The term “SUV”, or sport utility vehicle, no longer applies to just one type of car. Wonder into a showroom today asking for a brand’s SUV and you’ll be shown everything from high-riding city cars to gigantic off-roaders.

Now Audi is joining the party. Its flagship Q8 model, which launched last year, is now available in sporty SQ8 form (pictured top), bringing with it a more powerful diesel engine and edgier looks. It’s based on the same platform as the Urus and the Porsche Cayenne, meaning it should be as fun to drive as its looks suggest.

The German carmaker has also recently released a refreshed version of its Q7-based SQ7 (above), which is essentially a more practical version of the SQ8. It may look drastically different to the aggressive-looking SQ8, but both models share the same underpinnings, engine and interior layout.

To see how the two compare in the real world, we put the SQ7 and SQ8 to the test on Britain’s notoriously rough roads.

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