New Audi SQ7 TDI joins the rest of the facelifted Q7 range

An updated version of the range-topping Audi SQ7 arrives to join the updated Q7 range complete with powertrain from the SQ8.

It’s three years since Audi’s range-topping SQ7 arrived with 429bhp of diesel power and a big wedge of torque to shift Audi’s big SUV at a rate of knots almost unseemly for a diesel-engined big lump of an SUV. And now it’s time for an update.

Following on from the arrival of a facelift for the Audi Q7 last month, the new SQ7 arrives with the same basic titivations and the underpinnings from the new SQ8.

The cosmetic titivations include a new grille, 20″ alloys, new bumpers, bigger side skirts, aluminium-loo door mirrors and chrome quad tail pipes, with the interior getting leather and Alcantara, a 12.3″ digital instrument panel and 8.3″ infotainment and stainless steel pedals, with options like BOSE Sound, soft-close doors and Matrix LEDs.

Under the bonnet is the same 429bhp 4.0 litre V8 as you’ll find in the SQ8, complete with 664lb/ft of torque and able to hustle the SQ7 to 62mph in 4.8 seconds, and a 48V mild-hybrid EPC to improve performance at low speeds.

Chassis tweaks include uprated brakes with bigger calipers and sports air suspension, and if you want to spend more you can option Ceramic brakes as well as Audi’s active roll stabilisation system and all-wheel steering.

The new Audi SQ7 goes on sale in the UK next month (August 2019).