By Brian Armstead
The roads surrounding Park City, Utah, were perfect test bed to evaluate the 2025 Audi SQ8.
With such perfect roads in Utah, I had no choice but to utilize as much of the SQ8’s 500-horsepower V8 as my skill set allowed.
The SQ8 didn’t disappoint, as the power, coupled with the car’s legendary quattro All-Wheel Drive system with all-wheel steering, sport adaptive dampers and active roll stabilization keeps the SQ8 securely planted to the road, particularly in wet weather driving. Power is channeled to the quattro system via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.
SQ8 Updates
SQ8 updates include a bolder design and upgraded lighting technology, revised front and rear fascias, new wheels and exterior colors, and new decorative interior inlays, along with the Audi app Store and remote start via Audi connect technology upgrades.
Additional enhancements include new bumpers, diffusers, color schemes, wheels, badging, lighting signatures, decorative interior inlays, and the updates and interior lighting and center screen themes available at the Audi app Store.
SQ8 Exterior
It doesn’t take many words to describe SQ8 styling. In fact, one word comes to mind — gorgeous. The SQ8 is wide and sits with an aggressive stance. Up front, there is a new blackened honeycomb grille, flanked by standard matrix-design LED headlights with high beam assist.
Along the sides, well-defined character lines and flared wheel arches that surround the optional 23-inch multi-spoke, bicolor wheels dominate the beautiful design. At the rear, quad smoked chrome polished exhaust tips, a tailgate spoiler and super bright OLED taillights complete the impressive design. Personally, I think the SQ8 is the best-looking Sport-Ute in the U.S. market, period.
SQ8 Interior
My test SQ8 was outfitted with the optional Prestige Package. The package includes a head-up display, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, power second-row sunshades and soft-close doors, among other features.
The configurable Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster is crisp and offers many information settings.
The haptic touch center control screen looks great, and all features can be updated with so-called Software Over The Air or SOTA updates. This cool tech can save you from a trip to your Audi dealer should onboard software require a tweak.
Bang & Olufsen audio is standard, but audiophiles should consider the up-level $5,000 Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system that features 23 speakers, 1,920 watts, and three amplifiers.
Cost: $96,600; as tested $127,540 including a $1,195 Destination Charge
MPG: 15 mpg City-21 mpg Highway-17 mpg Combined
Safety: An advanced air bag system with eight air bags, Audi “Pre-Sense” including collision and accident avoidance features, Lane Departure Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Warning, Multi-mode Electronic Stability Control.
Options: Prestige Package — $7,000; Luxury Package — $5,000; S Sport Package — $6,000
Things to know: Even though the as tested price tag is high, the Audi SQ8 performs at a supercar level at half the price of some competitors.
Pros:
- Incredible performance and all-wheel drive traction
- Full luxe interior
- Many standard safety features
Cons:
- It’s expensive
- Five seat configuration may be too small for some
- Middling fuel economy
