Audi SQ8

The cabin combines sporty materials with excellent everyday comfort, keeping the controls easy to reach and operate.

Cabin Layout and Quality

• The dashboard uses a very clean, straightforward layout.
• Audi has layered the cabin with soft-touch materials, brushed metal, and glossy black panels.
• Everything feels incredibly well put together.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

• The front passengers get heavily bolstered sports seats.
• They are wrapped in high-quality leather and provide excellent side support.
• These seats offer electric adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions.

Second Row

• The rear bench is highly spacious.
• Despite the sloping roofline, adults will find generous headroom and excellent legroom.
• The rear seats can slide forward and backwards to balance legroom with boot space.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Heated and ventilated front seats with massage functions
• A massive panoramic sunroof

Audi brings the SQ8 to India as a fully imported unit, so the price sits quite high on the luxury scale.

At Rs. 1.78 crore, the SUV sits ideally between the standard Q8 and the extreme RS Q8. You are paying for the powerful V8 engine, the air suspension, and the advanced all-wheel-drive system.

Fuel efficiency is generally low for a large SUV carrying a 500 bhp V8 engine, so buyers should expect nearly single-digit mileage in heavy city traffic. But thanks to the 85-litre fuel tank, the SUV can still cover long highway distances before you have to refill.

Observed Fuel Efficiency During Testing

To keep up with its immense speed, Audi has packed the SQ8 with top-tier safety hardware. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

• The SUV features a rigid safety cell that protects the cabin during major impacts.
• It comes with eight airbags.
• The doors feel exceptionally heavy, signalling the car's strong build quality.
• ISOFIX anchors make fitting child seats very simple.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

• The vehicle includes Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system
• It actively stops the wheels from slipping on wet or loose surfaces.
• It also gets a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, and electronic stability control.
• It features Level 2 ADAS.

The technology of its car tries to keep its driver focused on the ride while ensuring passengers stay entertained during long trips as well.

Infotainment and Interface

• The dashboard features a dual-screen layout.
• The 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit sits right behind the steering wheel.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available.

But Bilal points out,

"The screens, interface and overall presentation could certainly need a touch of modern update."

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• A premium Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system delivers crisp audio quality.
• Four-zone automatic climate control keeps every passenger comfortable.
• The front seats come with heating, ventilation, and massage functions.
• The panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with extra light.

Because it shares its platform with the standard Q8, the SQ8 is highly practical for family holidays.

• You get 605 litres of boot space with all seats up.
• You can easily pack two large suitcases and a few soft bags.
• The rear seats fold flat to open up 1,755 litres of total cargo room

Performance SUVs often have very stiff suspensions that hurt your back on bad roads. The Audi SQ8 completely solves this problem with its standard air suspension.

City Driving

Driving the SQ8 through crowded streets is surprisingly relaxing.

• The air suspension easily absorbs most potholes and uneven concrete.
• The car can raise the suspension when facing tall speed bumps.
• The steering feels light at slow speeds.
• U-turns and tight parking are completely stress-free.

Highway Driving

On the highway, the SUV feels safe and stable.

• The standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system actively sends power to the wheels with the most grip.
• This setup makes the car stick to the road, even in heavy rain.
• The cabin remains quiet, blocking out wind and tyre noise.

Audi sells the SQ8 in India as a fully imported unit, and you get all the performance hardware and luxury features in one package.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• Physical buttons and dials for the air conditioning
• A highly modernised touchscreen interface

The Audi SQ8 is meant for people who want the massive power of a V8 engine but do not want a car that attracts too much attention. If you drive your family around the city during the week and enjoy driving fast on the highway during the weekend, this SUV is the right fit. It gives you all the comfort of a standard luxury car, but turns into a highly capable sports car the moment you press the throttle. If you want a louder exhaust or flashy wings, you might want to look at its rivals instead.