The Audi SQ7 is a little bit of a dinosaur in 2023, however it’s a loveable one.

Not solely is the bottom Q7 itself now eight years previous, the flagship SQ7 hasn’t fallen sufferer to downsizing or hybridisation.

Having launched with a difficult turbo-diesel engine, this leather-lined household bus now includes a turbocharged petrol V8. You don’t even get a type of in some correct Audi RS automobiles.

There’s extra to this automobile than its engine, although – even at eight years previous, the most popular Q7 is a compelling choice.

How a lot does the Audi SQ7 TFSI price?

The SQ7 TFSI wears a sticker value of $166,400 earlier than on-road prices, making it $37,000 dearer than the 55 TFSI quattro petrol sitting beneath it within the vary.

That’s not a small chunk of cash, though the SQ7 does pack considerably extra energy, torque, and package than the 55 TFSI.

Within the context of its rivals, the SQ7 goes head-to-head with the BMW X5 M60i ($172,900) and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 ($181,400).

Whereas the AMG affords an elective third row of seating, the hi-po X5 doesn’t supply three rows – if it’s a Bavarian efficiency seven-seater you need you’ll must stretch to the BMW X7 M60i ($197,900).

What’s the Audi SQ7 TFSI like on the within?

The SQ7 appears like a top quality merchandise from the second you drag its vault-like door shut.

It takes a agency tug, and shuts with a reassuringly boring thud. When you’re in, you’re sat in greater variations of the fastened headrest sports activities seats that function on all the pieces from the S3 to the RS6.

They provide a near-perfect mix of consolation and help, with beneficiant bolsters to carry you in place within the corners, and beneficiant padding to maintain you contemporary on lengthy drives.

The quilted-effect stitching is a pleasant contact, as is the therapeutic massage function included as a part of the Sensory Pack. Ought to they actually be elective on a $170,000 luxurious SUV, although?

They’re obtainable in black, crimson, and gray; the gray on our tester was wanting a bit pale on its bolsters after ~7500km on the media fleet. It’s fairly in distinction with the Navarra Blue of our tester, however we’d be choosing one of many alternate options.

Infotainment know-how is often the place automobiles across the Q7’s age begin to look previous, however a heavy mid-life overhaul means the SQ7 nonetheless feels up-to-date once you begin swiping and scrolling.

The principle touchscreen has slick graphics and responds rapidly to inputs, and the actual fact Audi backs every button press with a satisfying haptic click on makes it straightforward to make use of the system with out taking your eyes off the street. Its wi-fi CarPlay was extra susceptible to dropouts than some newer programs, nevertheless.

As for the underside display? It’s the most effective touch-based local weather management setup I’ve used, however it isn’t with out its quirks.

There’s spare slots on the prime of the show, however for some cause Audi hasn’t seen match to place the complete unfold of controls up there – so you continue to want to make use of a sub-menu to regulate your therapeutic massage seating.

Audi’s digital devices stay the most effective within the enterprise. They’re crystal clear, and supply all the knowledge you may presumably want with out ever being overwhelming.

Space for storing is stable up entrance. There are two cupholders beneath a flip-up lid and deep door pockets, though the underarm bin is sort of small, and is eaten up by the wi-fi telephone charger.

Area is the second row is stable. Every of the seats slides and reclines individually, which permits for spectacular flexibility, and of their rearmost place there’s loads of legroom for tall youngsters or adults behind a regular-sized driver.

The boxy roofline affords wonderful headroom again there, even with the panoramic sunroof fitted to our tester, and the broad bench options not solely three top-tether factors, however three ISOFIX factors for little one seats.

That’s a win for folks, as is the actual fact the cumbersome doorways open good and large. That makes it straightforward to load little one seats, or kids, into the rear seats.

The rear air vents are backed by their very own temperature and fan pace controls, together with heating for the outboard seats.

Entry to the third row is easy sufficient, courtesy of the tumble-and-fold second row. As soon as again there, area is tight for anybody aside from kids or shorter adults.

Headroom is once more first rate, however legroom – even with the second row slid ahead – is tight, and there’s hardly any toe room. You additionally don’t get air vents within the rearmost seats, which received’t win too many followers on a scorching Australian summer season day.

When not in use, the sixth and seventh seats (each with top-tether factors), could be folded flat to open up 740L of bags area in five-seat type. There’s area for an enormous canine again there; house owners will need to be certain that they’ve pet insurance coverage regardless.

Drop the second row and there’s an enormous 2050L on supply, whereas there’s an honest 295L behind the third row when all seats are in use.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Gone is the turbo-diesel engine from the SQ7, changed by a 4.0-litre turbocharged petrol V8 as a substitute.

It pumps out 373kW of energy and 770Nm of torque, despatched to all 4 wheels by means of an eight-speed automated transmission. The quattro system includes a self-locking central differential, and has a 60:40 rear:entrance torque break up by default.

Relying on the street situations, it could ship as much as 70 per cent of the engine’s torque to the entrance axle, and 85 per cent to the rear axle.

Claimed gasoline financial system is 12.1 litres per 100km, and the claimed 100km/h dash time is a sports activities car-worrying 4.1 seconds. 95 RON premium unleaded gasoline is required, and the gasoline tank holds 85 litres.

How does the Audi SQ7 TFSI drive?

Prod the beginning button and the SQ7 fires with a velvety growl that winks subtly on the energy on supply.

Sure, the previous turbo-diesel engine was technically extra fascinating, however there’s one thing beautiful a few petrol V8.

The SQ7 is massive beast, and the management weights don’t attempt too onerous to cover that truth. The steering is meaty at low speeds, the throttle requires a agency stab to get the engine singing, and the best way it thuds over sharp-edged bumps offers you the sense it’s going to beat the street into submission quite than attempting to drift over it.

That’s to not say it’s a blunt instrument, although. Audi hasn’t tried to show the SQ7 into one thing it isn’t – possibly it hasn’t been capable of, given the automobile’s age – however there’s one thing very satisfying about driving an unabashed bruiser. Put your foot down and this massive ol’ bus can actually shift, too.

It packs luggage of torque down low within the rev vary, pulling onerous from 2000rpm, and actually rips round to the redline once you preserve your foot in, backed by a really polished, very German V8 bark. The automated transmission is clean and sensible on the transfer, kicking down decisively once you delve deep into the throttle’s journey and ripping off fast upshifts with a satisfying crackle.

The torque converter is usually a bit jerky off the mark, nevertheless, when the beginning/cease system is lively. The engine fires, it engages, and the automobile lurches ahead awkwardly for those who don’t undertake a really mild contact on the throttle.

If there’s a chink within the automobile’s armour round city it’s the journey, which ranges from very good (over pace bumps, or patchy tarmac) to very harsh (over sharp-edged bumps or potholes). For all of the adaptive air suspension cleverness that’s happening, there’s no hiding the actual fact it is a 2000kg SUV using on massive wheels wrapped in skinny tyres.

Up the pace and the SQ7 settles down properly. It’s a really pure cruiser, with a rock stable feeling on the authorized restrict in Australia and luggage of torque in reserve when it’s worthwhile to blast previous slower visitors.

Refinement is superb. There’s a touch extra street noise on coarse-chip surfaces within the SQ7 than lesser fashions resulting from its wider, extra performance-oriented tyres, however the engine disappears into the background, and there’s no wind noise from the pillars or mirrors.

Audi has additionally executed a superb job calibrating its lively driver help programs, too.

The adaptive cruise management neatly maintains a niche to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping help solely intervenes when required – it’s additionally straightforward to show off, as a result of it’s managed utilizing a button on the top of the wiper stalk. No foolish contact buttons and no sub-menus right here.

Slung right into a bend, the SQ7 handles as you’d anticipate of a really massive automobile carrying the warm-but-not-hot S badge.

It was really a little bit of a pioneer again within the day, debuting the 48V-driven lively anti-roll bars which have proliferated by means of the Volkswagen Group. In 2023 although it feels fairly heavy, and by no means shrinks in the best way a BMW X5 M50i does.

What do you get?

SQ7 TFSI highlights:

• 22-inch alloy wheels
• S entrance and rear bumpers, grille, aspect sills and rear tailgate spoiler
• Pink brake calipers
• Aluminium-look aspect mirrors
• Matrix LED with laser headlights and dynamic indicators
• Rain-sensing window wipers
• Panoramic sunroof
• Privateness glass
• Heated, folding aspect mirrors
• Energy-assisted door closure
• Roof rails (SQ7 solely)
• All-wheel steering
• Adaptive air suspension
• Valcona leather-based upholstery, diamond patterned contrasting stitching
• Heated, electrically adjustable S sport entrance seats incl. 4-way lumbar
• Driver seat reminiscence (SQ8 solely)
• Inside ambient lighting
• Aluminium sprint inlay
• 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment system
• 8.6-inch secondary touchscreen
• 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Wired, wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
• Head-up show
• 4-zone local weather management
• Heated steering wheel

Choices

Dynamic Package deal:

• Quattro sport differential
• Lively roll stabilisaton

Sensory Package deal:

• 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system
• Black Alcantara headliner
• Ventilated entrance seats incl. therapeutic massage operate
• Heated outboard rear seats (SQ7 solely)
• Leather-based centre console, door armrests, dashboard, door rails
• Air ioniser
• Two fragrance scents

Is the Audi SQ7 TFSI secure?

The Audi SQ7 wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on testing of the common Q7 in 2019.

It scored 92 per cent in grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent in little one occupant safety, 71 per cent in weak street consumer safety, and 71 per cent in security help.

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• Entrance, entrance aspect, aspect and curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Automobile, Pedestrian detection
  • Reverse AEB
• Adaptive cruise management with cease & go
• Visitors jam help
• Lane preserve help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear-cross visitors help
• Encompass-view cameras
• Tyre stress monitor
• Seat belt reminders for all seats

How a lot does the Audi SQ7 TFSI price to run?

The SQ7 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

A five-year pay as you go service bundle is $4100, and upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi SQ7 TFSI

The SQ7 is exhibiting its age in locations, however it nonetheless has a lot to supply.

In some methods, it sits in an odd area. It appears to be like sporty and includes a petrol V8, however it’s not a wannabe sports activities automobile within the mould of a BMW X5 M Competitors or Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S – however it’s additionally not totally sensible both, given the common Q7 50 TDI and 55 TFSI variations aren’t precisely in need of grunt.

Regardless of that, the warm-but-not-hot recipe of the SQ7 makes for a beautiful, habitable SUV in the actual world.

The mix of a strong, sonorous petrol engine and a (largely) comfy, refined drive make it a beautiful automobile to cruise round in, and once you do really feel like getting a transfer on there’s loads of grunt beneath your proper foot, together with sufficient poise to cover its appreciable heft.

Typically, strolling with dinosaurs doesn’t must be scary.

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