2025 Audi SQ8
Our VerdictThe 2025 Audi SQ8 blends 500-hp V8 performance with SUV practicality, delivering thrilling speed and refined comfort for daily use. It’s a top pick for those seeking a high-performance luxury SUV, though its fuel thirst and lack of a third row may deter some buyers.
Performance enthusiasts, luxury SUV fans
Bigger families (no 3rd row), fuel-economy focused drivers
The Case For
- Blistering V8 power & acceleration
- High-end, tech-rich interior
- Sleek yet practical design
Considerations
- Poor fuel economy
- No third row
- High price tag
Who It's For
The Audi SQ8 is a performance-focused luxury SUV - it’s designed for buyers who want both: sports-car performance and upscale SUV comfort. The SQ8 has a roaring 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine with a sleek design. You get all the Audi hallmarks (quattro AWD traction, cutting-edge driver aids, a digital Virtual Cockpit dashboard) In short, the 2025 SQ8 is a luxury SUV for the enthusiast driver, offering a unique blend of refinement, practicality, and heart-pounding performance that’s rare to find.
Choose Your Specification
Premium Plus
~$97,600Standard Performance & Luxury
The 2025 Audi SQ8 Premium Plus is the entry trim but hardly “basic.” It packs the full 500-hp twin-turbo V8 with quattro AWD, 22″ wheels, adaptive air suspension, and all-wheel steering. Exteriors include a unique grille and quad exhausts, while inside you get Valcona leather, dual touchscreens, and a 12.3″ Virtual Cockpit. Standard tech includes navigation, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen system, wireless charging, surround-view camera, and advanced driver aids. Offering explosive performance and luxury, it’s the best value in the lineup
Prestige
~$106,195Ultimate Sophistication
The 2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige adds a ~$7K premium over Premium Plus, bringing true flagship luxury. It features HD Matrix-design LED headlights with laser light, OLED taillights, soft-close doors, and dual-pane acoustic glass. Inside, you get ventilated massaging front seats, heated rears, power sunshades, and a head-up display, plus Automated Parking Assist. As the fully loaded trim, it’s ideal for buyers seeking maximum comfort, tech, and long-term value.
- Best Balance of Performance & Luxury, only a few features are excluded
- Must haves like Valcona leather, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen system, and a surround-view camera
- Adaptive air suspension for a smoother ride
Trim by Trim
Select your car trims and compare them instantly
| Specification | Premium Plus | Prestige |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 AWD (mild-hybrid) | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 AWD (mild-hybrid) |
| Horsepower | 500 hp | 500 hp |
| MPG (City/Hwy) | 15/21 | 15/21 |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
| Cargo Capacity | 30 cu. ft. | 30 cu. ft. |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| MSRP | ~$97,600 | ~$106,195 |
| Car Type | Midsize Luxury SUV | Midsize Luxury SUV |
The Cost of Ownership
Here is the Audi SQ8's annual ownership costs:
Assumptions: Based on average U.S. driver (12,000 miles/year, fuel price ~$3.75/gal, good driving record).
From Every Angle
Exterior
4.5Subtle Strength
The 2025 Audi SQ8 combines muscle and sophistication with a bold Singleframe grille, sharp LED headlights, and a coupe-like roofline. New Carbon and Audi Sport packages add extra aggression with carbon-fiber trim, red calipers, and interior accents, while its clean design ensures a sleek, upscale presence.
Interior
4.5Luxurious & Advanced
The 2025 Audi SQ8 pairs cutting-edge tech with true luxury, offering a sleek wraparound dashboard, dual touchscreens, and a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit. Premium materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, and quilted Valcona leather create an opulent feel, while spacious seating (over 40 inches of rear legroom) ensures comfort for adults. With four-zone climate control and a whisper-quiet cabin, the SQ8 impressively balances style, comfort, and practicality.
Safety
5Loaded with Tech, Top Ratings
Audi packs the SQ8 with virtually every advanced safety and driver-assistance feature available. Every 2025 SQ8 comes standard with Audi’s Pre Sense safety suite - forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, a lane-departure warning system with gentle lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Parking is made easier by front/rear parking sensors and a 360° surround-view camera. The Prestige trim has an Intersection Assist that watches for crossing traffic when turning. The SQ8 hasn’t been crash-tested independently, but its platform-mate, the Audi Q8, earned a 5-Star overall rating from NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick in recent testing. With eight airbags and the inherent traction of quattro AWD, the SQ8 offers a reassuring ride.
Warranty
4Reliable & Transparent
The Audi SQ8 comes with the brand’s standard 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty, providing solid protection for both powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage. It also includes 24-hour roadside assistance for the same duration, ensuring help is always within reach. Additionally, Audi covers corrosion perforation for 12 years, which is exceptional for long-term ownership. While comprehensive, the plan doesn’t include routine maintenance or wear-and-tear items, and some rivals now offer longer coverage. Overall, the SQ8’s warranty is reliable and transparent, matching Audi’s premium reputation while offering confidence to new buyers who value peace of mind and consistent service support.
Fuel Economy
3Performance Comes at a Cost
No surprise, the SQ8’s 500-hp V8 isn’t gentle at the pump. The EPA rates the 2025 SQ8 at 15 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway (17 mpg combined). In real-world mixed driving, expect somewhere in the mid to high teens. It also has a large 22.5-gallon fuel tank, giving you a decent range (over 350 miles highway). Premium gasoline is required for this high-performance engine, so fuel will be a significant running cost. If fuel economy is a priority, you might consider Audi’s SQ8 e-tron or other plug-in hybrid SUVs.
Tech & Interior
4Feature-Packed, Futuristic Cabin
The 2025 Audi SQ8 is a tech powerhouse, featuring a dual-screen MMI infotainment setup, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a premium Bang & Olufsen 17-speaker sound system (upgradable to a 23-speaker concert-grade setup). Prestige trims add perks like a head-up display, Night Vision, and remote park assist, making the cabin feel futuristic and feature-rich. While the touch-heavy interface has a slight learning curve, it delivers a sleek, high-tech experience few SUVs can match.
Performance & Handling
5Sportscar Soul in an SUV
The 2025 Audi SQ8 blends supercar speed with SUV versatility. It's a 500-hp twin-turbo V8 rockets from 0–60 mph in as little as 3.6 seconds, while adaptive air suspension, quattro AWD, and rear-wheel steering give it agility that belies its size. Yet, it can just as easily settle into a plush, quiet cruiser for daily driving, making it a true dual-personality performance SUV.
New This Year
- Standard LED ambient interior lighting and traffic sign recognition system
- The top trim has standard massaging front seats with memory settings
- A new Carbon package includes styling additions for a racier look
- A new Sport package adds bold red stitching on the seats, center console, and door armrests, plus distinctive red seatbelts
Cars similar to the 2025 Audi SQ8
The Audi SQ8 sits in the growing niche of high-performance luxury SUVs with coupe-like styling. Below is a comparison of the SQ8 with two key rivals – the BMW X6 M60i and the Porsche Cayenne Coupe
2025 Audi SQ8
2025 BMW X6 M60i
2025 Porsche Cayenne Coupe| Aspect | 2025 Audi SQ8 | 2025 BMW X6 M60i | 2025 Porsche Cayenne Coupe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 500‑hp; 0‑60 ~3.7 s – blistering acceleration | 523‑hp; 0‑60 ~4.0 s | 468‑hp; 0‑60 ~4.2 s – exceptional handling. |
| Tech & Interior | Dual touchscreens + 12.3″ virtual cockpit. High-end materials | Curved display (12.3″ gauge + 14.9); traditional design | 12.6″ digital gauge cluster, 12.3″ central touchscreen. |
| Practicality | Roomiest cargo: ~33–34 cu. ft. Tows up to 7,700 lbs. | ~27 cu. ft. cargo. Towing ~7,200 lbs | Least cargo space ~22 cu. ft. Snug headroom. Tows ~7,700 lb |
| Comfort & Space | Two-row seating, plenty of legroom | Supportive seats, cramped rear seat, firmer ride | Rear space is the tightest of the trio; very firm ride |
| Who's It For? | Tech-loving drivers who crave performance but also need a comfortable luxury SUV | Buyers who want a bold statement SUV with BMW’s performance DNA | Enthusiasts seeking the most dynamic drive and handling precision in an SUV form |
| Best Choice For | Balanced luxury Speed Cutting-edge tech | Sporty flair & style BMW’s hallmark handling Performance SUV | Sharp handling Prestige marque Sporty feel |
Asked & Answered
What fuel does the SQ8 require, and what kind of gas mileage will I get?
The Audi SQ8 requires premium unleaded gasoline (91 octane or higher). This is important – to get the best performance. Its EPA ratings are 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway (17 mpg combined).
What is the warranty coverage for the Audi SQ8?
The 2025 Audi SQ8 comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty covering bumper-to-bumper and powertrain, plus 4 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance. Reliability should be solid since the SQ8 shares proven components with the Q8 lineup, but upkeep is important given the high-performance V8 drivetrain.
How much can the SQ8 tow?
The 2025 SQ8 is rated to tow up to 7,700 pounds (when equipped with the optional towing package).
What’s the difference between the SQ8 and the more expensive Audi RS Q8?
The RS Q8 ups the ante with 591 hp, a 0–60 time of ~3.2s, active roll stabilization, and racier styling. The SQ8 delivers 500 hp, 0–60 in ~3.7–4.0s, and greater comfort at a lower price, making it the sweet spot for most buyers. The RS Q8 is best for die-hard enthusiasts chasing supercar-level performance, while the SQ8 already offers exceptional speed and luxury.