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Special thanks to Remax: 2024 Audi SQ8 Starting at $ Highs: Twin-turbo V-8 with 500 horsepower, upscale cabin, sporty exterior design. Lows: Brakes could be stronger, the V-8 guzzles gas, third-row fans must look to the SQ7. Verdict: The SQ8 looks great, pampers with a luxury cabin, and is nearly as quick as its more expensive Italian cousin. Overview Although you wouldn't know it by looking at it, the 2024 Audi SQ8 shares its platform and powertrain with the wild Lamborghini Urus. Sure, the Urus's twin-turbo V-8 engine has been detuned in the Audi to make just 500 horsepower, but the SQ8 nearly keeps up with the Lambo in our acceleration testing. Plus, the Audi's dialed-back styling means being low-key is much easier. The SQ8 serves as a step up from the standard Q8 SUV, but its five-seat layout and posh cabin carry over to the sportier model. When driven sedately, the SQ8 pampers with an agreeable ride and easy-going handling. Turn up the heat on your favorite back road, though, and the SQ8's athleticism is a real treat—enough so to earn it a 2024 Editors' Choice award. What's New for 2024? The SQ8 has received a styling makeover for 2024 that aligns its look with its electric counterpart, the SQ8 e-tron. An updated grille and front bumper give the SUV a more modern look, and a pair of fancy new headlights use lasers for the high beams. The headlights also feature user-selectable signatures, so you can personalize what the daytime running lights look like. New wheel designs, updated taillights, a fresh palette of colors, revised interior trims, and updated seat designs round out the rest of the design changes. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2024 Audi SQ8 starts at $ and goes up to $ depending on the trim and options. Premium Plus: $97,795 Prestige: $104,795 All SQ8 models come with the best performance-enhancing features Audi can throw at them, so no matter which one you choose, you're getting the same driving experience. Still, we'd upgrade to the Prestige trim, which adds a host of driver-assistance and luxury features that include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a head-up display, soft-close doors, heated rear seats, and power rear sunshades. Engine, Transmission, and Performance A twin-turbocharged V-8 powers the SQ8, and it provides 500 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque; all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are both standard. At our test track, the SQ8 blasted to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, just 0.4 second behind the more powerful—but mechanically similar—Lamborghini Urus. The SQ8 provides agile handling and an athletic demeanor, but when switched into Comfort mode it exhibits a family-friendly ride quality, making it a true dual-purpose vehicle. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG According to the EPA, the SQ8 is good for 15 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined. However, we can't evaluate its real-world mpg until we run it on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen. For more information about the SQ8's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo As is typical of Audi's S models, the interior gains more standard features and fancier materials than the base vehicle. This includes black accents in the cabin and diamond-stitched seats, as well as carbon-fiber trim and contrast stitching. With seating for five, the spacious back seat and capacious cargo area are useful on road trips. Unfortunately, interior cubby storage is subpar. Infotainment and Connectivity Audi decks out every SQ8 with a dual-touchscreen infotainment system and the brand's Virtual Cockpit reconfigurable gauge display. The almost completely digital cabin will appeal to tech-conscious buyers but not those who value physical controls for things like climate control. A Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard fare. Read More
