Audi SQ7 2020 first drive

The US may be a bit of a shambles at present, but at least when it comes to cars - and specifically the type of fuel that goes into them - Americans are united in their preferences. Petrol, unleaded, gasoline: so long as it isn’t diesel, they’ll generally be pretty happy.

Audi claims that this is why it has ditched the mighty oil-burning V8 of its SQ7 in favour of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre petrol V8 that appears in everything from Audi’s own RS models to the Bentley Continental GT and more in between.

Supposedly the Americans just prefer it that way - although it does seem to contradict Audi’s recent efforts to shift all its S-badged executive models to diesel power. Perhaps that move will be reversed in time too - not that Audi admitted to anything when we asked the question.

Despite coming in a slightly detuned form to what you would find in the Audi RS Q8 or Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the SQ7’s V8 isn’t short on power. It develops a heady 500bhp at and 568lb ft between 2000-4100rpm, all of which is deployed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

There’s all-wheel steering fitted as standard, while 48V active roll control and an Audi Sport rear differential are available optionally. Oh, and there are still enough seats for seven people.

On unnaturally smooth German roads, the SQ7 combines all of this to fairly tremendous effect. Rolling refinement and ride comfort on air suspension and 22in alloy wheels are practically immaculate, with the only notable intrusion being a very slight, very distant shuddering over lumpier surfaces at low speeds. Wind noise at pace is virtually non-existent, as is road roar - although whether this would continue to be the case on coarser British roads remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, there’s a tremendously pillowy character to manner in which the SQ7 deals with rolling, flowing road surfaces. It smothers compressions while assertively remaining in control of its vertical movements, and secondary impacts barely register. It's a supremely comfortable car, one that shrinks long distances to such an extent that it feels like it would be capable of making a 10-hour stint at the wheel feel no more taxing than a quick trip down the road.

The cabin is as plush and accommodating as you would expect that of a large Audi to be. There’s masses of adjustment in both the seat and the steering column and visibility is good. And aside from a few slightly naff carbonfibre inlays on the dashboard and around the tops of the doors, the general look of the cabin is pretty smart, too, in the fairly sober, slightly monochrome way that seems to define the bigger, pricier Audis these days.