Audi SQ8 v Porsche Cayenne S Coupe 2020 Comparison
These two big new prestige SUV ‘coupes’ pack a punch… but take two very different approachesJust how many cars can you build in one production plant? The Audi SQ8 and the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe are both built in Slovakia and share the same hard points, based around the same Volkswagen Group ‘MLBEvo’ platform. Both cars speak to a similar, cashed-up target audience that wants room for a family, plenty of performance on tap and low-roof ‘coupe’ styling in a capable but ultimately soft-road SUV. The BMW X6 is the progenitor in this market niche, and the Audi SQ8 and the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe are contenders, looking to knock the X6 off its perch. Although just $700 separates the two German SUVs in standard form – and both vehicles are all-paw variants producing at least 320kW – the Audi and the Porsche occupy spaces one standard deviation apart from each other. One car, the Audi, is all about luxury and performance; the Porsche focuses on dynamic performance ahead of comfort.
Kit and kaboodle come at a price
The price for the standard Audi SQ8 is $165,500 before the on-road costs. As tested, the Audi was positioned $10,900 higher, with the inclusion of a Dynamic Package comprising active roll stabilisation and a quattro sport differential. That takes the total to $176,400 plus ORCs.
Standard features for the Audi SQ8 include 22-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, adaptive air suspension, privacy glass, soft-closing doors and metallic paint.
Inside, the SQ8 features sports seats in front, ‘Valcona’ leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, ambient lighting package and electric steering column adjustment.
The driver and front passenger can actuate vehicle control (Audi Drive Select, for instance) and infotainment functions by means of two haptic-feedback touch screens.
Audi’s pretty Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster is standard too, as is wireless recharging for smartphones and advanced smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). The audio system is a Bang & Olufsen unit hooked up to 17 speakers and featuring DAB+ digital radio.
In contrast, the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe starts out at $166,200 before the on-roads, but balloons to $190,580 with an extensive range of options.
These are: sports exhaust ($5970), Crayon paint ($5000), Rear-axle steering ($4300), 21-inch alloy wheels and wheel-arch flares ($3150), Comfort Access ($2420), LED headlights with matrix beam/Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus ($2220), ambient lighting ($850) and high-gloss silver exterior trim ($470).
Standard features for the Cayenne S Coupe include a Bose 14-speaker audio system with DAB+ digital radio, climate control, a fixed glass sunroof, partial leather upholstery, eight-way adjustable front seats and adaptive air suspension.
Saving seconds, saving lives
It was some marketing genius working for the iconic sports car brand MG who coined the phrase ‘safety fast’. Dynamically safe cars can steer around another vehicle or brake effectively to avoid a crash.
They may not look as agile as an MG, but both the Audi SQ8 and the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe on test are certainly fast – with a five-second 0-100km/h time or better – and will provide all the emergency overtaking acceleration you’ll need, when needed.
As for cornering and braking ability, the all-wheel drive, air suspension, ventilated disc brakes all round and any number of driver-assist systems ensure the Audi and the Porsche will keep you and your family safe and sound.
The Porsche has all the mandated safety tech, plus trailer stability management and lane change assist, autonomous emergency braking/forward collision alert and blind spot monitoring. With the exception of trailer stability management, Audi specifies the same features for the SQ8, but also throws in rear cross-traffic assist and intersection assist.
The airbag complement for the Cayenne S Coupe includes (thorax) units front and rear, as well as additional airbags to protect the knees of driver and front passenger, plus side-curtain airbags to protect the heads of front and rear-seat occupants. All up, the Porsche is fitted with 10 airbags, trumping the Audi with eight, since the SQ8 doesn’t appear to require the knee bags.
Both vehicles come equipped (as an option in the case of the Porsche) with adaptive Matrix LED headlights featuring auto-high beam assist.
The howl or the growl?
The Audi SQ8 is claimed to hit 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, which points to the remarkable output of its 4.0-litre diesel V8. It’s all the more remarkable given the Audi weighs something like 700kg more than the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe – which sneaks in just under two tonnes.
The Porsche Cayenne S Coupe itself is no slouch, of course; its manufacturer claims it is just two tenths of a second slower to 100km/h – five seconds dead.
Powered by Porsche’s own 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, the Cayenne S Coupe is actually streets ahead for power-to-weight ratio, according to RedBook, but the Audi produces vastly more torque.
Both engines are great in their own way. The Porsche’s V6 will rev hard all the way to redline (6600rpm or thereabouts) and emit a feral howl the whole time under wide-open throttle, when the powertrain has been set to one of the sport modes.
It’s also very smooth restarting when the lights change to green. Fuel consumption over a set test route was 12.0L/100km, which is more than just acceptable.
The Audi is more bear (growl) to the Porsche’s wolf-baying-at-the-moon (howl). When floored, the diesel V8 emits a smooth but stirring bass rumble as it powers through all the way to 5000rpm (in manual mode). It doesn’t let up either, accelerating right across the rev range.
Despite its electric powered compressor, however, the Audi’s response is typically slower than the Porsche’s. On the same test route as the Cayenne S Coupe, the SQ8 posted a fuel consumption figure of 10.8L/100km.
Touring comfort or sporting prowess?
The Porsche Cayenne S Coupe channels the sporty driving characteristics of the brand’s 911, Cayman and Boxster models. Although the SUV is not in the same league, dynamically, it’s still exceptionally good for its type.
Despite that overtly sporty character, the Porsche provides an amazing ride and handling balance. Even in Sport+ mode the Cayenne S Coupe rides acceptably well.
Grip is immense and although the Cayenne doesn't feel 'taily' as such, you do feel the rear beavering away to keep the car on a neutral vector.
The Porsche also features highly convincing brakes; very powerful and communicative through the pedal. And the ribbon tying up the whole gift box? That would be the staggered-width Pirelli P Zero tyres, 285/40 ZR21 at the front and 315/35 ZR21 at the rear.
By comparison, the Audi SQ8 is very plush and modern inside, and is quieter at open-road speeds, but it loses out to the Porsche (slightly) for handling, roadholding and braking power. The Porsche is also a more communicative steer.
Where the Audi lands a blow against the Porsche, however, is in its overall ride comfort, in spite of riding on big alloys shod with Continental 285/40 R22 tyres all around.
Both cars feature excellent Matrix LED headlights, but the Porsche’s are optional, and the Audi’s also surprise and delight with the beam dancing around on-coming cars to save the drivers being blinded. The Porsche’s lights do this too, but without the same widescreen, blockbuster theatricality.
On balance, the Audi also scores points for its excellent seats, its spaciousness in the rear, and a host of little differences between the two cars that tend to favour the SQ8.
The Porsche has adjustable vents in the rear, but there's no separate climate-control zone(s) for the rear-seat occupants. And the USB ports in the Porsche are USB-C, which will likely disappoint owners who didn't count on Porsche turning its back on USB-A.
While the Porsche’s driving position is generally good, and the digital speedo will keep drivers on the right side of the law, the Cayenne S Coupe lacks the SQ8’s head-up display.
The Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is likely to win over more fans, we think, than the Porsche’s more traditional style of instrumentation.
On the infotainment front, both cars feature ‘haptic’ feedback from their respective touch-screen controls, but our two reviewers just couldn’t agree on this. One felt it was good to be aware that a ‘button’ had been pressed, while the other preferred ‘buttons’ to anticipate the proximity of the finger and react to the gentlest touch as in other, lower-priced products from the Volkswagen family.
The Porsche’s driving mode dial on the steering wheel is easier to find and use than the Audi’s Drive Select buttons in the centre fascia.
While the rear seats in the Audi don't fold completely flat, they do lock in place, which is a nice touch. There’s a toggle switch in the Audi’s boot to raise and lower the ride height for easier loading of bulkier and heavier items.
A couple of minor niggles: both cars come with a Vredestein compact space-saver spare in the boot, and the Audi won’t connect through wireless CarPlay if the iPhone is resting in the charging tray.
Naming the winner
Hammering the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe along the blacktop was a load of fun. The Audi SQ8 didn’t provide quite the same level of enjoyment. It felt bulky at times, although it really didn’t put a foot wrong.
The Porsche simply felt lighter, more nimble and more secure. More like what we’ve come to expect from any Porsche, really...
But the Audi SQ8 was still reasonably entertaining, with the added virtues of generous rear-seat accommodation, modern instrumentation and controls, wonderful seats and a longer standard equipment list.
Porschephiles will buy the Cayenne S Coupe; everyone else will be taken in by the Audi SQ8. And that’s our verdict too.
How much does the 2020 Audi SQ8 TDI cost?
Price: $165,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 turbo-diesel
Output: 320kW/900Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 205g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)
How much does the 2020 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe cost?
Price: $166,200 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.9-litre V6 turbo-petrol
Output: 324kW/550Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 229g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested
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