Why Have Audi Killed The SQ7 TDI So Quickly? Review and Drive

Only a year ago I attended the UK launch of the newly facelifted Audi SQ7 TDI. We were told how important the car was, and all the many ways Audi had tried to improve it and make it as good as could be. But, 12 months on and the car is already discontinued - replaced by a petrol powered variant.

Did Audi do the right thing in pulling the plug, or was the car good as it stood?

And, more important, what the hell can I compare it with?

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[augustortiz]

This man just compared a Audi SUV to a predator book LOL. And It was still a better review than other “journalists”.

[h-ml]

My wife bought one of these a few weeks ago and we managed to get one of the last v8 diesels. The petrol didn't make sense to us and I think its one of the best diesel engines ever. We tested the XC90 hybrid with 405bhp and it felt laggy and the fuel consumption over longer distances is worse than the SQ7 which will do 600 miles on a tank. I would be surprised if the new petrol version will beat 25mpg and likely much lower with aggressive use.

[stephencollins]

The real competitor for this car was the 50TDI. I had the choice of a standard SQ7 or a Vorsprung 50 TDI and for many of the reasons that you stated I opted for the extra equipment arguing that I would use that every time I got in the car unlike the relatively small amount of extra performance that the SQ7 brings to the table which I would only really exploit occasionally. I do not regret that decision at all. Re the HVAC, you get used to it and I now tend to use the much improved voice control to manage functions in the lower screen. Finally, my car requires two pushes of the remote button to open the boot, that may be configurable somewhere. Great review.

[DanLMH]

Enjoyed the 55TFSI on the original launch in Ireland last year, we only managed mpg in the 20s though... Diesel still the best power for these big SUVs

[mikesanders]

Man the predator comparisons was just awesome. 😂 Nice one and nice review James! 😊

[mso]

My uncle has one of these and is delighted, the massive boot fits his two Pitbulls easily and is confy as hell.

[smallk]

Real reason they’ve dropped the tdi is simply to simplify the production line as the next generation will most likely be a hybrid or some sort. Another reason, for anyone who owns a tdi sq7 will tell you the fuel economy is truly amazing with the amount of power it provides. Not much slower if at all than the petrol version day to day driving wise. Hardly anyone will buy the petrol version if they keep the tdi at the same time (except in the US). That’s why they dropped the diesel. The tdi sq7 has been so successful in the past 4 years, they have to kill it otherwise no one can justify the thirsty petrol version.

[Fc-cbtn]

If you really want something similar to compare with the X5 M50d would be a good choice. Though less powerful they’re very close in terms of what they’re supposed to do.

[XXXXXXXXXX]

SUVs are not sporty, no matter how hard anyone tries.

[martinmcdonald]

When the SQ7 was first tested by Autocar back in 2017 they described it as a future cult classic. As long the engine lasts, I would add!

[neilbuchan]

Queue the Predator quotes. “I ain’t got time to bleed”...but I do have time to watch every JayEmm car review 👍

[timothygarnett]

You can still buy both the SQ7 and SQ8 in Australia with the 4L Diesel so it’s not been totally dropped.

[joshbacon]

Why isn’t the SQ7 offered with carbon ceramic brakes in the UK like it is in other markets, and why is it no longer offered with active roll stabilisation when it’s available on the SQ8?

[danMRB]

Cars AND film references!? Well count me the hell in!!

[peterletts]

1st class review James. Credit to you. 👍

[robbanjac]

Great review certainly made me "Stick around"...😅

[andrewwallace]

I think the old SQ7 looks more like an ‘S’ model

[ramman]

Emissions, emissions, emissions bloody emissions rules, my thoughts is with the falling sales globally this year in combination with eu 6b rules and every green lobby looking to prove that it’s another diesel gate, I would always picked the diesel over a phev petrol any day when you driving distance Audi should have just added the phev diesel instead to it to make it compatible with new air quality local city restrictions

[MrCandycorona]

This is so strange... discontinuing this to be replaced by the petrol variant. Yet they’ve made the S4/S5 a diesel... IN 2020?

[michaelholt]

Cracking review as ever. However, the somewhat surprising mention of Choices took me way back! Many a good memory of going down with my parents after school on a Friday evening and renting a game for a weekend (or "3 nights") for a fiver (and sometimes getting some cinema-sized sweets or a mini-tub of Ben and Jerry's as a treat before absolutely playing the proverbial out of the game over the weekend. Admittedly those trips were done in a Fiat Brava (later a Marea and then a Stilo) and not something like this!