Audi SQ8 vs Audi S7

What's the difference?

The Audi SQ8 isn’t your typical performance SUV. It’s more refined and less flashy. The tech can be more complicated than it needs to be and if you’re wanting that V8 soundscape, you won’t find it here.

However, the handling and on road experience are superb plus you can comfortably haul the family around and look good doing it.

Audi’s S7 Sportback wraps style, comfort and sportiness in an appealing package that is sure to please onlookers and occupants alike.

The great engine/transmission aside, the S7 Sportback also has cutting-edge technology at a more affordable pricetag, though less-than-comfortable rear-seat space lets it down a little.

We wish the car we sampled didn’t have the all-wheel steering, as we much preferred the more neutral feel of the S6 sedan we also drove but, overall, the S7 Sportback puts forward a strong case for its existence.

The SQ8 is a gorgeous coupe-style SUV that looks purposeful and poised with its balanced proportions and wide stance. It’s stands apart from its siblings thanks to the S-styled nose treatment and our test model's black accent package makes the honeycomb grille look even sportier. 

The update sees new air intake vents at the front, matrix LED headlights and new chrome exhaust tailpipes.

The upgraded 23-inch alloys with red calipers behind them hint at what’s under the bonnet, as does the Sakhir (sack-heer) Gold paintwork which is aptly named after the one-off Grand Prix race circuit.

The interior looks luxuriously appointed with the black Valcona leather upholstery and the dash is headlined by three high-end technology screens. The SQ8 also gets sport seats featuring a quilted design and 'S' badging but there’s not much else separating it from its siblings.

Audi fans will love the the SQ8's more understated interior but newcomers might be surprised it's not as flashy as some of its rivals.

Audi’s second-generation A7 has always been a bit of a looker, but Audi has taken it up another notch in the S7 Sportback.

Differentiating the S7 Sportback is a more aggressive bodykit, complete with larger air intakes up front, blacked out exterior trim, quad-exhaust tips (denoting that it’s an Audi Sport model) and large 21-inch wheels

The S7 doesn’t go too overboard with the aggressive appointments however (that’s what the top-spec RS7 Sportback, due here later this year, is for), but balances its sportiness with a stately aesthetic.

We think the S7 Sportback is stunning, especially the white exterior colour that gives it an almost Stormtrooper-like look, but even our test car, finished in Daytona Grey, while much more subtle, is still easy on the eyes.

We especially like the strong shoulder line, chiselled doors and sloping roofline of the Sportback body style that combine in profile to make the S7 look like a sprinter on the starting blocks ready to pounce.

Inside, the S7 Sportback scores all of Audi’s latest interior technology, including a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrumentation and dual-screen centre console layout.

The triple screen set-up definitely helps the S7 Sportback feel very cutting-edge from the driver’s seat, especially when you start to play around with the multimedia system that sports haptic feedback when you press the screen.

Everything is laid out in a clear, concise and easy-to-use manner, while the surfaces of the dashboard are covered in soft-touch, premium materials.

If we’re being honest, we'd probably skip the red-leather interior of our test car in favour of something a little more subdued, but to each their own.

We like the integrated air-vents that blend well into the dash, while the sea of black is broken up with some aluminium detailing and different finishes.

The upper large SUV tag certainly makes sense when it comes to cabin space because there's a lot of it. Both rows enjoy ample head- and legroom and access is great thanks to wide door apertures and high ground clearance.

Comfort is high with well-padded seats and thanks to the Sensory Package all but the middle back seater get some luxury extras.

The centre rear position has compromised legroom courtesy of the transmission tunnel, so it's best for a kid. However, the front seats take the cake with their massage, heat and cooling functions and adjustable supports.

Amenities are great throughout the car and the extendable sun visors, rear electric sunshades, soft-close doors and four-zone climate control clinch the practicality deal.

Individual storage is a bit sparse up front with two cupholders, a drink bottle holder in each door and a shallow middle console that realistically only fits a phone.

The glove box is a great size. I can fit my handbag in it, but there are not a lot of areas to pop your smaller items in.

Individual storage is a bit better in the rear as you get two big map pockets, a drink bottle holder in each door, plus two cupholders in the fold-down armrest - so it feels like you have more places for your bits and pieces.

Technology looks amazing but overwhelming to use until you wrap your head around it all. The haptic feedback also gets tired fast. The built-in satellite navigation is super simple while the head-up display and digital instrument cluster feature pull through directions, which is handy.

Charging options are good with each row getting two USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket but the front also enjoys a wireless charging pad. The pad is slow to charge, though, and left my iPhone feeling super hot whenever it was used.

The boot is a good size at 605L and easy to access, too. The sloping roof means larger items have to sit flush with the seats but you shouldn’t have to worry for road trips. 

The back seat has a 40/20/40 split which opens up storage options and this model has a powered tailgate.

Measuring 4969mm long, 1908mm wide, 1417mm tall and with a 2928mm wheeblase, the S7 Sportback falls well and truly into the large car class.

Up front, the driver and passenger have plenty of room, while the seats and steering wheel are almost infinitely adjustable to find the perfect position.

As you can imagine though, the sloping roofline does eat into the rear-seat headroom a little.

The outboard seats offer plenty of leg- and shoulder-room, but the slanted roof prevents my six-foot-tall frame from sitting up straight comfortably.

Don’t get me wrong, the space is perfectly useable for children or even some smaller adults, but don’t expect to get any basketball players in those seats.

As for the middle seat, only children will find it comfortable due to the protruding transmission tunnel and higher-set seat.

The S7 Sportback’s boot offers at least 535 litres of space and expands to 1380L with the 40:20:40 split-fold rear seats stowed.

Being a liftback (or Sportback in Audi parlance) means the boot is much more practical than a standard sedan, and with such a large aperture, bigger items such as suitcases or golf clubs won’t be annoying to load and unload.

Bag hooks, storage tie-down points and carbo netting also feature to ensure your goods don’t roll around when the S7 Sportback is in motion.

Storage around the cabin though, could be a little better as the wireless smartphone charger takes up a fair chunk of room in the shallow central storage bin under the front armrest.

The usual storage tray found ahead of the shifter is also absent, due to the dual-screen centre console layout, but two generous cupholders and sizeable door pockets are still available up front.

Second-row passengers get access to a fold-down armrest with shallow storage tray and cupholders, as well as door pockets that can accommodate large bottles.

Priced at $159,900 before on-road costs, the new S7 Sportback is about $20,000 cheaper than before.

While the $20,000 saving is nice, we’d argue that maybe the $180,000 pricetag for an S7 was a bit high to begin with.

Aside from the new engine (more on that below), the S7 Sportback comes standard with a laundry list of equipment, including keyless entry, push-button start, 21-inch wheels (available in three designs), adaptive air suspension, privacy glass for the rear, electric tailgate with gesture control, soft-close doors, panoramic sunroof and Matrix LED headlights.

As expected of an Audi, the interior is kitted out with leather and soft-touch materials throughout, but it's equipment such as the illuminated seat belt buckles and loose wheel-nut detection that really elevate it above its peers.

The multimedia system is displayed on a 10.1-inch touchscreen and features satellite navigation with real-time traffic alerts, wireless Apple CarPlay support, Android Auto connectivity, Wi-Fi hot-spotting, wireless smartphone charging and digital radio, while the four-zone climate controls are nestled in the lower 8.6-inch screen.

While we prefer physical buttons to a purely touchscreen set-up, Audi’s implementation is fantastic thanks to the haptic feedback from the screens, which mimic a button press.

We also like that there is a dedicated volume-control knob, meaning you aren’t fumbling around with the touchscreen while driving to turn down the music.

The S7 Sportback also features Audi’s signature 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit panel, which is still the best application of a digital instrumentation.

We’ve gone into detail about why we love it so much in the past, but a quick recap is that it's super-easy to use, can be customised to show whatever you want to see, and is clear in its layout.

Despite the long list of equipment, there are still a few items left on the options list.

Some, such as ceramic brakes and a Dynamic Package, are aimed to improve performance around the bends, so it’s nice that the extras aimed at a particular type of customer are not bundled into the asking price for everyone.

Likewise, there are also comfort- and style-orientated choices such as carbon interior, DVD player (in 2020?), heated rear seats and a premium sound system, but with the latter costing $11,700, the S7 Sportback’s price can quickly balloon.

Eight exterior colours are also available, each a no-cost choice.

Our test vehicle has a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo petrol V8 engine that produces 373kW and 770Nm. That means it sits in the middle of its rivals in terms of outputs with the Mercedes being top-dog with its 450kW/850Nm combo.

Still... the SQ8 is no dainty flower when it comes to power delivery and has an impressive 0-100km/h sprint time of just 4.1 seconds. 

The SQ8 is a full-time all-wheel drive with an eight-speed auto transmission and the whole engine combo delivers a powerful but elegant on-road experience.

Powering the new S7 Sportback is a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6, punching out 331kW/600Nm, which is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to the road via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The result is a zero-to-100km/h acceleration time of 4.6 seconds.

Keen-eyed Audi fans might note that those are the exact same engine and outputs as the RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe and RS4 Avant, and they’d be right, however, Audi has added the 48-volt mild-hybrid and an electric powered compressor (EPC) to reduce turbo lag in the S7 Sportback.

It’s a similar system first employed in the SQ7 large SUV, and basically means that the EPC is spooling up the turbo at low engine speeds for better off-the-line performance.

The mild-hybrid technology no doubt helps shift the S7 Sportback’s 2040kg weight with peak power now available earlier on in the rev range (from 5700rpm), while maximum torque is available from 1900rpm.

Compared to the older car, the new S7 Sportback matches its predecessor in power, but ups torque by 50Nm despite losing the old car’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine.

The official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure is 11.9L/100km, which is lower than its rivals.

My real world usage sits at 12.3L/100km after a mix of open-road and urban driving.

This result is decent for a performance SUV but expect it to be thirsty in an urban environment as the on-board gauge hit the mid-20s in the city.

Based on the large 85L fuel tank theoretical driving range is 714km and around 690 using our real-world result. Respectable for a performance SUV but not as good as some family SUVs.

Official fuel economy figures for the S7 Sportback are 8.5 litres per 100km, but in our brief time with the car we managed 13.6L/100km, mainly due to the inner-city and country B-road driving.

The 48-volt mild-hybrid system works to reduce fuel usage, by as much as 0.4L/100km according to Audi, and allows the car to coast with the engine off between speeds of 55km/h and 160km/h for up to 40 seconds.

The start/stop system also aids in reducing fuel usage.

The SQ8 delivers on power because it’s effortless to get up to speed and the pick up is super responsive when the start/stop function is turned off (otherwise there can be some lag).

The engine doesn’t sound like a big and grumbly V8, though. There are some growls but it’s mainly when you turn the engine on and not to be obnoxious about it but if you're in a V8, you want to hear it as it’s part of the fun of having a big bruiser engine like this!

What doesn’t help the V8 soundscape is the fact the cabin sounds like a noise-cancelling headphone inside. There is a small hum from road noise but it’s pretty darn quiet. Almost EV quiet at times but that means the driving experience leans more towards refined and elegant rather than sporty and fun. 

The SQ8's handling is great - super direct steering, stable in corners and well-rounded passenger comfort when it comes to suspension.

You still get road feedback, which I like as a driver, but it’s not too stiff thanks to the adaptive suspension.

The SQ8 is a large car but you wouldn’t know it when it comes to parking. The 360-degree view camera is clear and the dynamic guidelines help you to position this big unit even the smallest of car parks.

Audi’s formula for a go-fast vehicle has always been simple – quattro all-wheel-drive for grip, potent engine for speed – and the new S7 Sportback remains true to that formula.

We are big fans of the 2.9-lite twin-turbo V6 engine, which is matched wonderfully with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

The S7 Sportback always seems to have plenty to give no matter where you are in the rev range, and the transmission isn’t bogged down with slow gear changes up or down.

Though it’s hard to tell how much the EPC helps in getting the S7 up to speed, if you have you window down and accelerate hard from a standstill, you can hear the electronics whirring away.

The standard air suspension also does a wonderful job at absorbing road imperfections in comfort, while it can be switched over to dynamic for a more sporting characteristic.

Grip is plentiful thanks to 255/35 tyres and the quattro all-wheel-drive system but, as with other Audis, the S7 Sportback tends towards understeer when pushed hard around a corner.

Being such a long and wide model, you definitely feel the S7 Sportback’s size on the road, especially when navigating through quick direction changes, but this is where the $7700 Dynamic Package comes into play.

It adds a sports differential, variable ratio steering and all-wheel steering, all aimed at sharpening the S7 up in the bends.

Our test car was fitted with the option pack, but it left us a little cold.

The all-wheel steering especially, made the S7 Sportback’s handling feel too artificial for our tastes, and we were never able to gauge where the rear end wanted to go in a corner.

If we were buying one, we’d leave the Dynamic Package option box unticked.

Bringing the S7 Sportback to a stop are big 400/350mm brake rotors front/rear, with six-piston callipers in the front.

Ceramic brakes with grey-painted callipers can be optioned for $18,000, but the standard stoppers do a fine job scrubbing speed in the S7 Sportback.

Audi’s S7 Sportback was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by ANCAP based on crash-testing done by Euro NCAP in 2018.

The S7 scored 93 and 85 per cent in the adult- and child-occupant protection tests, while the vulnerable road user and safety assist categories yielded an 81 and 78 per cent score respectively.

Standard safety equipment includes tyre pressure monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, surround-view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and a head-up display.

The AEB system is operational from 10-85km/h according to ANCAP’s documentation, and comes with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Noticeably absent from the safety list is traffic-sign recognition, though the satellite navigation will give the speed-limit readout based on GPS data.

The S7 Sportback is also fitted with an exit warning system to warn passengers of any incoming cyclists or cars to prevent opening a door into strife.

The SQ8 comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

It also comes with capped servicing for five years or up to 75,000km and averages $920 per service, which is very good for the segment.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

Like all new Audi models, the S7 Sportback comes with a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with three years roadside assist.

Audi’s warranty still lags behind Mercedes-Benz and Genesis, two premium marques that offer a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on their models.

Scheduled service intervals are every 15,000km/12 months, whichever comes first.

A three- or five-year service plan is available for the S7 Sportback, priced at $2350 and $4110 respectively.