A car built to thrill, and calm the nerves

The latest Audi SQ8 is comfortable and smooth to ride, striking a sweet balance between a luxury cruiser and a performance SUV

- Renuka Kirpalani

It’s remarkable how different children from the same family can be. The same could be said of the Audi SUV family.

The Q8 is calm, refined and composed, while the RS Q8 is the wild child with a serious attitude problem. Sitting squarely between them is the Audi SQ8—and being the middle child is never easy. Expectations come from both ends of the spectrum. So, does the SQ8 strike the perfect balance?

Mumbai traffic is dense, chaotic and unforgiving. It’s 44 degrees Celsius outside, horns are blaring and tempers are fraying. Cabin temperatures can rise just as quickly, but the SQ8 seems completely unfazed. The air-conditioning cools the interior rapidly without the fan sounding as though it is preparing for take-off, while the 8-speed transmission quietly and unobtrusively goes about its business in stop-start traffic. In Comfort mode, the SQ8 feels remarkably similar to the regular Q8—smooth, relaxed and surprisingly easy to live with.

Soon enough, the chaos clears and I find myself on open roads, where the SQ8 reveals its wilder side. I switch into Sport mode and a deep growl becomes my soundtrack as a wave of torque surges me forward. It doesn’t quite slam me into the seat like its bigger sibling, the RS Q8, but there’s enough of its character here to keep your heart rate elevated.