Item: Audi SQ5
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Assuming you’re willing to consider a diesel these days, the 40 TDI is a brilliant engine; it's effortlessly strong from low revs and the acceleration arrives smoothly and progressively as the revs rise.

40 TDI Quattro

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Entry-level Sport trim gets you 18in alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, part-leather seats (heated in the front) and cruise control. It's well worth a look but, if you can, we'd recommend upgrading to S line.

Entry-level Sport trim gets you 18in alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, part-leather seats (heated in the front) and cruise control.&nbsp;

Sport

40 TDI Quattro Sport 5dr S Tronic

40-tdi-quattro-sport-5dr-s-tronic

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Aston Martin DBX

Audi RS Q3

Audi RS Q8

Audi SQ2

Audi SQ5

Audi SQ7

Audi SQ8

BMW X2 M35i

BMW X4 M Competition

Cupra Ateca

Ford Puma ST

Hyundai Kona N

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Lamborghini Urus

Mercedes GLC 63 AMG

Mini Countryman JCW

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Porsche Macan

Skoda Kodiaq vRS

Volkswagen T-Roc R

Volkswagen Tiguan R

Volkswagen Touareg R

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Its running costs are one area where the SQ5 being a diesel really helps your wallet. Even with such a powerful engine under the bonnet, its claimed combined <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP fuel economy</a> is just shy of 35mpg; if you choose instead a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/estate/review/n17345">Mercedes-AMG GLC 43</a> you’ll be lucky to get into the high twenties. If you’re a cash buyer, the SQ5’s list price is higher than many of its rivals, though, which will also have a knock-on effect on the cost of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-finance-explained/n1108">monthly PCP finance</a>. And while <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">resale values</a> should prove competitive with a GLC 43 or X3 40i, the SQ5 will shed its value quicker than a Macan.

Although CO2 emissions are pretty low for a car of this type, the SQ5 incurs a 4% <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">company car tax</a> diesel surcharge, which whacks it straight into the top benefit-in-kind tax band. That means it won’t save you anything in tax over its petrol rivals that have even higher CO2 outputs.

We’d stick with the standard version, which features most of what you might reasonably need, including leather seats, with heating and four-way electric lumbar support in the front; 20in alloy wheels, privacy glass and all the parking aids and the infotainment suite we’ve mentioned already. Disappointingly, air suspension is not available as an option on the standard SQ5, giving you no alternative but to fork out for the significantly more expensive Vorsprung version if you want a pillowy ride.

That said, at least you get pretty much everything else bar the proverbial kitchen sink if you specify Vorsprung trim, with the list of equipment including 21in wheels, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and hands-free tailgate access, a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display.

Audi hasn’t been stingy with safety kit, either, because six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a> are standard. Rear side airbags, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert are available as options. What's more, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-are-the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n3387">Euro NCAP</a> awarded the regular Q5 a five-star safety rating, although the rival Mercedes GLC scored slightly better marks in the individual categories.

Audi finished 20th out of 31 manufacturers in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">2019 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. That put it behind BMW, but ahead of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

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In terms of pure straight line pace the SQ5 is fast, but not quite as explosively so as, say, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/estate/glc-43-4matic-5dr-9g-tronic/75244#review">Mercedes-AMG GLC 43</a>. Yet if you’re after something that is quick but also effortless to drive, i.e. that gains speed without needing to be ragged, the immense torque that this 3.0 TDI engine produces does the job. There’s still some momentary low-end turbo lag, even with the EPC, but otherwise the engine responds so forcefully in its mid-range that you barely need to flex your right toe; you’re up to 70 mph or swiftly past that dawdling Sunday driver in no time at all. It’s just a shame that Audi has chosen to augment the engine note using a sound generator located in the exhaust; this faux V8 soundtrack quickly becomes irritating at a cruise.

The brakes prove to be impressive&nbsp;at shedding speed but are also easy to apply smoothly. The standard eight-speed automatic gearbox is a little slow to kick down several gears in one hit, but it sifts through its ratios smoothly and speedily the rest of the time – especially if you change gears manually using the paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

There are various driving modes to flick between, the most focused of which is Dynamic. This sharpens the SQ5's accelerator response, adds weight to the steering and makes the gearbox more assertive. The standard fit S suspension with damping control (air suspension is only available on the higher Vorsprung trim), can be stiffened to reduce body lean through corners.

The results are good. In dynamic mode, the weighty steering might not be quite as communicative as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan’s</a>, but it is accurate and quick to respond to inputs, making it dead easy to place the SQ5 exactly where you want on the road. This applies whether you’re carving blithely along your favourite B-road or funnelling down the outside lane of a motorway. And it controls its body remarkably well through tight bends and feels more eager to change direction than the GLC 43. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Macan</a> might be a little more fun, with its more rear-biased four-wheel drive set-up, but we doubt that it would actually prove any faster round a track.

Flick the SQ5 back into Comfort mode and everything relaxes, including the suspension damping, allowing lumps and bumps on roads around town to be dealt with commendably for a car with big 20in alloy wheels. Even the 21in alloys fitted to Vorsprung models don’t ruin the ride thanks to its standard fit air suspension — and once on the motorway it is supremely cosseting. If you throw into the equation the SQ5's whisper-quiet levels of wind and road noise, it makes for a hugely relaxing car to cover big miles in.

We’re yet to try the standard suspension, though. If it’s follows the lead of the regular Q5 models, don’t be surprised to find it’s a bit firmer.

It’s funny how things go around in seemingly endless cycles. A decade or so ago, if you wanted a fast SUV it simply had to have a whacking great petrol engine. Then, just a few years back, you’d have been viewed as highly suspicious for choosing anything without diesel power, so it was obvious that the original Audi SQ5 would be a diesel. Yet, when the second generation came along in 2017, it had a powerful 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 nestling under its bonnet — suddenly, the green pump was back in vogue.

Since then we’ve had the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-bmw-x3-m40i-review-%E2%80%93-price-specs-and-release-date/n16974">BMW X3 M40i</a> (although there’s an M40d, too), the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/estate/review/n17345">Mercedes-AMG GLC 43</a>, and an entirely revamped <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a> range that hasn’t a single diesel engine in its line-up. And of course, with the repercussions of ‘Dieselgate’ still dictating buying trends, that all makes perfect sense.

So why then, after dropping the petrol SQ5 in 2018, did Audi reintroduce it in 2019 with a new, V6 3.0 TDI diesel? You might argue this was ignoring public opinion, but there are at least two reasons to consider that Audi might be on to something.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

Firstly, a large, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/sports-suv">high-performance SUV</a> with a powerful petrol engine will drink more than the local rugby team on a celebratory bender — when we tested it, the petrol SQ5 averaged 24mpg at best. And secondly, this current-generation diesel employs a number of neat features to keep it clean.

It has an electric compressor (EPC) to improve the engine’s low-end responsiveness. The EPC runs off a 48-volt, mild-hybrid electrical system that has two main functions: it recovers energy during braking to power the EPC, which is energy that would otherwise be lost, and it allows the engine to switch off completely and coast for periods up to 40sec when you lift off the accelerator. Clearly, when the&nbsp;engine isn’t running, even a diesel is no more polluting than a field of buttercups.

With that in mind, then, does the latest SQ5 make any sense? Read on to see <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n17278/on-the-road">how it drives</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n17278/in-the-cabin">what it’s like inside</a>, and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n17278/buying-owning">how the numbers stack up compared with its rivals</a>. If you fancy one, or any new car for that matter, be sure to head to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> page for the very best deals available.

All SQ5’s come with luxurious diamond-stitched Nappa leather seats, which only enhance what is already one of the best interiors in the business for out-and-out quality. There are textured, squishy plastics where you want them on the dashboard and doors, behind which everything feels solid. Even operating the precision buttons and switches imparts a sense of Teutonic excellence that Porsche and BMW can’t completely emulate.

The driving position is brimming with adjustability, from the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel, to the multi-way powered driver’s seat, which includes four-way electric lumbar adjustment. The relationship between the pedals, seat and steering wheel is very good, so you won’t suffer the offset driving position that blights the GLC.

Just like the standard Q5, visibility is excellent. The SQ5’s relatively slender front pillars and tall windows mean you’ll have no trouble seeing out at junctions and roundabouts. Happily, front and rear parking sensors are standard and a rear-view camera is available as an option, should you fancy a bit more help in the parking department. LED headlights are standard, with Matrix adaptive headlights fitted on the top-spec Vorsprung trim.

Audi's excellent MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system comes as standard. Okay, this system isn’t as up-to-date in terms of features as the touchscreen version Audi uses in its most recent cars, including the A6, but it’s easier to use and less distracting to use on the move. Everything is controlled using a rotary dial controller and shortcut buttons between the front seats, which you use to scroll through easy-to-follow menus. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring are both standard, too.

Wireless phone charging and Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel are also included in the price.

The SQ5 is a bespoke model rather than a trim level, but adds bigger alloys, electrically adjustable front seats and an upgraded infotainment system to everything you get with S line. Only available with the turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine.

The SQ5 ticks many, many boxes. The diesel engine provides quick but also effortless performance along with sensible fuel economy, and sounds pretty tasty, too. The handling is beautifully judged —if not quite as entertaining as that of the Porsche Macan — while still giving you a comfortable ride. And it’s a practical large SUV for those with a family. &nbsp;

The SQ5 is just as roomy inside as the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> on which it's based. That means there’s no shortage of space up front, in terms of either both head or leg room.

In the back, there’s enough width for three adults to sit side-by-side, although whoever's sat in the middle is forced to straddle a large tunnel that runs along the centre of the floor. A moulding for the rear interior light pinches some head room, too. The two outer rear seats are much more accommodating if there are just two passengers in the back, offering loads of head room and a decent amount of knee room – even for those long in the leg.

The rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 split and are dead easy to drop down, thanks to a couple of handy levers placed next to the tailgate opening. Sliding and reclining rear seats are also standard, allowing rear passengers to kick back and relax on longer journeys or letting you to trade a bit of rear leg room for a larger boot.

Speaking of which, you get a powered tailgate as standard that opens to reveal a bigger boot than rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/estate/review/n17345">Mercedes-AMG GLC 43</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a>. It’s a useful, square shape inside, and is easily large enough to swallow a fold-up pram or up to nine carry-on suitcases. There is a small load lip between the tailgate opening and the boot floor that you have to lift things over, but that’s not a big deal.

The SQ5 ticks many, many boxes. The diesel engine provides quick but also effortless performance along with sensible fuel economy, and sounds pretty tasty, too. The handling is beautifully judged —if not quite as entertaining as that of the Porsche Macan — while still giving you a comfortable ride. And it’s a practical large SUV for those with a family.  


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Precise, feelsome steering</li> <li>Agile, entertaining handling</li> <li>Reasonable ride comfort</li> <li>Smart and practical interior</li></ul>

Needing a&nbsp;practical load-lugger doesn't mean you need to scrimp on power and sporting prowess. In fact, most sporty manufacturers now have dedicated sports SUVs in their line-up with 0-62mph times to rival cars half their size.&nbsp;

Porsche, for example, offers two:&nbsp;the Macan and the Cayenne, both of which offer rapid performance and seriously impressive handling, as well as providing enough space for five people and a boot capable of fitting more than seven carry-on suitcases.&nbsp;

But even&nbsp;manufacturers not usually focused on track times are getting involved in this market. The Volkswagen T-Roc R is one of our favourites, too, with a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec&nbsp;and&nbsp;fuel economy of 31.5mpg. A sports SUV&nbsp;should satisfy anyone who doesn't want to trade speed for space.&nbsp;

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