Our first impression of the Audi SQ7 when it got delivered for a week-long test drive in the UK was that this was more a large wagon than a hulking SUV, with handsome, albeit uninspiring, looks. The quad exhausts and subtle roof spoiler give the SQ7 a sportier rear end than its bland Q7 sibling, and the Matador Red Metallic paint elevates its racier nature even further. Never underestimate the power of a good body color, as it can transform your SUV from family hauler to feisty brute instantly.
At the front, bigger air intakes that provide cooling to the mighty V8 engine combine with an enhanced bumper design and high-gloss black Singleframe grille to provide a familiar face: chiseled, sporty, and instantly recognizable. The Black Optic package, as on our tester, also adds high-gloss black to the roof rails, bumper inserts, mirror housings, and door blades, while the Carbon Optic package adds smatterings of carbon fiber to the exterior mirrors and door inlays.
Our test car sat on a set of 22-inch 5-V-spoke Aluminum Star’ wheels in matte grey – a design exclusive to the top trim in the UK and, sadly, not offered in the US. We think it would be very popular here.