Audi SQ7 vs Land Rover Defender

What's the difference?

The Audi Q7 has come in for its second facelift as it enters its ninth year of production while the younger Q8 is in for its first refresh.

But these two aren't like the Mitsubishi ASX and Eclipse Cross pair; Audi's MLB underpinnings were cutting edge at their launch 2015 and remain stand-out in the class with advanced suspension and chassis tech, connectivity and refinement.

A host of small visual and performance tweaks aim to make the range-topping SQ7 we're driving even better. But should you make the sensible seven-seat decision or go a little rogue and choose the sloping-roofed SQ8?

This feels wrong to say this, but it’s so refreshing not to be driving an electric vehicle. There I said it.

After testing so many EVs lately reviewing a car that has an actual engine is a nice change. And this car definitely has an internal combustion engine - it's the Land Rover Defender Octa Black with a twin-turbo petrol V8.

The Defender Octa is the ultimate form of the 110 Defender. It’s wilder looking, more powerful and more capable, while the Black edition adds darkened elements inside and out for even more visual appeal.

While the Defender Octa Black is special, it’s not alone in a world of high-performance luxury SUVs and its head-to-head rival would be Mercedes-AMG’s G63.

I had the Defender Octa Black for a week and while I didn’t take this beast off-road where it is superbly capable, I put it to the test on some challenging tarmac as well as some challenging real-world family duties.