sports car on stilts than a tall-ride SUV. If you’re looking for fun-to-drive luxury SUV that can tote the kids to school and then haul ass on a back road on the way, the Audi SQ8 is a perfect candidate, as long as you can afford its six-figure price tag.