2020 Audi SQ7 Review

　　

2020 Audi SQ7 Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　Do you ever take a look at your garage and think, "What this could really use is a seven-seat midsize luxury SUV with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 500 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque?" Good news — Audi is producing a performance variant of its all-wheel-drive Q7 crossover to address your oddly specific needs. The 2020 Audi SQ7 doubles the base Q7's cylinder count and power output, then adds a handful of performance, styling and luxury upgrades to boot. That sounds like a winning formula to us, especially since we currently rank the Audi Q7 at the top of its class.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Audi SQ7 Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$267/mo  for SQ7 Premium Plus

　　SQ7 Premium Plus

　　Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) - $84,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $90,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　According to Audi, the SQ7 rockets to highway speeds in just 4.3 seconds — roughly half a second slower than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which is driven by a slightly more powerful version of the same motor.

　　But the SQ7 isn't just about straight-line speed. There's also an available sport differential, which can increase the ratio of power shunted to the rear axle from the standard 40:60 front/rear split to 20:80. You can also spec active roll stabilization to help reduce body movement in corners. Standard all-wheel steering keeps the SQ7 pointed ahead at higher speeds and reduces the turning radius in parking lots.

　　Aside from the requisite badging changes, plenty of visual upgrades distinguish the SQ7 from its sober siblings. These include quad exhaust tips and trim that extends into the Christmas-ham-sized air intakes. Inside are ventilated front sport seats with thicker bolsters to keep driver and passenger from slipping and sliding in turns.

　　

Why does it matter?

Aside from the inherent benefit of being able to keep the kids in line with one squeeze of your right foot, the SQ7 gives you the ability to actually have some fun in your family hauler. As long as Audi doesn't sacrifice the Q7's superlative comfort in the process, the SQ7 could prove to be one of the most desirable vehicles in the segment.

　　

zzdcar says

The 2020 Audi SQ7 starts with an excellent family crossover and adds even greater levels of performance. It has all the makings of a formidable family hauler, provided it retains the Q7's controlled and comfortable ride.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the SQ7 drive? You'd never guess by looking at the SQ7 that it could smoke your Supra off the line. But move it does, needing only 3.9 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill. That's quick by any measure, and it's becoming more of a common thread for these modern high-performance SUVs.

　　The SQ7 is no lightweight at 5,300 pounds, and you'll feel that weight if you try to hustle it through corners. But it moves respectably well and stops with confidence and grace. We like how accurate the steering is and its ability to relay when the front tires have exceeded their grip limits. When you're not in a hurry, the SQ7 delivers smooth and easy driving, with the exception of its stop-start system. Sometimes it cuts off the engine a beat too soon, leading to jerky stops, and then doesn't fire back up as smoothly as some other systems.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the SQ7? Despite its performance persuasion, the SQ7 delivers an abundance of everyday comfort. Credit goes largely to an excellently tuned air suspension. It manages to soak up road irregularities like a sponge without making the ride feel like Jell-O in the process. Our Prestige trim tester also included dual-pane windows that greatly reduced the ambient wind and surrounding noise. Thankfully, the growl of the 4.0-liter V8 engine is present when you want to hear it.

　　The SQ7 seats have excellent adjustability, providing hours of comfort on the road while offering the necessary lateral support to minimize side-to-side sloshing on a curvy road. Our tester's four-zone climate control was very effective, and the heated and ventilated front seats are significantly better than what BMW offers.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Audi's bold decision to go full touchscreen on its latest infotainment interface is controversial. Some of our experts found it distracting and easy to smudge, while others found it intuitive and uncluttered. We all agree the design is, at the very least, visually appealing.

　　The Q7's boxy greenhouse offers excellent outward visibility and plenty of room for passengers, as long as the third row is reserved for kid use only. Same goes for getting in and out; there's plenty of head clearance complemented by a relatively low step-in height, but access to the third row is cumbersome.

　　Further easing the stress of parking lots is the optional 360-degree camera system that provides a host of viewing angles for maneuvering in tight spots, including a 3D image as if you're looking at the car from outside.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The SQ7's infotainment interface is controversial, but you can't deny that the cabin tech looks fully modern and comes with plenty of features. We like that it supports wireless Apple CarPlay too. The upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio system is amazing, but it also costs a pretty penny. We think the standard system should suit most buyers.

　　Audi's voice control system isn't as comprehensive as Mercedes' excellent MBUX system, but it's very good compared to most systems on the market. It will pull up an address or point of interest quickly, activate the driver's seat heater, or switch to a satellite radio station with ease.

　　Most driver aids are standard on the Prestige trim and well worth the money. We particularly like Audi's sharp 360-degree cameras that allow for multiple viewing angles, including one that looks at your vehicle from the outside.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Cargo capacity ranges from 14.2 cubic feet (behind the third row) to a max of 69.6 cubic feet with all rows folded — this would be about average for a standard three-row midsize SUV, but it's generous compared to other performance SUVs. The power-folding third-row seats are a nice touch and can fold in any second-row seat position. Interior storage is less impressive — the sizable door pockets are the best for stashing stuff.

　　A bit rare for the class are three sets of car seat anchors across the second row and two in the third row, providing some good options for child seat placement. Audi cites a 7,700-pound towing capacity for our SQ7 with the optional tow package, which is excellent.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The SQ7 is EPA-estimated to return 17 mpg combined (15 city/21 highway). We achieved a promising 20.4 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop, which falls in line with those estimates. Considering the performance delivered by this V8, the fuel economy is pretty decent, matching that of the similarly sized SQ8 but besting mpg from the more powerful BMW X5 M and Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the SQ7 a good value? It's harder to see value in vehicles at this price point because emotion will ultimately rule the day. That said, the SQ7 delivers quite a good bang for your buck. Build quality is top-notch and modern, which is typical Audi, but not at the expense of function or comfort. Ideally specced, our SQ7 would ring in at $96K, which is far less than some of the other offerings in this class. In other words, it feels well worth the cost of admission.

　　Audi's warranty is pretty typical with basic and powertrain coverage for four years/50,000 miles and roadside assistance covered for four years/unlimited miles.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The SQ7 is no lightweight athlete, but it can still move around corners with surprising speed if you approach it with some finesse. The engine is surprisingly potent and makes wonderful noises, which is more than half of the fun. The optional sport package with torque vectoring and active roll control would make this a real party.

　　It's no secret that Audi pens some of the cleanest vehicle shapes in the industry. The SQ7 is beautiful, though it might be too subtle for some. It still scores high here for erring on the side of subtlety rather than emulating the Honda Civic Type R.

　　

Which SQ7 does zzdcar recommend?

The SQ7 Premium Plus is an excellent choice for its starting price. The standard V8 engine, all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission are a winning formula, and it comes with an extensive list of features usually found on outrageously expensive luxury cars. It showcases much of the best equipment Audi has to offer, and most of the extra comforts in the higher-level Prestige trim are available as add-ons if you so choose.

　　

2020 Audi SQ7 models

The 2020 Audi SQ7 offers two trim levels. The Prestige Plus includes a number of sumptuous features that cement its luxury SUV status. The Prestige trim takes things even further with advanced creature comforts. Highlight features include:

　　Premium Plus

　　Starts you off with:

　　Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (500 horsepower, 568 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed automatic transmission All-wheel drive 15.8-inch ventilated front brakes and 13.8-inch ventilated rears Adaptive air sport suspension LED headlights and taillights Heated front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment Four-zone automatic climate control Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with paddle shiftersTechnology and safety features include:

　　10.1-inch upper infotainment touchscreen and 8.6-inch lower touchscreen Navigation 3D premium surround sound Top-view camera system with 360-degree view Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)Prestige

　　Takes all features in the Premium Plus and adds:

　　Dual-pane acoustic glass for front and rear windows Power soft-closing doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Intersection assist (issues warning at up to 18 mph if cross-traffic is detected) Ventilated front seats Heated front and rear seats Heated steering wheel Panoramic sunroofTechnology and safety features include:

　　Multicolor ambient lighting Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Traffic sign recognition Lane-keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between vehicle and the car in front) with Traffic Jam AssistMain optional features and packages

　　Also available on either SQ7 Premium Plus and Prestige trims unless otherwise noted:

　　Black Optic package with dark exterior accents with summer performance tires Ventilated and massaging front seats Towing package increases trailering capacity up to 7,700 pounds Wi-Fi hotspot with subscription Sport package with active roll stabilization and sport differential (Prestige only) 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System (Prestige only)

　　

2020 SQ7 Highlights

Trim: Premium PlusPrestigePremium Plus

　　

Base MSRP	$84,800
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$267/month
Seating	7 seats
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles