Sometimes as a car reviewer, you accidentally find the next vehicle you will personally own. This has happened to me before, and odds are good it happened again the minute I laid my eyes on this 2025 Audi SQ8. It checks all the boxes for me: Sharp looks, big wheels, comfortable seats, a big V8, minimum of 500-horses, great exhaust sound, and soft-closing doors. You see, I’m not hard to please at all!
Exterior
I may be in a minority here, but this Sakhir Gold color looks fabulous. FYI, Sakhir is a desert area in Bahrain where the Bahrain Grand Prix is held.
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Look at those stunning 23” wheels, LED lights all around, the big spoiler on the back, sharp lines, chrome quad exhaust, and Audi is sporting a new look on their famous four rings logo.
Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find a twin-turbo 4-liter V8 that is putting out 500-horses and 568 pound-feet of torque. You might be interested to know this is the same engine (except de-tuned), that comes in the Lamborghini Urus. This big V8 will get you from 0-to-60 in a scant 3.6 seconds, and it will shut you off at 155-miles per hour. The SQ8 is all-wheel drive, and it is mated to an 8-speed automatic with shift paddles. Needless to say, this is a beast wrapped in a luxury SUV body. It does have start/stop but is easily disabled, and it is rated to tow 7,700 pounds.
Interior
Moving to the interior, it’s all Audi, which has made a name for itself over the years for great interiors. Bolstered seats greet you as you open the door.
The leather seats have diamond shaped pleats in the center, built-in headrests, and heavy stitching everywhere. The two front seats are power, they are heated and cooled, and both will give you a very nice massage. The driver has memory settings.
As you hit the power button, a very colorful and configurable 12.3” gauge cluster comes alive. The fully-digital gauge cluster, known as the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, features crisp displays with classic, sport, and dynamic performance views that can highlight everything from navigation maps to real-time power and torque readouts. Look up and you will see a head-up display with traffic sign recognition giving you your current speed and the speed limit.
The command center of the SQ8 sits right in the middle of the dash and is called MMI, multi-media interface. It uses a dual-touchscreen setup with a 10.1-inch upper display for navigation, media, and smartphone integration, and an 8.6-inch lower screen dedicated to climate and comfort controls. It operates the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, handwriting inputs, and customizable shortcuts.
This is also where you activate the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Sirius XM, and an incredible top-view camera system. The voice command system is wonderful and features over 100 voice commands and understands 23 difference languages, thankfully one of them is English. You can talk to it like a friend-say “I’m hot” and it will turn down the temperature. There is also a ton of apps to scroll through including an Alexa interface, settings and all the safety assistance. Although there is a lack of buttons, everything flows very well and it not in the least cumbersome.
On the center console you can change the drive modes from allroad, comfort, auto, dynamic, or individual. You’ll find a couple of cup holders, the start button, the gear shifter, which is short and stubby, a volume knob, you can disable the traction control, there is a shortcut to the cameras, and the automatic parking feature. The center console slides, and inside it is USB-C ports and a wireless charger. The only complaint I really have is the lack of cubbies on the center console. If Audi combined the two screens into one, there would be room to put the things you want at your fingertips. Oh, one more gripe-where is the auto brake hold Audi? That is almost a deal killer for me, but everything else is so wonderful, I could learn to live without it.
Moving to the back seat, it is incredibly roomy, one of the real advantages of a larger SUV without a 3rd row seat. Rear occupants have power shades for the side windows, rear air vents, a rear touchscreen to set their own temperature, and heated seats. The back bench seat slides and reclines, and it has a fold down armrest with cupholders. Three adults can be quite comfortable in the back seat.
Utility
Pop the power liftgate and you’ll find 30.5-cubic feet of cargo with the back seat upright, and there is some storage underneath, along with a compact spare tire. With the back seat folded down, cargo doubles to 60.7-cubic feet.
From back there, you can raise or lower the SQ8 to make it easier to load cargo.
Standard Features
Notable standard features include adaptive air suspension, LED headlights and taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and a power tailgate. Inside, it includes Valcona leather sport seats that are heated, four-zone automatic climate control, the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, dual-screen MMI with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ambient LED interior lighting, a Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium sound system, and power-adjustable front seats with driver memory. It also features keyless entry with push-button start, remote start, wireless charging, and rear power sunshades.
I found this standard feature to be pretty cool. The Integrated Toll Module is built directly into the rearview mirror and lets you drive through most toll roads, bridges, and tunnels in the U.S. without needing a separate transponder stuck to your windshield. It can be linked to your existing toll accounts, works across multiple tolling agencies, and keeps the setup clean and clutter-free inside the cabin. You do have to have a subscription for this feature.
Safety
On the safety front, comes standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front & rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control with lane guidance, and traffic sign recognition. Together, these systems provide comprehensive assistance in everyday driving and help enhance confidence in both city and highway conditions.
Options
My test vehicle has over $28,500 in options. The beautiful paint is $595. The $7,300 Prestige Package gets you laser headlights, dual-pane acoustic glass, head-up display, extended ambient interior lighting, ventilated & massaging front seats, heated rear seats, power soft-close doors, and additional driver assistance features such as intersection assist and automated parking. The S sport package is $6,000 and sharpens performance by adding a sport rear differential for improved cornering, active roll stabilization to reduce body lean, and red brake calipers for a more aggressive look. It builds on the SQ8’s standard adaptive air suspension, giving the SQ8 crisper handling and a more dynamic character without sacrificing comfort.
Next up is the B&O Premium 3D Sound system which is $4,900 and worth every penny. The Luxury Package is $3,700 and gives you a Dinamica headliner and more leather trim inside. The 23” wheels run $2,500, Night Vision is also $2,500, and last but not least, the Black Optics package is $1,100 and swaps out the bright chrome accents for gloss black trim on the grille, window surrounds, and exterior detailing, while also adding black roof rails. The result is a more aggressive, stealthy look that emphasizes the SUV’s sporty character.
Ride and Drive
The SQ8 is super-fast, but in a very civilized way. It launches hard off the line with a deep, throaty exhaust note while remaining refined at cruising speeds.
The adaptive air suspension and the sport differential give it impressive composure in corners, unusual for such a large SUV, yet the ride stays smooth and comfortable on the highway, and it is whisper quiet inside. All-in-all, the driving experience in this 5,300-pound SUV is wonderful.
MSRP and MPG
Fuel economy is what you’d expect, 15 in town, 21 on the highway, and 17 overall. MSRP as equipped is $127,490 and while a lot of money, it is right in line with other high-horsepower luxury SUVs.
Verdict
This is a driver’s machine for sure. If performance and sharp handling are not your jam, get the Q8 and save a bundle, but for yours truly, it would be this one or the RS Q8 which comes with 591-horses, more aggressive suspension tuning, standard active anti-roll stabilization, larger brakes, RS-specific styling details, and unique interior trim, making it the sharper, more hardcore performer, while the SQ8 focuses on blending speed with everyday comfort and refinement. Actually, I wouldn’t sacrifice the silky smoothness of the SQ8, even for more horses.
2025 Audi SQ8 SUV
- What I liked most: The looks, the interior, the handling, the ride and drive, and the performance.
- What I would change: Give me Auto Hold and more console room for my stuff!
- MSRP: Base price $97,800 as equipped $127,490.
- Fuel Economy: 15 MPG city/21 MPG highway/17 MPG combined.
- Official Color: Sakhir Gold.
- Odometer reading when tested: 7,400 miles.
- Weight: 5,269 pounds/6,900 GVWR.
- Spare Tire: Compact spare.
- Length-Width-Height: 196.6” long/78.5” wide/67.2” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 22.5 gallons with fuel filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 7,700 pounds.
- 2025 Audi SQ8 in a few words: An outstanding high-performance SUV that will please on the interstate or the Autobahn.
- Warranty: 4-years/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance
- Final Assembly Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Manufacturers website: Audi
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