2024 Audi SQ7 Review

The 2024 Audi SQ7 is the flagship of the Audi Q7 model range, and for good reason. Gone is the twin-turbo V8 Diesel of old, instead you get an absolutely insane twin-turbo petrol V8 that pumps out more torque and almost as much power as the BMW X7 M60i, this thing’s closest competitor while managing to come in cheaper.

So what do you get when you strap a muscle car V8 engine to a 7-seat luxury family SUV? Well, the result is quite a lot, so let's begin by seeing what it will cost you.

How much does the 2024 Audi SQ7 cost?

The 2024 Audi Q7 range kicks off at about $110,000 for the Audi Q7 45 TDI. The 2024 Audi SQ7, being the flagship of the Q7 lineup comes in significantly more expensive at $164,100 before on-road costs and before any options. Now when I say that our test car came equipped with options, I’m not kidding - in fact, our Audi SQ7 (as shown) is $200,100 before on-road costs. Here is a breakdown of the options:

Sensory Package - $13,300, includes:

• Bang and Olufsen 3D sound system
• Front seat cooling and massage function
• Rear outboard seat heating
• Extended leather pack (faux leather on dash trim and doors)
• Dinamica headlining
• Air Ioniser and fragrance

22-inch Audi sport wheels - $1950

Ceramic Brakes - $19,500

Titanium Black exterior styling pack - $1450

S Body styling - $800

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What do we think of the exterior looks of the 2024 Audi SQ7?

The Audi Q7 nameplate has been around in its current iteration for quite some time now, since 2017, with its most recent facelift coming in 2020.

What we got were some fresh new matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, and this 2024 Audi SQ7 gets “dynamic” otherwise known as sequential indicators too.

In typical Audi form, it is quite an understated and elegant design, our test model is also optioned with the Navarra Blue paint which is a very classy look.

It’s not all pure class though, this flagship SQ7 gets some notable additions. Namely, the large intercoolers for the twin-turbo powertrain that sit on the left and right sides at the bottom of the front to remind you this thing is a fire-breathing weapon.

The grille is understated, with two small radars on either side of the Audi rings that are used for the semi-autonomous driving systems, and an SQ7 badge too.

On the side is where you gain an appreciation for the sheer length of the Audi Q7 range, coming in at just over 5 metres in length (5067mm), with the wheelbase spanning 3002mm.

You will also notice those optional matte grey 22-inch Audi sport wheels which are absolutely massive, and look amazing, without impacting on ride quality - but more on that later.

Looking inside the wheels you will find the most costly option available on the Audi SQ7: the ceramic brakes, which cost $19,500 and are really only necessary if you plan on taking your SQ7 to the track, as they help reduce brake fade caused by the brakes heating up. I mean, they look awesome but are you really going to be tracking your $200,000 luxury 7-seat SUV enough to warrant the extra cost?

You’ll also notice some very tinted rear privacy glass that extends to the third row and some long roof rails.

The SQ7 is also available in either a high-gloss exterior styling pack, which highlights exterior elements such as the grille, bumper, the side panel on the lower part of the doors, and mirror caps in high-gloss chrome - or as we have here, the black exterior styling pack which blacks out all of those features. It is up to personal preference but I think the black package makes the SQ7 look more like the high-performance super-SUV that it is.

Coming to the rear, the taillights haven’t changed in design much, which isn’t a bad thing - they have a cool 3D effect, and the rear indicators are ultra-slim with the same “dynamic” sweeping effect as the front.

There are some performance elements though, you get a blacked-out rear diffuser and functional quad-exhaust tips that actually sound pretty good. 

So if you enjoy classic Audi styling then you won’t be offended by the looks of the 2024 Audi SQ7, they haven’t broken the rules or pushed the boundaries too far, while still giving it the extra sportiness it deserves, and allowing for some customisation in the highlights and wheels.

What’s the interior and connectivity like of the 2024 Audi SQ7?

Inside the cabin of the Audi SQ7 you’ll be greeted by swathes of real leather in most places, supplemented with a faux suede in parts of the dash and doors, however, you can’t tell which is which and the quality is supreme, with soft-touch materials found pretty much everywhere.

The SQ7 is available in three different colours for the interior trim; Arras Red, Black and Rock Grey or Rotor Grey Anthracite, ours came with the latter. It is a very classy look, and while some may say it looks boring given that it is a sea of black and grey, I found that it suits the character of the car nicely, though it is good that there is the option for a sportier Red interior.

Coming to the seats, you get RS Sport seats in the front which have heaps of support and plenty of bolstering, with gorgeous diamond-quilted Valcona leather, power adjustment in every way, and even a massage function. You do get heating on the seats as standard, however, the seat ventilation is only included as part of that sensory package.

That massage function is also part of the circa $13,000 sensory package which is a common option package on Audi products, and as the name suggests includes many luxury additions to stimulate the senses.

Another notable sensory stimulator is the Bang and Olufsen 3D surround audio system which consists of 23 speakers including a subwoofer that will just about blow your socks off with its bass reproduction and audio-spacial realism, it is quite the sensory experience.

Our visual senses were not overly pleased, however, by the excess of glossy black materials throughout the dash and centre console, as they tended to smudge easily and show dirt and dust immediately. It does look better at night though, when lit up by the ambient lighting throughout the cabin.

Returning to the touch sense, the steering wheel is a quintessential Audi S design and feels great in the hands, it is the perfect thickness, width, and ergonomic shape, and has media and cruise controls laid out perfectly.

Ahead of the driver is the 12.3-inch Audi “virtual cockpit plus” digital instrument cluster, it is another classic Audi system that hasn’t really seen an update in quite some time, this isn’t a bad thing though as it is sharp, bright, and has plenty of view modes to choose from including a full-screen navigation view. You also get a full heads-up display with speed and cruise control information.

Continuing on with the rest of the technology, this is one of my favourite things about living with an Audi while testing, and that is the reliability and usability of the infotainment system and climate controls. It is a fully touchscreen, and digital implementation without any physical buttons, but because you get haptic feedback in the form of sound and vibration, it feels like you are pressing physical buttons when you use it, it is an absolutely top-notch experience - as you would expect.

You get wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, naturally, as well as a range of inbuilt features including digital radio and satellite navigation.

The climate controls have been relegated to their own secondary display below the infotainment screen that contains all your controls for temperature, seat comfort, and air fragrance that you get as part of that sensory pack. It is perhaps the best implementation of a digital climate control system on the market.

Coming to connectivity, you get a 12V socket next to the hidden away cupholders, a wireless charger in the central armrest compartment, as well as two USB-C ports.

In fact, the wireless charger takes up most of the storage space below the centre armrest - and that is a bit of a theme throughout the front of the SQ7, where storage is a bit limited given the size of the SUV.

Lastly, the massive panoramic sunroof is a high-quality glass unit that you can’t even tell is there when closed, with basically no road noise coming through. It extends all the way to the back to help brighten up the interior and adds spaciousness to the rear of the cabin.

So the SQ7 with the sensory pack benefits from the usual comforts that an Audi provides, with the added bonus of improved sound quality, better air quality with fragrance, and an energising massage function. No, it is absolutely not necessary for the extra cost, though it is nice to have that faux suede across the doors and headlining, and it definitely makes the interior feel a lot more special.

What about the Back seats of the 2024 Audi SQ7?

Just taking the front two rows of space into consideration, it is highly unlikely that anyone will complain about lack of space in the Audi SQ7 - the same is not quite true of the third row but we’ll get to that.

Sitting in the second row, the amount of space you get is very generous with plenty of legroom, toe room, and headroom.

Amenities are as good as you’d expect, with quad-zone climate controls and even a digital display to control individual temperatures for rear occupants. If you opt for the sensory pack, your outboard seat heating controls are on this screen as well.

Connectivity is just as good as in the front, with a 12V socket and two USB-C ports.

The seats are the same soft leather in the chosen grey colour as in the front; they are unbelievably comfortable, and supportive, and you get plenty of room side-by-side. 

The second-row seats also have the capability of sliding and reclining, which is a nice feature, however, this brings up the third row which is a little less than ideal, so let’s get into that.

What about the Third row of the 2024 Audi SQ7?

Firstly, getting into the third row of the Audi SQ7 is a bit more convoluted than it needs to be. You have to fold the second-row seat down, then unlatch a second mechanism to lift the whole seat up, creating enough room for you to climb into the rear. The manual mechanism is simple enough to use but it definitely doesn’t feel as luxurious as it could, especially at this price point.

Getting into the rear, it also becomes clear that in order for an adult to sit back there you have to have the second-row seating slid significantly far forward, which compromises the second-row passengers’ comfort. If you do this, however, you do get barely enough leg room, adequate toe room, and plenty of headroom so adults can use the third row in a pinch.

Amenities back there are somewhat lacking with no connectivity or air vents, and only a cupholder on either side of the seats. So this is where a competitor such as the BMW X7 M60i wins out over the Audi SQ7, with its much nicer third row.

How much can the 2024 Audi SQ7 fit in the boot?

Given the length of the Audi SQ7, you actually get quite a usable cargo space, even with all three rows in place, though on our test car, we don’t get any under-floor storage thanks to that Bang and Olufsen subwoofer down there.

Folding down the third-row seats is electric and button-operated from the boot, exposing an impressive 617L of boot space, which expands once again to a massive 1890L with the second row folded flat. 

A really neat feature in the boot is the load lip height can be adjusted either up or down by raising or lowering the air suspension using buttons in the boot.

What’s under the bonnet of the 2024 Audi SQ7?

Unique to the Audi SQ7 is a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, pumping out a ludicrous 373kW of power, 770Nm of torque to all four wheels with Audi’s signature Quattro All-wheel drive, via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

All this means that this thing will be thirstier than your average car, with Audi quoting a mixed fuel consumption of 12.1L/100km, which is decent for such a high-performance car. 

Audi also claims that it will do 0-100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, so what more is there to do but test that claim out?

How does the 2024 Audi SQ7 drive?

The biggest change in recent years was the transition from a Diesel V8 to a Petrol V8 powertrain, sacrificing some torque but adding a significant amount of power, and boy can you feel it when you decide to push it.

Switching to Dynamic mode feels like awakening some kind of beast, the eight-speed torque converter transmission rapidly shifts you into a lower gear and immediately you can feel the amount of power you have at your disposal. In fact, it's easy to get fooled into thinking that this car has a dual-clutch transmission when driving in this mode, with how quickly the shifts happen.

Yes, the SQ7 is a heavy car and it feels heavy on the road but it shifts when you put your foot down, pinning you back in your seat even at higher speeds. It is actually quite an addictive feeling.

You do get air suspension, which means that depending on the drive mode, the handling characteristics differ dramatically. In comfort mode, you feel like you are floating along the road, the chassis completely undisturbed by imperfections in the road as the air suspension just absorbs everything. Switching to Dynamic is a different story though, it lowers the air suspension giving you more feedback and less body roll as you tackle the twisty back roads.

Speaking of body roll, this is still a large SUV, meaning the centre of mass is still quite high and you can feel the body tilting slightly while taking corners at speed, but for its size, it is astonishing the things that the SQ7 is capable of.

Another enjoyable aspect of spirited driving in the Audi SQ7 is the beautiful exhaust note of the V8 engine, there is nothing better than hearing that monstrous V8 roar as you drive on the back roads.

In Efficiency mode, the SQ7 actually features cylinder deactivation which assists in maintaining a low fuel consumption, and we actually found the efficiency to be fantastic on the highway, even managing to average 9.5-10.8L/100km on the longer stints of highway driving.

This consumption does go up significantly around town though, which is to be expected for a V8 powertrain on a larger car, where stop-start conditions just kill your range.

Coming to driver assistance features, as you would expect the Audi SQ7 comes equipped with the latest active driver assistance technology; including lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and lane guidance assistance, to name a few. These work flawlessly and the car will basically drive itself on the highway.

We tested out the straight-line performance of the Audi SQ7, and clocked the 0-100km/h time at 4.54 seconds - not far off the claimed 4.1 seconds and pretty impressive for a 7-seat SUV!

So looking back over everything we’ve covered, it is difficult to fault the Audi SQ7 without splitting hairs. The outright performance, from a pure acceleration standpoint, is incredible. Handling, in conjunction with ride quality, is exceptional, and of course; you get everything you possibly could need to make your daily commute luxurious. So would we recommend the Audi SQ7 with the extra $19,500 ceramic brake package? Unless you are taking your Audi SQ7 to the track on weekends, odds are you won’t be needing this package, and having it will make almost no difference to anything else we have said about the way this thing drives.

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Is the 2024 Audi SQ7 Safe?

The Audi SQ7, a variant of the Audi Q7 from 2020 onwards, boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on the 2019 assessment criteria. It's important to note that these criteria are somewhat less stringent than those of 2023, and without any updates, this rating is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. In its evaluation, ANCAP awarded the vehicle a 92% rating for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, and 71% for both vulnerable road user protection and safety assist systems.

The Audi SQ7 comes equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection (functional up to 85km/h)
• Intersection Assist
• Driver Attention Alert
• 'Pre-sense' Accident Preparation (closes windows and tightens seatbelts if an imminent accident is detected)
• Tyre Pressure and Temperature Monitoring

Additionally, the SQ7 offers advanced driver-assist technologies:

• Blind-spot Monitoring
• Active Lane Assist
• Collision Avoidance Assist (capable of steering away from potential collisions)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Braking
• Exit Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist and Lane Guidance Assist

Furthermore, the Audi SQ7 features “HD Matrix” Headlights, which provide various beam patterns for different driving conditions and effectively maximize visibility while minimizing the impact on other road users.

How much does the 2024 Audi SQ7 cost to service?

The Audi SQ7 is covered under Audi's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, complemented by available pre-paid servicing plans. For the SQ7, the cost for five years of standard servicing is set at $4600, with servicing intervals at either 12 months or every 15,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

Final thoughts - should you buy a 2024 Audi SQ7?

The 2024 Audi SQ7 is a complete package of luxury and high performance, it offers an elite level of driving comfort, while the new V8 engine takes its sporty driving characteristics to the next level. In terms of comfort and daily driveability, it’s no secret that Audi does it better than most of its competitors, and the SQ7 is no different. It is also a bit cheaper than comparable BMW and Mercedes models, such as the X7 M60i or the AMG GLE53, while coming close in terms of performance. No I don’t think it will handle as well as the BMW or be as outright fast as the AMG, but you still get a very high level of performance regardless. In terms of the multitude of options available, I don’t think you necessarily need to go for the more expensive ones, such as the Sensory package or the Ceramic brakes package. Also, the 22-inch optional wheels aren’t for everyone but they do provide a cool look. Just keep that in mind if you are shopping for an Audi SQ7 - options will take the price quite high, without them the SQ7 is still a great offering.