2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige Review: Twin-Turbo Refinement Confronts Aging Technology

At 6:47 AM in Dallas traffic, the 2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige transforms from luxury cruiser to exotic performance machine with a single throttle stab. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 unleashes 500 horsepower that pins you to massaging leather seats while delivering a 3.6-second sprint to 60 mph. This creates an intoxicating contradiction. Here sits automotive engineering excellence wrapped in a seven-year-old design struggling against newer competitors.

Designer: Audi

My $126,490 test vehicle loads every meaningful option. The S Sport package adds $6,000 for electronic differential wizardry and active anti-roll stabilization. Luxury package contributes $3,700 for extended leather and Dinamica headliner. Carbon accents, Black Optic elements, and 23-inch wheels push the visual drama while Bang & Olufsen’s 23-speaker audio system creates concert hall acoustics.

Yet excellence comes with frustration. Nearly a decade ago, when I first experienced the clicked haptic feedback, it felt impressive and futuristic. My opinion has changed completely. The MMI touchscreen now requires excessive pressure for simple inputs while Apple CarPlay freezes during routine connections. This technology feels unacceptable at this price point. Buyers face a choice between proven V8 character and cutting-edge infotainment sophistication.

Audi’s Design Restraint Contrasts BMW’s Aggressive Styling

The SQ8 uses restraint where BMW goes aggressive. This seven-year-old design whispers its capabilities rather than shouting them like an X6 M50i with its kidney grilles and angular bodywork.

My test car’s Black Optic package transforms chrome into dark elements that create visual cohesion. The 23-inch multispoke wheels add drama but punish ride quality over broken Dallas pavement. Carbon mirror housings and side sills provide subtle enhancement without crossing into BMW’s theatrical territory. What surprises me most is how the SQ8’s aesthetic could belong to a standard Q8.

The OLED taillights offer four lighting signatures with approach animations that feel genuinely advanced. HD Matrix LED headlights complement this premium lighting experience while providing actual functional benefit through adaptive beam patterns. Interior cargo space measures 31 cubic feet behind rear seats, expanding to 61 cubic feet when folded. The 40/20/40 split bench doesn’t fold completely flat but provides reasonable utility for a performance SUV.

Audi’s fastback roofline creates athletic proportions without resorting to the visual aggression plaguing competitors. The Singleframe grille dominates with purpose while quad exhaust tips hint at the V8 within. This design philosophy either works for buyers preferring subtlety or disappoints those wanting automotive theater.

Performance: V8 Excellence in a 5,269-Pound Package

The heart of the SQ8 experience lies in its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, producing 500 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 568 lb-ft of torque from 3,000 rpm. Paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic and quattro all-wheel drive, this powertrain delivers acceleration that rivals dedicated sports cars.

Real-world performance confirms the specifications. The 3.6-second 0-60 mph time feels conservative during aggressive launches, with the 48V mild hybrid system providing seamless engine restarts and energy recovery during braking. The quarter-mile performance of 12.2 seconds places the SQ8 in exotic territory, though the 155 mph electronic speed limiter reminds you this remains a family-oriented SUV.

The optional S Sport package transforms the driving experience significantly. The electronic sport rear differential can direct up to 1,800 Nm of torque between rear wheels within hundredths of a second, while the sport differential enhances cornering agility beyond what the 5,269-pound curb weight suggests possible. Active anti-roll stabilization keeps the SQ8 remarkably flat through aggressive direction changes.

Standard sport adaptive air suspension delivers excellent body control, though the ride quality varies significantly with wheel and tire choices. The 23-inch wheel package creates a firm, sometimes harsh ride that emphasizes road imperfections while providing precise steering feedback. Owners prioritizing comfort over ultimate handling precision might prefer smaller wheel options.

Quarter-mile performance averaging 12.2 seconds confirms the SQ8’s straight-line capabilities, while the sport-tuned suspension delivers handling that belies its SUV proportions. The standard torque vectoring system and all-wheel steering enhance agility without sacrificing the confidence-inspiring stability that makes this vehicle suitable for daily family duties.

Technology: Where Excellence Confronts Frustration

Here the SQ8’s contradictions become most apparent. The dashboard features a three-screen setup including a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus, 10.1-inch upper MMI touchscreen, and 8.6-inch lower climate control display. These screens suffer from fingerprint-prone piano black surfaces that I universally criticize, yet Audi continues using this material.

The MMI system’s poor touchscreen response creates daily frustration. Simple inputs require excessive pressure to register, while the poorly calibrated stop/start system behaves erratically during my testing. Apple CarPlay freezing issues compound the technology problems, creating an experience that feels unacceptable at this price point.

Standard equipment does impress elsewhere. The Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System with 23 speakers delivers exceptional audio quality, while the panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cameras, and Virtual Cockpit Plus surpass most competitors’ base specifications. The massaging front seats in the Prestige trim provide genuine comfort during extended driving sessions.

Real-world fuel economy averages around 17-18 mpg in mixed driving conditions, on par with the EPA’s 17 mpg combined rating but firmly in gas-guzzler territory. The 22.5-gallon fuel tank provides reasonable range, though premium fuel requirements add ongoing expense.

Value Proposition: Premium Performance with Dated Technology

Starting at $106,195 for the Prestige trim, the SQ8 costs roughly $1,000-2,000 more than 2024 models. Popular options quickly push prices toward $125,000: the S Sport package adds $6,000, Luxury package $3,700, and the Bang & Olufsen Advanced 3D audio system commands $4,900.

My test vehicle’s final price of $126,490 includes nearly every available option, creating a compelling value argument when compared to similarly equipped competitors. The BMW X6 M50i offers 523 horsepower but slower 4.2-second 0-60 acceleration, while Mercedes-AMG’s GLE 53 Coupe delivers just 429 horsepower from its inline-six hybrid setup. Only the Genesis GV70 Sport offers notably better value, though with 125 fewer horsepower and a much smaller footprint.

KBB data suggests negotiating $4,100-4,200 below MSRP in current market conditions, while five-year ownership costs total approximately $93,000 including depreciation, with the SQ8 retaining 59% of value. Annual maintenance averages $902 for the first five years, while insurance costs approximately $3,524 yearly.

The 7,700-pound towing capacity leads the segment, though owners report cargo space limitations for family travel despite the SUV’s substantial external dimensions.

Sustainability: Mild Electrification and Manufacturing Responsibility

The 48V mild hybrid system represents Audi’s primary efficiency technology in the SQ8. EPA ratings of 15/21/17 mpg trail most competitors, though real-world testing shows modest improvements around 19-20 mpg in mixed driving. The system enables smooth engine restarts and energy recovery but cannot propel the vehicle on electric power alone.

Annual CO2 emissions reach approximately 8.3 tons based on EPA driving assumptions, placing the SQ8 firmly in the high-consumption category. Audi achieved carbon-neutral production at all facilities as of January 2025, employing recycled aluminum that saves up to 95% energy versus primary aluminum production.

The company’s Mission:Zero program encompasses decarbonization, water usage reduction, biodiversity protection, and resource efficiency throughout manufacturing. Components are designed for end-of-life recyclability from the concept phase, though the complex 48V system raises long-term sustainability questions about maintenance and component replacement.

Final Assessment: Exceptional Fundamentals Can’t Mask Technological Stagnation

The 2025 Audi SQ8 delivers exceptional core performance. Its twin-turbo V8 provides intoxicating acceleration, the chassis delivers surprising agility for a 5,269-pound SUV, and interior materials showcase genuine craftsmanship. These strengths shine through daily use, but seven-year-old design elements increasingly struggle against newer competitors.

The SQ8’s value equation comes down to priorities. That 500-horsepower V8 delivers supercar acceleration in a family SUV while undercutting Porsche Cayenne pricing by $20,000-30,000. The technology frustrations feel inexcusable at $126,490, but they don’t diminish the fundamental driving experience.

This represents Audi’s last hurrah for the twin-turbo V8 era before electrification dominates. The SQ8 succeeds as a bridge between old-school performance and modern luxury packaging. Buy it for what it does brilliantly rather than what it struggles with.

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