√2022 Audi SQ7, SQ8 price and specs: Performance SUVs swap diesel for petrol

Audi’s largest S-badged SUVs have swapped diesel for petrol V8 power, with more power and straight-line performance, but less torque and economy – and price rises of $2023 to $3223.

2022 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 TFSI pricing and specifications
Large performance SUVs ditch diesel, adopt V8 petrol power
Power and acceleration up, but torque and economy down
Priced from $164,400 before on-road costs

The 2022 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 large performance SUVs will ditch diesel V8s in favour of more potent petrol V8s, when the first examples arrive over the coming months.

As confirmed by Audi Australia late last year, the SQ7 and SQ8 have been revised for 2022 with new ‘TFSI’ engines, swapping the outgoing models’ 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged ‘TDI’ diesel V8s for twin-turbo petrol engines of the same cylinder counts and displacements.

Prices have increased with the arrival of the new engine, up $2023 (SQ7) or $3223 (SQ8). It’s worth noting these price increases are less than the $4000 to $7400 applied to the rest of the Q7 and Q8 ranges in February, when no new features or engines were added to the affected variants.

The shared petrol engine develops 373kW and 700Nm – up in power but down in torque on the old diesel V8’s 320kW/900Nm claims, and creating a buffer to the 441kW/800Nm of the flagship RS Q8.

Audi quotes 0-100km/h times of 4.1 seconds for both models – seven tenths of a second quicker than their diesel equivalents – though despite cylinder deactivation technology capable of disabling four cylinders at cruising speeds, combined fuel economy rises from 7.6-7.8 to 12.1-12.2 litres per 100 kilometres.

Standard features in both models include 22-inch wheels, S-specific exterior styling, matrix LED headlights (with laser high beams in the SQ7), adaptive air suspension, dual central touchscreens, a digital instrument cluster, 17-speaker sound system, Valcona leather upholstery, and a full suite of active safety technology.

Two packages are available: the $10,900 Dynamic Package, or the $13,300 to $13,900 Sensory Package.

The pair share Audi Australia’s new five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, introduced from 1 January 2022. A five-year service package is available for $4100.

The 2022 Audi SQ7 TFSI is due to arrive in showrooms “soon”, followed by the SQ8 in May.

2022 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 Australian pricing

SQ7 TFSI – $164,400 (up $2023 over SQ7 TDI)
SQ8 TFSI – $169,600 (up $3223 over SQ8 TDI)

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

2022 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 standard features include:

Seven seats (SQ7) or five seats (SQ8)
Matrix LED headlights (with laser high-beam technology on SQ7)
LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators
22-inch alloy wheels
Red brake calipers
Rear-wheel steering
Adaptive sport air suspension
S exterior styling elements with aluminium accents
Roof rails (SQ7 only)
10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite navigation
8.6-inch lower touchscreen (for climate controls)
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
17-speaker, 730-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system
Panoramic sunroof
Privacy glass
Heated and power-folding side mirrors
Power soft-close doors
S front sports seats with heating and power adjustment (including lumbar)
Driver’s seat memory (SQ8 only)
Valcona leather upholstery with diamond-patterned stitching
Ambient interior lighting
Illuminated aluminium door sill plates with S badging
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
Traffic jam assist
Lane-keep assist
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
360-degree camera with kerb view
Front and rear parking sensors
Pre-sense front and rear systems

The optional $10,900 Dynamic Package adds:

Active anti-roll stabilisation (reduces body roll in corners)
Sport rear differential

The optional Sensory Package, priced from $13,300 on the SQ7 or $13,900 on the SQ8, adds:

23-speaker, 1920-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D ‘Advanced’ sound system
Front-seat ventilation and massaging
Heated outer second-row seats
Heated centre rear seat (SQ8 only)
Interior fragrancing and ionisation package
Black Alcantara headlining
Electric rear side window sunshades (SQ8 only)
Manual rear window sunblind (SQ8 only)
Leather-trimmed upper dashboard (SQ7 only)
Nappa leather centre console, door armrests, upper and lower instrument panels, door rails, and door pockets

Standalone options include carbon-ceramic brakes for $19,500, and titanium black exterior trim for $1450 (SQ7) or $1850 (SQ8).

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