2023 Audi SQ7 Performance

All the elements are here to create an explosive performance SUV. You get a V8 engine with a couple of turbos strapped to it, Audi's famous quattro AWD system, and 500 horses to unleash. Sure, there are SUVs out there that will run away from the SQ7, and the official 0-60 mph of 4.3 seconds doesn't sound that impressive by today's standards, but in the real world where road conditions are less than perfect, this Audi squats down and launches out of the blocks like a bat out of hell. Independent testing has shown that the SQ7's performance specs are even better; it can hit 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds under the right conditions, making it as quick as a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10. Let's just appreciate the fact that this is a seven-seater family SUV packed with leather, power seats, and all sorts of other nice-to-haves. Keep your foot on the loud pedal, and you'll very quickly reach a limited top speed of 130 mph, although a limited top speed of 155 mph is also available if you opt for summer tires. The SQ7 has a towing capacity of 7,700 lbs, which is quite impressive.

How do you make any large SUV go fast? You stuff a big V8 under the hood and throw a few turbos at it, of course. Turbocharged V8 engines mated to slick automatic transmissions, and an advanced AWD system seems to be the industry standard these days, with some also making use of some mild hybrid assistance. In the case of the SQ7, Audi has gone for its tried and tested twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, which is also used in the SQ8 SUV, and in a higher state of tune in the RS Q8. 500 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque are sent to all four wheels via Audi's quattro AWD system and a slick eight-speed automatic transmission.

The beauty of this setup is that it delivers both ferocious performance and superb refinement. In and around the city, the SQ7 is as placid as any family SUV, but let it loose on an open road, and it pulls like a German freight train. The eight-speed automatic transmission that we know so well does an excellent job in the SQ7 and comes with few faults. It might not be the quickest or fastest around, but the V8 engine under the hood of the SQ7 will leave the majority of drivers feeling more than satisfied.

You can't have luxury, performance, and fuel economy simultaneously. Okay, maybe in an electric car, but when it comes to traditional ICE-powered luxury SUVs, you're going to have to sacrifice a bit of fuel economy in order to achieve a reasonable level of performance. According to the EPA, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter SQ7 will suck down 14/20/17 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. That ain't thrifty. The Audi SQ7 returns poorer has mileage than the larger and heavier BMW X7 M60i, which manages 16/21/18 mpg. The BMW X5 M50i is also better with figures of 16/22/18 mpg.

The SQ7's fuel tank can hold 22.5 gallons of gas, giving it a maximum range of around 382 miles.