Audi SQ8 vs Mahindra XUV500
What's the difference?

Audi SQ8

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2025 price

View pricing & specs

Mahindra XUV500

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2018 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz Eqe53

Mercedes-Benz Eqs450

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G580

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE400

Mercedes-Benz GLE450

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2025 Audi SQ8

2018 Mahindra XUV500

By Emily Agar

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V8, 4.0L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.2L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Diesel

Fuel Efficiency

11.9L/100km (combined)

6.7L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Understated but elegant looks
Gusty engine that delivers serious power
Comfortably fits a large family

Cheap way into seven seats
Petrol/auto combination a winner
Hugely spacious third row

Dislikes

Never hits any thrilling notes
Technology is harder than it needs to be
Internal storage could be better

Underwhelming safety
Steering that requires plenty of guesswork
Cheap-feeling interior

2025 Audi SQ8 Summary

The Audi SQ8 has had a mid-life refresh but this upper large SUV still offers luxury with its powerful V8 engine that fans know and love, as well as the features you would expect in a top model.

It competes against the Mercedes-AMG GLE and Porsche Cayenne but we’re family testing the SQ8 to see how it handles domestic life.

Keep reading to see what we’ve discovered.

View full pricing & specs

2018 Mahindra XUV500 Summary

Just in case attacking Australia's crowded SUV market with a virtually unheard of Indian brand wasn't a high enough hurdle to leap over, Mahindra had made its task even harder - think a Bollywood version of Mission Impossible - by launching its XUV500 SUV here with a diesel engine (which nobody wanted) and a manual gearbox (which few could even remember how to use).

Fortunately, it fixed one of those issues late in 2016, finally adding an automatic transmission to the line-up. And now, at long last, it's fixed the other.

This, then, is the petrol-powered XUV500 SUV. And, on paper at least, it's the most sense-making Mahindra to date.

For one, it's a ferociously cheap way into a new seven-seat SUV. For another, it's pretty well equipped, even from the base level. There's a long warranty, an equally long roadside assistance offering, and there's capped-price servicing, too.

So, should the mainstream SUV players be looking over their shoulders?

Spoiler alert: no.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Audi SQ8 2018 Mahindra XUV500

Verdict

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.

Verdict

This petrol-powered and well-priced XUV500 W6 might mark Mahindra's most convincing effort at cracking Australia's congested SUV market, but we're still not completely convinced.

That said, it's certainly cheap, the ownership credentials stack up and it's a very comfortable way to transport seven people.

Audi SQ8 vs Mahindra XUV500 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi SQ8 vs Mahindra XUV500
What's the difference?