BMW X4 vs Audi SQ7

What's the difference?

Okay, so the BMW X4 xDrive30i is neither an ass nor an elbow, to be fair, it's more of a bulky shoulder muscle, or two.

I can't say I'll ever love the X4, the idea of it is a bit too weird for me, but I can't help admiring the way it looks and the way it drives.

It's a bit like a sedan on steroids - or an SUV on a diet, depending on your perspective - but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s fun to drive, comfortable and retains just enough coolness, and just enough practicality, to make it worthwhile.

The Audi SQ7 TFSI is a delight to drive. You can’t fault its handling or power and drivers who want that sort of performance will not be disappointed. However, for the price point I was hoping for sweeter ongoing ownership costs and terms. It's missing a few family-orientated amenities, particularly in the middle row, but it’s big enough to accommodate a large family and all of its gear. So, I give this an 8.0/10.

My son thought the red paintwork and engine were pretty cool and he also gives it an 8.0/10. 

So here's the thing. Obviously I have a personal beef with the existence of vehicles like this, but my eyes cannot deny the facts - the X4 looks fantastic. It's muscular, imposing and smooth all at once. Unlike the X6, a bigger and less visually successful attempt to play the same styling tricks with an X5, it doesn't have a ridiculous rear view that looks like it shoulders and buttocks have been fused (although it's hard to miss just how small the rear window is).

Even more impressively, there's no denying it looks better than the X3 that gave birth to it, so I can easily see why someone in a BMW showroom could be drawn to it. At least until they sit inside.

If the exterior style and eye-catching Sophisto Grey metallic paint don’t make an immediate impression then your eyes will surely widen at the interior, resplendent with bold Tacora Red seats, Aluminium Rhombicle trim finisher and the kind of sleek, classy styling that BMW excels in. 

Both the adjustable ambient lighting on the doors (we were partial to lilac) and door projectors that shot out what looked like robot wings onto the ground every time we hopped out of the X4 at night walked a fine line between futuristic cool and “parked out the front of a nightclub entrance” chintz, but over time the scales tipped more to the former. 

The big differentiator between the X4 and X3, of course, is the sloped coupé roof, a design feature that may make the X4 look a little cooler, but at the expense of cabin space, but more of that in a moment.

The SQ7 has always had a certain understated glamour about it. It’s usual to see these cars in the monochromatic hues that European manufacturers seem to favour, so it can slip under the radar a little.

Not our example, in its Matador Red, a colour which accentuates the red calipers behind the 22-inch alloy wheels and makes the LED headlights pop.

The nose is pronounced with only a small ‘SQ7’ badge hinting at what’s beneath the long bonnet.

There’s quite a bit you can customise and one of the options is sporty black accents across the bodywork, as per our test car.

The interior hosts a plethora of soft touchpoints, leather trims and shiny black piano finishes to create a premium finish.

The panoramic sunroof and dark grey headliner (which is apart of that Sensory Package) further enhances the sense of luxury.

The sports seats are finished in a Valcona leather trim that’s diamond quilted but the headrests are fixed, which might not thrill taller occupants.

Overall, the SQ7 is a large SUV being 5067mm long, 1970mm wide and 1743mm high.

Those dimensions almost challenge the Kia Carnival, which is a people mover! Make sure it will fit in your garage before buying it. 

For a car that is very much a mid-sized SUV on the outside, the interior can feel a bit too snug, like you’re driving a compact car that’s tried on a suit a few sizes too big (for reference, I’m 175cm tall - above-average height drivers may find the snugness soon turns to claustrophobia). 

While comfortable - it is BMW we’re talking about, after all - there’s not an overly abundant amount of headroom available, a feeling that becomes more pronounced should you shut the big moon roof.

My two children felt slightly too close to “you’re annoying me” distance from one another, which is to say this isn’t really the kind of car you should be getting if you plan on regularly ferrying about passengers in the rear who are bigger than a child. But I really don't think many people with kids would choose the X4 over the X3.

Boot space also takes a hit when compared to the X3 (550 litres versus 525-litres in the X4 - I was surprised the difference wasn't larger - although that expands to 1430-litres with the rear seats folded down. 

The boot opening is also mouth-shaped, which makes packing in wide-load items more of an issue.

Cupholders are plentiful - two in the front, two in the rear, and bottle holders in each door - and there’s a decent-sized storage cubby in between the front two seats. 

The sloped roof, and big fat A pillars, also result in the X4 being a bit more pinched at the rear, which is not especially great for visibility, with the vehicle’s blind spots taking some getting used to.

It’s missing a few little family items found on other large SUVs but it’s still a fairly practical family car. The cabin is spacious but passenger comfort has been prioritised over storage options.

Front and middle row occupants enjoy most of the room but third rowers will be comfortable on short journeys.

I would be saving these seats for the kids on longer trips, unless you want to get dagger eyes from any adult passengers stuck back there as the amenities aren’t as extensive as you might like with only two cupholders, a reading light and air vents (which aren’t directional).

With the Sensory Package included, the inside is an example of luxury with its heated and ventilated front seats, as well as the heated outboard seats in the middle row.

I love the massage function up front and that it’s customisable for intensity and position. The heated steering wheel is also a nice feature on the chilly days we’ve been having lately.

The tech is quite good with dual 12.3-inch touchscreens stacked on the dash and centre console.

They have haptic feedback, which means they vibrate when you touch them, but curiously this feature disappears while you’re using the wireless Apple CarPlay.

It did take a little while to get used to the Audi system and the haptic feedback, but once you do it’s easy to handle. There’s Bluetooth, digital radio, wired Android Auto and built-in satellite navigation, too.

The head-up display is super clear and displays the sat nav guidance and speed. What I really love is the four-zone climate control – meaning the middle row can get some further adjustments for ultimate comfort.

Charging options are okay with the front enjoying a wireless charging pad, two USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket. Middle row passengers also get a couple of USB-C ports but third rowers miss out.

I was surprised by the lack of storage throughout and this leads me to think this would suit older families best. For example, the middle console is large enough to only fit a phone. Still, each row gets two cupholders and a drink bottle holder in each door.

The boot is an acceptable size with all seats in use at 295L but with the third row stored, it jumps up to a more respectable 770L. There are stacks of different storage accessories available to purchase, if you need extra space.

The third row is a 50/50 split and the middle row has a very practical 35/30/35 split, which opens up the storage options.

The level load space is handy for the grocery run. But there’s no underfloor storage, and you don’t get a spare tyre, just a puncture repair kit.

A powered tailgate is handy, although this one's a bit faster than others I’ve sampled.

The SQ7 is a performance SUV and that means you’re paying for some heavy-hitting engine specs. As such, expect to pay $166,400 before any on-road costs or optional extras.

That puts it just under the cheapest of its competitors, so it doesn’t feel outrageous for what you get.

Our model has been finished in 'Matador Red' and I was pleased to see paintwork options are included in the base price (as they should be).

Our model does have the 'Sensory Package', which adds $13,300 to the price tag but that bundle includes some cool features like an extended leather dashboard, a synthetic suede headliner, an 'Advanced 3D' 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, an air quality system (with built-in perfume!), a front seat massage and ventilation function and heated rear outboard seats.

Even without the package, it’s still fairly well-specified with its diamond-quilted 'Valcona' leather trim, HD Matrix LED lighting, customisable ambient lighting, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to name just a few.

Now, prepare to be confused. In the past, the 3.0 in the xDrive3.0i nomenclature might have led you to believe you'd bought a BMW with a 3.0-litre straight six engine. But in this case, you have not, the 3.0 just means you have a more exciting version of the 2.0; a TwinPower turbo 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine, making 179kW and 353Nm that the xDrive system delivers to all four wheels. 

The claimed zero to 100km/h time of 4.9 seconds feels completely realistic as this engine has plenty of poke. Put it in the Sport setting and you'll get some serious shove. Indeed, the switch between Comfort and Sport is very noticeable and changes the character of the car entirely.

The transmission is an eight-speed conventional torque converter automatic gearbox that’s both smooth and responsive. 

The new TFSI engine in the SQ7 is monstrous. It’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 with maximum outputs of 373kW/770Nm.

To say it’s powerful is an understatement. This would be at home on the autobahn and my son cheered whenever I had to get up to speed.

It, of course, replaces the SQ7’s iconic diesel V8. The old TDI unit had 53kW less power but 130Nm more torque. However, the new engine delivers on power with aplomb.

The eight-speed auto transmission glides effortlessly through its changes and the all-wheel drive drivetrain is responsive.

The X4’s 65-litre tank needs to be 95-octane at a minimum, and BMW’s claimed combined fuel consumption is 7.9 litres per 100km. The temptation to use its rorty little engine is going to push you higher, though - you chose the one with the 3.0 badge on it after all - and we averaged 10.9 litres per 100km in our week together, which was mainly city driving, to be fair. 

With great power comes… okay fuel efficiency. Actually, better than okay considering the twin-turbo V8 engine. The official combined cycle fuel figure is 11.9L/100km and real-world testing saw my figure at 13.2L.

Considering how hard I drove this and the type of driving I did this week, which was a combo of open-road and urban, this is very respectable. Expect it to be much higher in the city, though.

The SQ7 has a large 85-litre fuel tank and based on the official combined figure, you should be able to get around 714km of driving range. That isn’t as great as more fuel-efficient options but still good for those who like their road trips.

Audi recommends a minimum of 95 RON premium fuel with a preference for 98 RON for ultimate efficiency.

The impressive trick that BMW continually pulls off with its SUVs is giving them the same sensual, muscular steering as its sedans, and an impressively similar ride and handling balance.

The steering is the highlight here, but it's also noticeable how planted to the road it feels.

The X4 speaks to its looks, in fact, by feeling sportier and more alive to drive than you'd expect an X3 to be.  

This is less an SUV for soccer mums and dads, and more a bastard love-child that’s into loud leather and bright neon - a CEO who dressed punk rock-lite on weekends, if you will. 

If those weekends are bereft of child taxiing and loading up the boot with several tons of kid stuff, then you’ll have a blast in the X4. 

The performance is awesome and I made excuses all week to hop in and drive it. It doesn’t hurt that when you press the push-button start, the engine rumbles and growls. There’s even a ‘spitting’ sound as the turbo fires up. It all promises fun.

While the power feels immense, you do have to get used to how to handle it. For example, when you first shift into gear and pull your foot off the brake, the car lurches forward as if it’s rearing to go. It took me a couple of days to get used to the little quirks of it. 

The steering is controlled and responsive, adapting to the conditions and speed at which you’re driving. If you’re accelerating hard, the steering turns a little stiff and the seat belt tucks you into your seat, reaffirming the addition of that S in the model name.

The cabin is very quiet and there’s no shuddering or vibration to be felt through the steering or seat.

The SQ7 features sports adaptive air suspension and it's dependant on how you drive and what drive mode you’re in. It makes for an extremely comfortable journey and not just for those in the front. The rear passengers are nicely cushioned, too.

This is a big car but you don’t feel those dimensions when you park it. Even with its 12.4m turning circle, it’s not cumbersome with the adaptive steering.

The dynamic 360-degree view camera is super clear but the parking sensors are too sensitive for my liking. It might just have been an oddity on the particular model I drove but the emergency braking did pop on a few times (scaring the hell out of me every time!).

The SQ7 has a healthy suite of safety features with the following being standard: LED daytime running lights, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, dynamic 360-degree view reversing camera (it turns with the direction of the steering wheel), dynamic parking guidelines, front and rear parking sensors, rear occupant alert, intelligent seatbelt monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

It also features an active bonnet, meaning it will lift up and away from the engine if the sensors detect that a pedestrian has been hit. As well as an SOS emergency call button.

It has AEB and forward collision warning with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection which is operational from 10-85 km/h (10-250 km/h for car detection). It is usual to see it operational from 5.0km/h, though.  

The SQ7 achieved a maximum five-star safety rating from testing conducted in 2019. It only has six airbags, which is fairly low for a family car, but that does include curtain airbags covering all three rows.

Despite all the brouhaha about other car manufacturers offering more generous warranty periods - seven years for Kia, for example - BMW has not shifted its stance, still offering its standard three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty. Frankly, it's just not good enough.

BMW also offer a Service Inclusive package for $2010 that covers owners for five years, or 80,000km.

If I was spending my hard-earned cash on a vehicle like this, I would want to be treated like a queen when it comes to servicing.

Manufacturers should sweeten the pot when it comes to on-going servicing and ownership terms when you’re at this level but the SQ7 just comes with a pretty standard five-year/unlimited km warranty.

You can pre-purchase a five-year/75,000km servicing plan and it will set you back a total of $4100 (or an average of $810 per service), which is expensive but not outrageous for a performance vehicle.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, which is good.