Performance
This is the reason you’d spend the extra money on the SQ8 instead of the Q8: hello twin-turbo V8 engine. It’s a diesel, with 435PS (429bhp) and 900Nm (667lb ft) of torque resulting in 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. The car has VW Group’s 48v circuitry, shared with Bentley’s Bentayga and Flying Spur. As a result, this tall SUV has almost zero lateral roll, or rather, an opposing system that counters it. Some are wowed by the feeling of cornering flat at speed in an SUV; others find the sensation off-putting. The system also supports an electric compressor that eliminates most of the turbo lag, giving this heavy car almost instant acceleration.
The driving experience is exactly as you’d expect: quiet, refined, comfortable and smooth. It feels fast on the overtake initially, and puts down the power more quickly than you’d expect thanks to that compressor, but then you remember it’s an SUV and if you want to drive it like a sports car you’ll simply burn through fuel frighteningly quickly.
There’s an immense feeling of satisfaction, however, sitting high up, surrounded by mod cons, acres of space and glass touchscreens.