Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Receiving the news that Audi would be sending me the SQ7 for review was a nothing short of great news. The Audi SQ7 is a mid-size luxury SUV that debuted for Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War in a commercial directed by the Russo brothers featuring unreleased scenes from the car chase feature in the film.
Let’s start off with the exterior. The model that we reviewed came in a Daytona Gray Pearl Effect. Upon first look you will notice the prominent grille, front and rear bumpers, HD Matrix LEDs, Audi Laser Light side sills, black exterior trim for the tailgate and dark chrome exhaust tips. I really enjoyed the design of the SQ7, as it is aggressive but luxurious at the same time. It sits on 22” multispoke-S design wheels that are part of the Black Optic package.
The interior of the SQ7 matches the style and quality of the exterior. This luxury SUV seats seven passengers, with plenty of head and legroom in the first two rows. The third row can get kind of tight, so I preferred folding those seats down and using it at cargo. The 2025 Audi SQ7 has 35.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, 14.2 cubic feet behind the 3rd Row and 69.6 cubic feet behind the 1st Row with all the rear seats folded. The only place I would have liked more storage space is in the driver’s armrest.
The Prestige model that we reviewed decked the interior out with the Luxury package. The arras red interior really set it off. The SQ7 also has 18-way power-adjustable front seats with massage, heating and ventilation and a power split-folding third row come standard. The head-up display, power soft-closing doors and night vision camera were pretty nice additions as well. The Prestige and Luxury package really upgrade the look and feel of the cabin.
The infotainment system is pretty nice in the Audi SQ7. There is a virtual cockpit plus, a customizable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. There is a MMI touch response dual-screen setup in the center console. I loved the look and feel of this setup. The infotainment system has handwriting recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth and USB ports. There is also a wireless device charging, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound.
The SQ7 that we tested comes with a 4.0L TFSI V8 engine with an 8 speed Tiptronic transmission. Audi has given the SQ7 a new active roll-stabilisation system. The active anti-roll bars are controlled by a 48-volt electric motor that automatically adjusts to your driving style and the current road conditions. The Audi SQ7 handles well and feels nimble with the air suspension and four-wheel steering. The SQ7 is a sports vehicle so it is no surprise that the gas mileage is not great. The SQ7 delivers 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg combined. In other words, the SQ7 is thirsty when getting pushed on the road.
Audi is high on safety and the SQ7 hit the mark. The SQ7 comes with front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. There is also Audi Pre Sense Rear (blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert) and Audi Pre Sense Side, which uses sensors to detect an oncoming side impact. There is a vehicle exit warning system, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, intersection assist, lane keep assist, a surround-view parking camera system and traffic sign recognition.
The Audi SQ7 is in a competitive class going up against the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Volkswagen Touareg, the BMW X5 M/X6 M, Porsche Cayenne S/GTS, Mercedes-AMG GLE 53/63, Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90 Recharge and the Genesis GV80. That is some pretty good company right there. Audi backs the SQ7 with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty, a 12 year limited warranty against corrosion perforation and 4 years roadside assistance coverage. The model that we tested is priced at $116,640.00.
During my time with the SQ7 I was able to check out the GT World Challenge Powered by AWS, and there was a strong Audi presence there. The race teams compete with various Audi R8 models in the premier North American GT3 series. There are many other brands on the circuit such as McLaren, Acura, BMW, Ferrari and Lamborghini. It was great to see Audi in the races, Audi teams in the paddocks and Audi fans in the parking lot. It felt good to discuss the SQ7 with fellow Audi enthusiasts.
The Audi SQ7 has a smooth ride, handles well and can get up to speed rather quickly. The interior is luxurious and the infotainment system is top notch. Audi definitely ranks near the top of its class. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
