Audi SQ7

The 2021 Audi SQ7 is a three-row luxury performance SUV. The Q7 was already one of our favorite luxury SUVs, and that capital S front of its name means it gets a whole host of performance upgrades. Most notable of the superhero upgrades is a 4.0-liter 500-horsepower turbocharged V8. Some design tweaks also help it stand out in a crowd.

There are more and more performance variants of SUVs hitting the market each year, so the SQ7 has plenty of potential rivals. You might look at mainly two-row SUVs such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Porsche Cayenne, or you might go bigger with the BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS. Among them, the SQ7's mix of three rows of standard seating, 500 hp and relatively reasonable pricing is pretty appealing. Check out our Expert Rating to learn more and get our in-depth take on the 2021 SQ7.

Which SQ7 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Audi SQ7 offers two trim levels: Premium Plus and Prestige. Both are powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (500 horsepower, 568 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Performance between the two trims is identical; the Prestige just offers more standard features.

Premium PlusBesides a handful of performance upgrades, the SQ7 includes even more standard features than the regular Q7. Highlights include:

• 21-inch wheels
• Upgraded brakes
• Adaptive air sport suspension
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Digital gauge cluster display
• Two touchscreen infotainment displays with navigation
• Bang & Olufsen audio system
• 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the SQ7 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

Prestige This builds off the Premium Plus, adding:

• Dual-pane acoustic glass for front and rear windows
• Power soft-closing doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
• Intersection assist (issues warning at up to 18 mph if cross-traffic is detected)
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Panoramic sunroof
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Traffic sign recognition
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the SQ7 and the car in front) with Traffic Jam Assist

Some of the Prestige's extra features are available on the Premium Plus as options. Other key add-ons include:

• Black Optic package (dark exterior accents with summer performance tires)
• Ventilated and massaging front seats
• Towing package (increases trailering capacity up to 7,700 pounds)
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Sport package with active roll stabilization and sport differential (Prestige only)
• Upgraded 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System (Prestige only)