The sportY SUV was pioneered by BMW, representing the X6 derived from the X5, and it took other car brands a while to keep up with BMW. But now, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz have launched sports SUVs, such models are obviously smaller space, but marked with higher prices.
While this sounds illogical, space is clearly a very important product point for SUVs, these models have less space but are more expensive, but the market performance is exactly the opposite of what we imagined, and sports SUVs are very popular with buyers. Today we evaluated two sport SUVs of the same class, and both cars are also equipped with strong power to match their sporty appearance.
The first is the Audi SQ8. The five-seat luxury SUV uses the same engine as the seven-seat SQ7, and in 2021 both models abandon the V8 diesel engine that was originally equipped in favor of the Volkswagen Group's 4.0-liter twin-turbo gasoline V8 engine.
Another car with this engine is here against the SQ8: the Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupe. The GTS label means that this model is more sporty than other models in the Cayenne series, and it is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive like the SQ8. However, while the two cars have a lot in common, they also have their own characteristics.
Audi SQ8
When it was first introduced, the Audi SQ8 was a high-performance diesel car in the Q8 series. But with consumers turning against the black nozzle, Audi has now introduced TFSI gasoline power into the model. Here we tested the black version of the updated SQ8 for £88,455 (about 760,000 RMB).
The SQ8 now features Volkswagen Group's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which is already used in the flagship RS Q8. Audi reduced power output by 92bhp, so the SQ8 was "only" 500bhp, but that was still 40bhp more than the Cayenne GTS with the same engine
These power is managed by the Quattro all-wheel drive system and the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, which is essentially the same as the Cayenne's setup. Both cars are based on the Volkswagen Group's MLB Evo platform, which is also used by largeRUV Bentley, Lamborghini and Volkswagen. The SQ8 adds the standard adaptive air suspension, four-wheel steering system and Audi's drive selection system, which has seven modes to adjust engine, suspension, steering and transmission parameters.
Since it is a high-spec model in Audi's large SUV series, the SQ8 comes standard with a wide range of features. In addition to the air suspension, there are matrix LED headlights, high-quality leather trims, LED interior lighting and Audi's dual-screen infotainment system and virtual cockpit digital dial. The blackened version adds bright black grille perimeter and styling elements, 22-inch wheels and four-zone temperature control.
Driving experience
If you like the sound of performance cars, then neither car will disappoint you. Activate the SQ8 and the exhaust pipe will bark, and when it stabilizes, there will be a familiar V8 roar.
In normal driving, the V8 engine provides enough power to accelerate by 0-62 mph (about 0-96 km/h) for 4.1 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than Cayenne) and a top speed of 155 mph (about 250 km/h). Admittedly, this is a very fast SUV.
However, while Audi has four-wheel steering and adaptive shock absorbers designed to improve the car's performance, its driving feel in corners is still SUV and not lightweight, all thanks to its 2.2-ton weight.
The front wheels of the SQ8 weigh more than Porsche, and given that the two cars use the same engine, many would expect similarities in handling, but that's not the case.
The same goes for Audi's driving, no matter which driving mode you choose, it won't feel as stable as Porsche, and the SQ8's 22-inch wheels don't help with driving, so even in everyday driving, Audi isn't as comfortable as the Cayenne Coupe.
practicability
These coupe SUVs have an advantage in appearance and sporty style, and space is their disadvantage. But since the overall size of the SQ8 is not small, the space is still enough. But it's a five-seater car, and its sister model, the SQ7, has seven seats, and even so, the SQ8 still has plenty of space in the car; front seat passengers have soft leather sports seats, and the back seat space is good.
The SQ8 is equipped with a 605-litre suitcase, and the rear seats can slide back and forth to increase the luggage space. Porsche has a capacity of 625 litres, but it doesn't have sliding rear seats.
Editor's Note
The SQ8 doesn't have a standard paint option, so choosing any color costs £750 (about 6,500 RMB). For a model close to 90,000 pounds (about 770,000 yuan), it is still a little stingy
Porsche Cayenne Coupe GTS
In fact, Porsche does not need to add a Coupe version to the Cayenne series, because the brand already has a strong sporty atmosphere. However, the market needs such a model, and the GTS version we are testing here is more performance-oriented than most other models. It starts at £90,300 (about 780,000 yuan).
Power configuration
While cayenne Coupe GTS and Audi SQ8 share the same platform, there are still a lot of differences between them. Porsche bodies are shorter and lower, and the wheelbase is shorter, but wider. There is also a difference in power, with the Cayenne's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 460 horsepower, while the Audi has 500 horsepower.
The real difference between the two cars is in the suspension aspect. Both cars have a multi-link setup at the front and rear, but the STANDARD configuration of the SQ8 is an air spring, while the Cayenne GTS is a steel spring. However, you can add adaptive air suspension, and our test car is equipped with this £1511 (about 130,000 yuan) option. The GTS's driving height is 20 mm lower than other models in the Cayenne series, while Porsche's tailor-made configuration for the car offers more sporty performance.
The Cayenne GTS has also received a sporty upgrade, including satin-black 21-inch alloy wheels, glossy black detailing on the inside and out, leather and Alcantara trims, and the entire GTS logo. Porsche's Sport Chrono kit is also standard on the Cayenne Coupe GTS. The kit adds a rotary switch to the steering wheel, four driving modes to choose from, and a motion stopwatch and ejection start function on the dashboard.
drive
Although the Cayenne GTS is less powerful than the SQ8, its performance is definitely not bad. Equipped with a catapult start function means the car can sprint 0-62 mph (about 0-96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds per day, while the Tiptronic automatic transmission provides fast, clear changes, whether automatic or manual shifts, full throttle shifts, and exhaust pipes make a satisfying call.
The test car is equipped with air suspension, which is more stable in bumpy road conditions in Normal mode. However, even in Sport or Sport Plus mode, the suspension is lowered further and the adaptive shock absorbers are stiffer. The car's suspension is stiff, but the SQ8's suspension feels just right, with noticeable bumps only when it encounters huge potholes.
Our test car also features an optional £1,448 (about 12,000 yuan) rear steering, which provides the Cayenne GTS with a much higher level of flexibility than the SQ8. While Audi felt heavy at the front and a bit inert in the corners, cayenne was much better balanced and sharp when cornering.
The Cayenne GTS's steering system feels just right and responsive, and the vehicle feels like it's driving a car that's more compact and flexible than its size. Combined with the grip of the GTS, this is a car that can stimulate people's interest and has a strong driving pleasure.
Large SUVs like the Cayenne Coupe can be cumbersome for everyday driving operations like reversing, but both models come standard with front-to-back parking sensors and reversing images. These systems can also be upgraded to automatic parking or optionally with a 360-degree panoramic image (£522, about 4,050 RMB) for a greater field of view.
The cayenne Coupe has 625 litres of luggage space at the rear, which is larger than audi's volume, but the cayenne's rear seats can't slide, so there's no way to move out more space. However, both the SQ8 and cayenne come standard with air suspension, which makes it easier to put things in the trunk when lowering the chassis.
Evaluation results:
Foreign media chose Cayenne in the SQ8 and Cayenne Coupe GTS, and Porsche has always led the trend in sports cars. Sport coupe SUVs have always focused on creating a sporty style rather than a driving experience, but the Cayenne Coupe GTS corrects that balance. It's fast, responsive, and when cornered, it was like a car half its size and weight. It's quite expensive, especially if you add recommended rear steering, but it's the only coupe SUV that offers real driving pleasure.
The SQ8 is a practical five-seater family car, but it's not enough to beat the Cayenne. It's fast in straight lines, but it's not as fun driving as Cayenne. Everyday driving is also not as comfortable as the Cayenne. If you want to buy Q8, Xiaobian recommends that you can pay attention to the V6 model