Audi SQ8 vs BMW X7

What's the difference?

The Audi SQ8 isn’t your typical performance SUV. It’s more refined and less flashy. The tech can be more complicated than it needs to be and if you’re wanting that V8 soundscape, you won’t find it here.

However, the handling and on road experience are superb plus you can comfortably haul the family around and look good doing it.

When lined up against its direct rivals, the expensive X7 xDrive40d represents reasonable value for money.

It has a unique and bold look and a sumptuous, visually striking and well-appointed interior that has acres of space for family, friends, or for ferrying frequent flyers to the airport. 

That wallop of performance from the big beefy diesel is the cherry on the top. This is how you do a mid-life update. 

The SQ8 is a gorgeous coupe-style SUV that looks purposeful and poised with its balanced proportions and wide stance. It’s stands apart from its siblings thanks to the S-styled nose treatment and our test model's black accent package makes the honeycomb grille look even sportier. 

The update sees new air intake vents at the front, matrix LED headlights and new chrome exhaust tailpipes.

The upgraded 23-inch alloys with red calipers behind them hint at what’s under the bonnet, as does the Sakhir (sack-heer) Gold paintwork which is aptly named after the one-off Grand Prix race circuit.

The interior looks luxuriously appointed with the black Valcona leather upholstery and the dash is headlined by three high-end technology screens. The SQ8 also gets sport seats featuring a quilted design and 'S' badging but there’s not much else separating it from its siblings.

Audi fans will love the the SQ8's more understated interior but newcomers might be surprised it's not as flashy as some of its rivals.

There’s quite a bit that’s interesting about the X7’s design. Especially looking at it front on.

BMW certainly took a bold step when it introduced its toothy grille design for the X7 and the 4 Series range. 

But the Bavarian brand has made some even braver design moves recently by introducing a blocky front-end with split headlights on its new-gen 7 Series flagship sedan. That look has now found its way onto the face of the updated X7.

As with the 7 Series, it won’t be to everyone’s taste. But you can’t deny it has a lot of presence. 

The tail-lights have been tweaked and look good, but the sheer size of the X7 - it’s 5.2 metres long and 1.8 metres tall - means there’s no disguising the fact that it is a big, boxy SUV.

Inside the update ushers in significant design changes. The old dash and cowl is gone in favour of the ‘Curved Display’ that connects the instrument cluster and multimedia. 

New slimline air vents, LED backlit ‘X7’ graphics on the passenger side of the dash, and a new gear shift toggle that replaces the old shifter elevate the cabin and give it a much more modern vibe than the old X7 - one that’s in keeping with the excellent iX electric SUV.

The upper large SUV tag certainly makes sense when it comes to cabin space because there's a lot of it. Both rows enjoy ample head- and legroom and access is great thanks to wide door apertures and high ground clearance.

Comfort is high with well-padded seats and thanks to the Sensory Package all but the middle back seater get some luxury extras.

The centre rear position has compromised legroom courtesy of the transmission tunnel, so it's best for a kid. However, the front seats take the cake with their massage, heat and cooling functions and adjustable supports.

Amenities are great throughout the car and the extendable sun visors, rear electric sunshades, soft-close doors and four-zone climate control clinch the practicality deal.

Individual storage is a bit sparse up front with two cupholders, a drink bottle holder in each door and a shallow middle console that realistically only fits a phone.

The glove box is a great size. I can fit my handbag in it, but there are not a lot of areas to pop your smaller items in.

Individual storage is a bit better in the rear as you get two big map pockets, a drink bottle holder in each door, plus two cupholders in the fold-down armrest - so it feels like you have more places for your bits and pieces.

Technology looks amazing but overwhelming to use until you wrap your head around it all. The haptic feedback also gets tired fast. The built-in satellite navigation is super simple while the head-up display and digital instrument cluster feature pull through directions, which is handy.

Charging options are good with each row getting two USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket but the front also enjoys a wireless charging pad. The pad is slow to charge, though, and left my iPhone feeling super hot whenever it was used.

The boot is a good size at 605L and easy to access, too. The sloping roof means larger items have to sit flush with the seats but you shouldn’t have to worry for road trips. 

The back seat has a 40/20/40 split which opens up storage options and this model has a powered tailgate.

Regardless of the price point, a three-row SUV needs to be super practical and capable of family duties. 

And if you want a BMW X5 but need a lot more space, this is the next logical step.

Let’s start in the front row. As mentioned, the new X7 gains the screen and tech set-up from other new BMW models like the iX and updated 3 Series. The Curved Display combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with digital speedo and a 14.9-inch multimedia screen.

You can customise the cluster layout and move things around on the multimedia screen, too. The latter is a touchscreen but you can also find what you need via the 'iDrive' controller in the console.

I have had some experience with this system in the iX and while it’s not without its flaws, it is a top notch system. There’s a lot to wrap your head around, but the use of app icons helps. And you can swipe through to your chosen screen.

It took far too long to work out how to find the trip computer, something that should be much easier to access, as well as a couple of other functions. And the climate controls are housed in the digital screen. I would always prefer a separate space with buttons for air-con.  

But the graphics and displays - including the excellent head-up display - are excellent. 

Other tech you get with the X7 includes the BMW’s 'Digital Key', which is an app that allows iPhone users to lock and unlock their car remotely, and BMW ID driver profile.

If you buy this car, just allow yourself some time to familiarise yourself with all that tech.

Elsewhere up front there’s a lovely new three-spoke steering wheel, and cute touches like the metal air vent toggles, black and metal touches and the choice of inserts.

The front seats are luxurious and comfortable and offer loads of side and thigh support. They have memory functions, too. There’s no shortage of headroom up front, either.

Storage-wise, the door will fit the largest of bottles, as well as other items thanks to generous door bins, while the central lidded box is also sizeable. 

What about that second row?

The X7 xDrive40d usually comes standard with seven seats, but our test car was fitted with the $1500 captain’s chair option which drops seating capacity down to six people.

If you need the extra seating this is not the option for you, but it is great for families with bigger kids, and it would make for an excellent airport transfer car. 

The seats are unbelievably comfortable and can be adjusted to suit your preference. They also have ISOFIX points and armrests. 

Rear seat occupants have access to their own climate controls, air vents, USB ports, cupholders and ample door storage.

There is a massive amount of occupant space as well - stretch those legs out and enjoy it!

One of the X7’s selling points is that it is a genuine three-row SUV. That third row is not just for occasional use for very small children, like so many seven-seat SUVs. That row can be used every day. 

Even with my six foot stature, I could easily climb in and out of the third row. That’s made even easier thanks to the mechanical seat functions.

Just hit the lever at the top of the second row seat and the motor moves the seat forward and up to ensure there’s a big enough aperture to get in and out of the rear seats. 

You can also raise and lower the third row electronically via buttons on the boot wall - and they stow flush into the boot floor. Neat!

Once in the third row, there’s air vents, USB ports, bottle holders and storage and quite comfortable seats with more than enough leg and head room.

There’s even a third row section of the sunroof, operated from the second row. Lots of clever touches that people who use the third row will appreciate.

The boot has a few cool features, too, including a split tailgate.

You can even sit on the lower section - it can handle a load of up to 250kg - a perfect place to sit and watch the polo.

You can lower the suspension to aid loading larger items, and the X7 comes with a space-saver spare wheel.

Capacity is 300 litres with all seats in place, and I easily fit a pair of smaller suitcases in with that configuration. It increases to 2120L with the two rear rows folded. 

We are way out of Kluger and Sorento territory with the BMW X7. This is a bus for cashed-up families. 

The upper-large SUV was introduced in mid-2019, but as part of the mid-life update, BMW has changed up the model grades. There are still two, but the xDrive30d and M50i have been replaced by the diesel-powered xDrive40d M Sport, and the performance-focused V8 petrol-powered M60i.

For the purpose of this review, we drove the 40d M Sport, which gets a power boost over the outgoing 30d - more on that in a bit.

As a result of the significant update, BMW has increased pricing on both grades. For the xDrive40d, it now starts at $174,900, before on-road costs, which represents an increase of more than $30,000 over the old 30d.

If you’re after a bigger dollop of performance, the M60i will cost you $205,900.

While the xDrive40d pricing seems steep, it undercuts a couple of other big luxury diesel SUVs including the Mercedes-Benz GLS400d ($179,500 BOC) and the Toyota LandCruiser-based Lexus LX F Sport ($176,091 BOC).

The most affordable diesel-powered version of the new-generation Range Rover starts from $226,806, so in that regard, the X7 40d is the best value in its class!

As well as the updated powertrain and in-car tech, the X7 xDrive 40d now comes with a hefty standard features list including metallic paint, 22-inch wheels, the M Sport pack, five-zone climate control, Harman Kardon 16-speaker sound system, a drive recorder, comfort seats, ‘Comfort Access’, roof rails, electric sunblinds, panoramic glass sunroof, digital radio, a head-up display, ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and leather interior.

Our test car was fitted with a number of options that pushed the price to just under $185,000. The extras included huge 23-inch alloy wheels ($3500), BMW Individual 'Dravit Grey' body paint ($2400), a trailer tow hitch ($2500) and second row captain’s chairs ($1500).

Note that if you opt for that tow hitch, you’ll lose the ability to open the hands-free tailgate with a kick motion.

Our test vehicle has a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo petrol V8 engine that produces 373kW and 770Nm. That means it sits in the middle of its rivals in terms of outputs with the Mercedes being top-dog with its 450kW/850Nm combo.

Still... the SQ8 is no dainty flower when it comes to power delivery and has an impressive 0-100km/h sprint time of just 4.1 seconds. 

The SQ8 is a full-time all-wheel drive with an eight-speed auto transmission and the whole engine combo delivers a powerful but elegant on-road experience.

The X7 xDrive40d is powered by a 3.0-litre, in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, that gets a boost in power - it pumps out 259kW of power and 720Nm of torque - 64kW/100Nm more than the 30d.

It now also comes with 48-volt mild hybrid tech, which uses an electric motor integrated in the eight-speed automatic transmission.

It drives all four wheels via BMW’s 'xDrive' all-wheel drive system and it is fitted with air suspension for a cushy ride. Towing capacity is rated at 3.5 tonnes braked or 750kg unbraked.

If you are keen on off-roading in the X7, it has a 221mm ground clearance, and a fording depth of 500mm, but maybe best to keep it on the tarmac.

The official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure is 11.9L/100km, which is lower than its rivals.

My real world usage sits at 12.3L/100km after a mix of open-road and urban driving.

This result is decent for a performance SUV but expect it to be thirsty in an urban environment as the on-board gauge hit the mid-20s in the city.

Based on the large 85L fuel tank theoretical driving range is 714km and around 690 using our real-world result. Respectable for a performance SUV but not as good as some family SUVs.

According to BMW, the official combined cycle fuel figure for the X7 40d is 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres.

Our fuel figure after nearly a week of mixed city, freeway and country driving was 9.0L/100km, which isn’t too far off the mark.

It has an 80 litre fuel tank and an approximate driving range of 1000km.

The SQ8 delivers on power because it’s effortless to get up to speed and the pick up is super responsive when the start/stop function is turned off (otherwise there can be some lag).

The engine doesn’t sound like a big and grumbly V8, though. There are some growls but it’s mainly when you turn the engine on and not to be obnoxious about it but if you're in a V8, you want to hear it as it’s part of the fun of having a big bruiser engine like this!

What doesn’t help the V8 soundscape is the fact the cabin sounds like a noise-cancelling headphone inside. There is a small hum from road noise but it’s pretty darn quiet. Almost EV quiet at times but that means the driving experience leans more towards refined and elegant rather than sporty and fun. 

The SQ8's handling is great - super direct steering, stable in corners and well-rounded passenger comfort when it comes to suspension.

You still get road feedback, which I like as a driver, but it’s not too stiff thanks to the adaptive suspension.

The SQ8 is a large car but you wouldn’t know it when it comes to parking. The 360-degree view camera is clear and the dynamic guidelines help you to position this big unit even the smallest of car parks.

With a big plush SUV like this, you’d expect a comfortable ride. And for the most part, the X7 delivers that, while offering more than a bit of grunt, as well.

The X7’s height ensures a high driving position, and there’s plenty of glass for decent visibility. 

Propelling a 2.5-tonne SUV could be a struggle for a lesser engine, but the meaty diesel offers ample torque and the mild hybrid set-up helps to reduce initial turbo lag significantly - that means it is responsive from a standing start.

I wouldn't have thought a vehicle of this size and shape was capable of a 5.9-second 0-100km/h time, but here we are.

As a result of all that torque and power, overtaking is a breeze - providing there is enough room on the other side of the road for both cars to fit.

That size and heft have an impact on cornering and dynamics. You simply can’t carve through tight corners in this car, but with that said, it’s more entertaining than you’d think. 

Steering feel is weighted on the heavier side and it’s as sharp as it needs to be in a car like this. It would be weird if the steering was too pointy. 

Ride quality is top notch - as it should be - and while the massive optional 23-inch wheels and low profile tyres mean you’ll notice potholes and the like, it largely soaks up imperfections with ease.

That level of refinement extends to the hushed ride, too. The cabin is a quiet and serene place to spend time - but not quite to the same degree as a 7 Series. 

Parking in tight spots is a challenge, and manoeuvring in narrow streets could take a while, too. But you could tell that just by looking at the X7.

The X7 has size on its side when it comes to occupant protection, but it also comes with a decent level of safety gear as standard.

Features include auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, a safe exit assist function to avoid 'dooring', and an advanced lane keeping aid, ‘Parking Assistant Professional’, ‘Trailer Assistant’, and hill descent control.

The X7 is yet to be crash tested by the local safety authority, ANCAP, or by Euro NCAP.

The SQ8 comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

It also comes with capped servicing for five years or up to 75,000km and averages $920 per service, which is very good for the segment.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

After copping a bit of flack from motoring media and buyers, BMW finally increased its warranty terms last year from three years to an industry standard five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty on its vehicles, including the X7.

Rather than a set servicing schedule, BMW offers condition-based servicing which is when the vehicle’s computer alerts the owner that it requires a service. 

BMW doesn’t offer capped-price servicing, but does have a pre-paid 'Service Inclusive Package' with terms ranging from three years/40,000km to five years/80,000km and beyond. 

A five-year basic package for the X7 costs $2800, which is not too bad considering the positioning of this model.