2025 Audi SQ8

Sportier, even more stylish, and even more luxurious than the model on which it’s based, the Audi SQ8 is everything the Q8 (reviewed separately) is, but turned up a couple of notches. Two comfortable rows of seating, a rip-snorting turbocharged V8, plus all the safety, tech, and all-wheel-drive (AWD) surefootedness we expect of an Audi are onboard the SQ8.

Anyone in the market for a sporty, luxurious midsize coupe-like SUV must consider and test-drive the SQ8.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury SUVs, including the Audi SQ8.

The 2025 Audi SQ8 receives a range of minor appearance and feature adjustments, including standard LED interior lighting on all trim levels and standard road sign recognition. The SQ8 also offers two new appearance packages, one with carbon fiber accents and the other with red accents.

Starting just shy of $100,000 in base form, the 2025 Audi SQ8 isn’t exactly affordable, but it’s competitive with its main alternatives, like the BMW X6 M60i, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53, and the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

Before buying a new midsize luxury performance SUV, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what you should be paying. The Audi SQ8 enjoys typical resale values for its class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Where the non-S model is focused on comfort while retaining rapidity, the SQ8 takes sportiness up several notches, with 500 horsepower and more precise handling. That big power figure enables 4-second sprints from zero to 60 mph, along with a top speed of 155 mph. That, in turn, means wide smiles for everyone in the cabin.

Of course, the SQ8 isn’t just about straight-line speed. The SQ8’s performance upgrades include a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension, along with all-wheel steering for better low-speed maneuverability and greater high-speed stability.

Fuel Economy

The SQ8 nets 17 mpg combined (15 city, 21 highway), which is a bit lower than most of its competitive set, which averages 19.5 mpg combined. That said, all of these high-performance SUVs are a bit thirstier than their regular counterparts — that’s the tradeoff for the extra performance.

Audi’s reputation for clean design, excellent materials, and user-focused ergonomics shines through in the SQ8’s cabin. Clean and modern without gimmicks, the SQ8’s interior is at once business-like and welcoming.

Front and rear passengers have generous legroom (more than 40 inches in all positions), which is considerably more than some rivals, including the BMW X6 M60i.

Being an SUV, the SQ8 does have decent cargo space, but its coupe-ish styling brings a few compromises for the sake of looks. Still, the SQ8 offers nearly 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, or more than 60 cubic feet behind the first. That’s more than the X6 M60i, and on the larger end of this midsize luxury coupe-SUV sector.

It’s hard to call a 6-figure, 500-hp luxury SUV understated, but the Audi SQ8’s exterior does its best to demonstrate restraint. Rather than telegraphing its ability with brightly colored trim and giant aerodynamic surfaces, the SQ8 adopts a subtler look that still clues in the cognoscenti.

For 2025, two new appearance packages offer a chance to undo some of that subtlety, however, adding either carbon fiber visual accents to the exterior (Carbon package) or red-themed contrast stitching, red seat belts, and other interior details (Audi Sport package).

Virtual Cockpit Plus
Audi was one of the first to move away from traditional gauges, and its Virtual Cockpit Plus is still one of the best. It’s sharp, easy to use, and allows the driver to display exactly what’s required — whether that’s navigation, media, or classic dials.

Matrix-design LED headlights
These intelligent headlights adjust automatically to avoid blinding other drivers while still providing great illumination. When parked, they can even project animated patterns onto nearby walls — a clever feature with a bit of flair.

Remote Park Assist Plus
This standard feature can handle parallel and perpendicular parking. It’s especially helpful when space is tight and/or outward vision is limited.

Adaptive air suspension
Another standard SQ8 feature, this high-performance adaptive air suspension absorbs bumps, improves handling in corners, and even lowers the vehicle at higher speeds to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.

Bang & Olufsen audio
The SQ8’s quiet cabin is the perfect setting for this optional 23-speaker/1,920-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system. It delivers rich, detailed sound that makes every drive more enjoyable.

360-degree camera system
Parking and tight spaces are much easier to navigate with this 360-degree camera setup. It provides a full view of the SQ8’s surroundings, helping the driver avoid obstacles and blind spots. This feature comes standard in Premium Plus and Prestige trims.

The 2025 Audi SQ8 generates 500 hp from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. All-wheel drive is standard, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Despite being a luxury/performance SUV, the SQ8 is capable of towing up to 7,700 pounds, thanks to that brawny engine.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi offers standard warranty coverage for its new vehicles of four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. That’s a typical warranty period among European luxury car manufacturers.

Safety Ratings

The Audi SQ8 hasn’t been separately crash-tested, but the regular Q8 scored a maximum 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That base model also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick rating, the institute’s second-highest accolade.