Some SUVs try to whisper performance. The 2025 Audi SQ8 Black Edition does not. It arrives in optional Ascari Blue Metallic, sitting on standard 23-inch Audi Sport 10-spoke trapezoid Black Metallic wheels, looking like it has somewhere important to be, quickly.
And quickly is exactly the point.
Design and presence
The Black Edition treatment gives the SQ8 a properly menacing look. Dark detailing, massive wheels and that wide stance mean subtlety is not part of the package. In Ascari Blue, it looks especially dramatic. It is the kind of SUV that makes you glance back at it after parking, just to confirm it really is yours.
Those 23-inch wheels fill the arches perfectly. Yes, they are huge. No, the ride does not suffer the way you might expect.
Cabin and comfort
Inside, it is classic Audi. Clean, solid and built properly. Sports seats in Valcona leather with S embossing come standard, and they strike a good balance between supportive and comfortable. Heated seats front and rear are optional, but in something like this, you might as well tick that box and keep everyone happy.
The cabin carries Audi’s familiar dual-screen MMI setup, with a 10.1-inch display up top and an 8.6-inch screen below. It is not brand new tech, but it remains intuitive and easy to use, which is more than can be said for some rivals that try too hard. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit keeps all the important information directly in front of you, crisp and clear.
Space is generous, build quality is excellent, and overall it feels every bit like a premium performance SUV should.
Performance: The main event
Under the bonnet sits an unchanged 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 373kW and 770Nm. Numbers are one thing, but how it delivers them is what matters.
Audi claims 0 to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds. It feels every bit that quick. For something this size and weight, the way it launches is borderline ridiculous. It gathers speed with the kind of effortlessness that makes you question the laws of physics.
The tiptronic gearbox works seamlessly with the quattro system, putting power down cleanly and confidently. It is brutally quick in a straight line, yet still composed when you are simply cruising.
Air suspension plays a big role in that dual personality. In comfort mode, it soaks up imperfections impressively well. In dynamic mode, it tightens up and feels far more focused than a large SUV has any right to.
Fuel consumption
Now for reality. During our stint, we averaged 12.9L/100km, compared to Audi’s claimed 11.9L/100km. With more relaxed highway driving, we managed a best of 10.4L/100km. For a twin-turbo V8 performance SUV, that is not outrageous, but let’s be honest, you do not buy an SQ8 to hypermile.
Final word
At R2,675,500, the 2025 Audi SQ8 Black Edition is a proper statement SUV. It looks aggressive, sounds the part, and delivers serious performance while remaining genuinely comfortable for daily use.
It is fast enough to embarrass sports cars, comfortable enough for long road trips, and practical enough for family duties. It may not be subtle, and it definitely is not shy about drinking fuel when pushed, but that is part of the appeal.
Overall, the SQ8 Black Edition feels like Audi flexing quietly. And by quietly, we mean with 770Nm of torque.
