Audi SQ8 TDI

At £62,000 used, the Audi SQ8 TDI sits at 405th in price among the 600 cars in the Dream Car Garage catalogue, yet its £145 cost per bhp reveals a more interesting position than the price tag alone suggests. It is not the catalogue’s outright power leader, ranking 392nd for power, but it combines a substantial output with the kind of specification that makes its place in a collection distinctive. The answer to whether it is worth the money is yes, because the SQ8 TDI is about the concentration of ability rather than chasing a single headline figure.

The detail that separates it from many of the other 599 cars is its combination of a V8, twin-turbocharged engine, hybrid system and AWD. Only 216 cars in the catalogue use a V8 layout, just 74 pair a V8 with AWD, and 86 are twin-turbocharged V8 cars. That places the SQ8 TDI in a narrow technical group, with its 4.0 litre displacement supporting 429 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. The figures explain why this SUV deserves attention: it reaches 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.

Its performance position is measured rather than extreme. A 0 to 100 km/h rank of 442nd means it is faster than 158 cars in the catalogue, while its top speed rank of 414th shows that its appeal does not depend on being among the fastest entries. Instead, it occupies a space where the ingredients work together. A 4/5 seater sports utility vehicle with AWD, V8 power and twin-turbocharging offers a different kind of garage presence than a dedicated performance machine.

The Audi SQ8 TDI also reflects its place within a broader collection. Audi contributes 25 cars to the catalogue, while Germany contributes 197 cars, giving this model a clear connection to one of the largest groups represented. With production figures available for only 177 of the 600 cars, rarity comparisons need care, but the SQ8 TDI does not need an unknown production claim to make its case.

The £62,000 starting point looks different after considering the complete package. What first appears to be a costly SUV becomes a carefully balanced catalogue choice, bringing together V8 character, AWD capability, hybrid technology and practical seating. In a dream garage, this is the car that fills the space between performance and everyday usability, a choice that changes the collection through its unusual combination rather than through excess.