Costs & verdict

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Running costs are one area where the Audi SQ5's diesel engine really helps your wallet, and its official WLTP fuel economy is just shy of 35mpg. You'll be lucky to get in the high twenties in the Jaguar F-Pace 400 Sport or Porsche Macan – although the BMW X3 M40d offers a similar amount of performance with an even better fuel economy figure of around 40mpg.

If you’re a cash buyer, the SQ5’s list price is similar to the X3 and less than the F-Pace and Macan GTS. And while resale values should prove competitive with a Mercedes GLC 43 or X3 40i, the SQ5 will shed its value quicker than a Macan.

Audi hasn’t been stingy with safety kit, either: six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system and automatic emergency braking (AEB) are standard. Vorsprung adds active lane-keeping assist, and the automatic emergency braking works up to the 155mph top speed, rather than the standard model’s 52mph ‘city’ limit. Euro NCAP awarded the Audi Q5 a five-star safety rating, with slightly better marks in the individual categories than the F-Pace tested in the same year.

As for reliability, Audi finished 21st out of 32 manufacturers in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey – just below Porsche in joint 19th (with Tesla) and above Jaguar in 26th. A three-year, 60,000 mile warranty comes as standard.

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Audi SQ5 2022 interior infotainment

Overview

The SQ5 ticks many, many boxes. The diesel engine provides quick but also effortless performance with sensible fuel economy, and sounds surprisingly theatrical too. The ride and handling is beautifully judged – although it's not quite as entertaining as the Porsche Macan – yet it remains a practical large SUV for those with a family.

  • Classy and practical interior
  • Comfortable ride
  • Strong performance
  • Strong diesel engine is effective, rather than exciting
  • Some rivals are more fun