2025 Audi SQ7 brings serious performance upgrades — but is it enough to surpass the updated Q7 and its predecessor?

The 2025 Audi SQ7 takes the otherwise pedestrian Q7 SUV and gives it the sleeper treatment, turning it into something that could put some muscle cars to shame. It's a luxury pavement punisher housed within Audi's biggest S chassis yet.

Audi packed 500 hp in a luxury SUV
Let's get to the elephant in the room first and foremost. Gone are the piddly V6 powertrains and in their place is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 putting out 500 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission. 

That's the same engine used in the Lamborghini Urus, albeit a little less powerful but the pedigree remains. With an utterly mind-numbing 0-60 mph time of around 4.0 seconds, this German SUV is even faster than some Bentleys and Ferraris.

That 500 hp V8 is paired from the factory with Audi SQ7-exclusive all-wheel steering and sport adaptive air suspension for even better handling.

There are two trim levels available this year, the $90,800 Premium Plus and the $96,900 Prestige.

New exterior designs and wheels set the 2025 Audi SQ7 apart from its brethren
Design-wise, the SQ7 brings a couple of extra styling options to enhance its visual sportiness over its previous 2024 counterpart and the regular Q7. 

The exterior adds "Alu optic" elements, otherwise known as brushed aluminum trim pieces and badges, sharper bumpers at either end with Audi's new "Singleframe" grille, reworked headlights, and real quad exhaust tips to let that V8 sing its people's song.

The 2025 SQ7 offers three new multi-spoke wheel choices in either 21" or 22" and three new paint colors including Chili Red, Ascari Blue, and Sakhir Gold.

Lighting receives new functional and aesthetic updates
The lighting array receives its own upgrade, with new-for-2025 Audi laser light technology. According to Audi's website, the laser light shines a blue hue in the headlight housing, making the high beams even more powerful for greater visibility. You'll have to pony up the cash for the higher $96,900 Prestige trim to get those though.

The taillights on the 2025 model offer a personalized touch with four selectable signature patterns to choose from.

An equally luxurious interior with a sporty touch
The interior is largely similar but with an extra touch of luxury. The SQ7 gets sportier seats than the Q7 with a diamond pattern and the Audi "S" logo stitched into the seat back. The leather is available in two gray finishes or a contrasting Arras Red that must be paired with either a white, gray, or black paint job. Optional red interior stitching is only available on the Prestige trim for $500.

An equally luxurious interior with a sporty touch
The interior is largely similar but with an extra touch of luxury. The SQ7 gets sportier seats than the Q7 with a diamond pattern and the Audi "S" logo stitched into the seat back. The leather is available in two gray finishes or a contrasting Arras Red that must be paired with either a white, gray, or black paint job. Optional red interior stitching is only available on the Prestige trim for $500.

Audi did not skimp on customization with six optional packages
The SQ7 does have a leg up over the regular Q7 in terms of optional packages, some of which are trim-exclusive. 

Starting with the $1,100 Black Optic Package, customers benefit from black 21” 6-Y-spoke design wheels, Anthracite Gray Audi badges, and black exterior trim.

The $1,800 Executive Package focuses more on convenience features, adding ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear windows sunshades, and traffic sign recognition. It comes standard on the Prestige trim.

Looking to really take advantage of that horsepower? Shell out $6,000 for the S Sport Package and get active roll stabilization, red brake calipers, and a sport rear differential.

The higher Prestige trim level throws another three packages into the equation. The $3,700 Luxury Package swaps the regular headliner for a black Dinamica microfiber headliner and extends the leather to the dash, armrests, and center console.

The $2,000 Carbon Package adds carbon fiber exterior mirror housings as well as exterior side sill inlays. The last, but certainly not least, $4,900 Bang & Olufsen package amplifies (literally) the existing 23-speaker system with a 23-channel BeoCore amplifier for a total output of 1,920 watts. Who needs aftermarket options with power like that?

Final thoughts
To sum up what Audi has done with the SQ7, they have taken the luxurious Q7 SUV and given it the Hellcat treatment. Two more cylinders, almost 200 more hp, plenty of handling and suspension upgrades, and sporty design choices to top it all off. 

It's great to see Audi still committed to enhancing the performance of their existing models. It helps make SUVs far more exciting than the stereotypical mall crawlers we’re accustomed to, and more driving enjoyment is always a plus.