Audi introduced the SQ7 as the performance flagship of the Q7 line and the first S model in that SUV family. The nameplate first appeared for the 2016 model year, when Audi unveiled it in March 2016 and opened European orders that spring. The original SQ7 arrived as the SQ7 TDI, pairing the large Q7 body with Audi’s S-model treatment and a technical showcase powertrain, including the electric compressor that helped define its early character. It was aimed at buyers who wanted full-size SUV practicality with clear performance intent rather than a separate, standalone sports SUV.
The SQ7’s history is closely tied to the second-generation Q7. Audi launched that Q7 generation in the mid-2010s, and the SQ7 sat at the top of the range from the beginning as the most athletic derivative. Over time, the nameplate evolved rather than disappearing. In 2020, Audi introduced the SQ7 TFSI, shifting the model from diesel to gasoline power while retaining the same basic mission: a high-performance, seven-seat-capable premium SUV with quattro all-wheel drive and S-model chassis tuning. This change marked a major technical and character shift, but it did not create a separate nameplate.
Audi refreshed the Q7 family again for the 2024 model year, and the SQ7 remained part of the range as the performance version of the updated SUV. Today, the SQ7 is best understood as Audi’s long-running big S SUV: a Q7-based model that has moved from its original diesel-powered debut to a modern gasoline V8 era, while staying focused on fast, premium, everyday usability.