2018 Audi SQ5 Review
Just because you need a crossover doesn’t mean you need to relinquish driving pleasure. Audi has been offering a hot-rod version of their very popular small SUV now for a number of years and it’s a dynamo. But it’s also less than fresh. So this spring Audi unleashes their second-generation SQ5 with increased power, a new turbocharged V6 and a design that pulls it more in-line with the Q7. Featuring an all-new 3.0-liter engine, the 2018 SQ5 produces 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque engaged by an 8-speed automatic transmission. Every SQ5 is a quattro model and when ordered with the S sport package comes with a sport rear differential utilizing torque vectoring to help maximize driving dynamics. That package also includes an adaptive air suspension – a first for the SQ5. It lowers the vehicle by over 1” and allows for adjustment of both ride height and the firmness of the dampers via the standard Audi drive select. In addition to the regular 4 drive select modes, the air suspension adds both an allroad and a lift/offroad mode for increased ground clearance. Also available is dynamic steering, offering a variable steering ratio that adjusts based on speed. The new SQ5 offers improved space, with more rear legroom and shoulder room as well as increased cargo capacity with the 2nd row seats folded down. Concerning infotainment, Audi offers their MMI touch with handwriting recognition technology, a B&O sound system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The available virtual cockpit with Google Earth navigation features a sport display mode while a full-color head-up display projects relevant driving information directly in the driver’s field of vision.
2018 Audi Q5 Review
Earlier this year I spent a week with the next generation Audi SQ5. Was I blown away with this high-performance compact SUV? Eh, not so much, for a number of reasons some of which can be pegged on the unseasonably cold weather during that test week. But this regular Q5 with the more plebeian 2.0-liter turbo? Now this is impressive.
First off, it’s obviously less expensive and more fuel efficient; a savings of about $10k and 4mpg. Secondly, this one has that super soft, luxurious, quiet ride about it that’s both more mature and satisfying. And the other big takeaway from the Q5 is how user friendly the experience can be, most notably when spec’d in Prestige form where comfort and convenience parlay into a warm and fuzzy car to driver relationship.
Pricing starts at just below $44,000 including destination for a base Q5 Premium while this Prestige model highlighted by its standard adaptive cruise control with stop and go including lane assist for rush hour relaxation, power adjustable steering column, an enriched B&O 19-speaker sound system with immersive acoustics, an easy-to-read head-up display and a surround view camera that’ll make you a parking hero comes in at $58,440 with nearly every available option.
No matter which Q5 you choose, it’ll be powered by the segment staple; a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo producing 248 horsepower and a lively 273 pound feet of torque working through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving all 4 wheels. This latest version of quattro, with what Audi calls ultra technology, is designed to preserve fuel economy by decoupling the rear axle until the car’s computers determine the rear tires need to join in. And my gas mileage was right on point, averaging a noteworthy 25mpg on premium. From a driving perspective, the Q5 is everything I want in a vehicle of this type. Audi Drive Select with 5 settings modifies the engine, transmission, steering and even the cruise control characteristics to provide the tailored experience you desire accompanied by ambient light changes. I’ve mostly left it in the Auto setting where the steering is as light as a feather and the powertrain is as smooth as porcelain. There is no dual clutch weirdness here…gear shifts are conducted with complete grace. Even without the adaptive suspension, the Q5 always feels wonderfully composed over all road surfaces and sufficiently agile. These upsized 20” Continental tires are a perfect all-season match for the Q5’s chassis, delivering beautifully balanced ride and handling. I’ve put a lot of miles on this Q5 and it’s as endearing if not more so than any of its competitors. With a heated steering wheel, heated seats, a quick to warm climate control system and leather upholstered cushioning that splits the difference between soft and sporty, the car to driver handshake is welcoming indeed. This is an SUV that eagerly wants to be your friend by doing all of the chores, allowing you to enjoy every trip.
Dimensionally, the Q5 just fits right no matter where people or cargo is residing. And though these seats cleverly slide and recline there are no USB charge ports back here.
Compared with the previous generation, this one offers more leg and shoulder room in the rear and greater cargo capacity with the seats dropped…you can do that from the back but the job isn’t completed until you click them into place. There are clever retention straps, cargo nets and hooks for securing items.
From a tech standpoint, the Audi virtual cockpit still wows every time with its awesome Google mapping and high configurability. I love having this information directly in front of me, and in the size I choose with convenient steering wheel controls. Over here is the MMI all-in-touch system with handwriting recognition, but with very good natural voice commands and the rotary knob controller it’s usually the last choice for infotainment input.
The MMI system is really pretty good both in terms of features and ease of use but the user experience could be even better if this display, which is in safe distance of the driver, was a touchscreen.
There are a lot of neat features in here, including a what’s happening in your city app that’ll direct you to where the fun is. I only wish my phone had a better place to rest when I’m using Apple CarPlay because neither of these cubbies are of any help, leaving it to flop around in the cup holder as a last resort.
Zero-to-60mph in under 6 seconds: check. Efficient and luxurious yet fun-to-drive: check. Super smart, techy and comfortable: check. This next-gen Q5 is most certainly a winner.
First off, it’s obviously less expensive and more fuel efficient; a savings of about $10k and 4mpg. Secondly, this one has that super soft, luxurious, quiet ride about it that’s both more mature and satisfying. And the other big takeaway from the Q5 is how user friendly the experience can be, most notably when spec’d in Prestige form where comfort and convenience parlay into a warm and fuzzy car to driver relationship.
Pricing starts at just below $44,000 including destination for a base Q5 Premium while this Prestige model highlighted by its standard adaptive cruise control with stop and go including lane assist for rush hour relaxation, power adjustable steering column, an enriched B&O 19-speaker sound system with immersive acoustics, an easy-to-read head-up display and a surround view camera that’ll make you a parking hero comes in at $58,440 with nearly every available option.
No matter which Q5 you choose, it’ll be powered by the segment staple; a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo producing 248 horsepower and a lively 273 pound feet of torque working through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving all 4 wheels. This latest version of quattro, with what Audi calls ultra technology, is designed to preserve fuel economy by decoupling the rear axle until the car’s computers determine the rear tires need to join in. And my gas mileage was right on point, averaging a noteworthy 25mpg on premium. From a driving perspective, the Q5 is everything I want in a vehicle of this type. Audi Drive Select with 5 settings modifies the engine, transmission, steering and even the cruise control characteristics to provide the tailored experience you desire accompanied by ambient light changes. I’ve mostly left it in the Auto setting where the steering is as light as a feather and the powertrain is as smooth as porcelain. There is no dual clutch weirdness here…gear shifts are conducted with complete grace. Even without the adaptive suspension, the Q5 always feels wonderfully composed over all road surfaces and sufficiently agile. These upsized 20” Continental tires are a perfect all-season match for the Q5’s chassis, delivering beautifully balanced ride and handling. I’ve put a lot of miles on this Q5 and it’s as endearing if not more so than any of its competitors. With a heated steering wheel, heated seats, a quick to warm climate control system and leather upholstered cushioning that splits the difference between soft and sporty, the car to driver handshake is welcoming indeed. This is an SUV that eagerly wants to be your friend by doing all of the chores, allowing you to enjoy every trip.
Dimensionally, the Q5 just fits right no matter where people or cargo is residing. And though these seats cleverly slide and recline there are no USB charge ports back here.
Compared with the previous generation, this one offers more leg and shoulder room in the rear and greater cargo capacity with the seats dropped…you can do that from the back but the job isn’t completed until you click them into place. There are clever retention straps, cargo nets and hooks for securing items.
From a tech standpoint, the Audi virtual cockpit still wows every time with its awesome Google mapping and high configurability. I love having this information directly in front of me, and in the size I choose with convenient steering wheel controls. Over here is the MMI all-in-touch system with handwriting recognition, but with very good natural voice commands and the rotary knob controller it’s usually the last choice for infotainment input.
The MMI system is really pretty good both in terms of features and ease of use but the user experience could be even better if this display, which is in safe distance of the driver, was a touchscreen.
There are a lot of neat features in here, including a what’s happening in your city app that’ll direct you to where the fun is. I only wish my phone had a better place to rest when I’m using Apple CarPlay because neither of these cubbies are of any help, leaving it to flop around in the cup holder as a last resort.
Zero-to-60mph in under 6 seconds: check. Efficient and luxurious yet fun-to-drive: check. Super smart, techy and comfortable: check. This next-gen Q5 is most certainly a winner.
2018 Audi SQ5 3.0T Quattro Review
Just because you need a new crossover doesn’t mean you need to relinquish driving pleasure. Audi has been offering a hot-rod version of their popular small SUV now for a number of years and this all-new, second-generation SQ5 packs increased power, a new turbocharged V6 and a design that pulls it more in line with the Q7.
Did you know that the Q5 is the best-selling Audi, pacing at nearly double the rate of the A4 and Q7? So to say it’s important that Audi gets its successor right is an understatement, especially facing increased competition. Pricing for the compact-sized Q5 starts at $42,475 including destination but if you’d prefer the liveliness of a V6, the authenticity of the original quattro all-wheel drive system, available adaptive air suspension with off-road settings and all of these little high-performance touches, it’s the SQ5 you’ll want. Priced from $55,275 its price premium is not insignificant, but Audi S and even more so RS models cater to the driver who wants more and is willing to pay for it.
It’s been about 3 ½ years since I last drove one but I do remember loving the gusto from its supercharged engine and superior driving dynamics. This one still uses a 3.0-liter motor but it’s turbocharged instead, tuned to make an identical 354 horsepower with 20+ pound-feet of additional torque. The automatic transmission uses identical ratios for gears 1 through 8 as those before but with a slightly more aggressive final drive. The wheelbase is a little longer, ground clearance of over 8” is a little higher but dimensionally this SQ5 is pretty much the same. Cargo room with the rear seats up is down a little and with them folded is up 3 cubic feet. It weighs 22lbs. less and mashing the gas pedal takes the same 5.1 seconds to reach 60mph. So on the surface, it seems as though Audi’s played this redesign pretty safely. But it’s in here where they’re letting it all hang out. Magma red, Nappa leather seats with diamond stitching and the Audi virtual cockpit substantially raise the level of modernity and elegance in this SQ5. Both are optional as is the S Sport and Driver Assistance packages, Carbon Atlas inlays, and Dynamic Steering for an as-tested price of $67,175.
Did you know that the Q5 is the best-selling Audi, pacing at nearly double the rate of the A4 and Q7? So to say it’s important that Audi gets its successor right is an understatement, especially facing increased competition. Pricing for the compact-sized Q5 starts at $42,475 including destination but if you’d prefer the liveliness of a V6, the authenticity of the original quattro all-wheel drive system, available adaptive air suspension with off-road settings and all of these little high-performance touches, it’s the SQ5 you’ll want. Priced from $55,275 its price premium is not insignificant, but Audi S and even more so RS models cater to the driver who wants more and is willing to pay for it.
It’s been about 3 ½ years since I last drove one but I do remember loving the gusto from its supercharged engine and superior driving dynamics. This one still uses a 3.0-liter motor but it’s turbocharged instead, tuned to make an identical 354 horsepower with 20+ pound-feet of additional torque. The automatic transmission uses identical ratios for gears 1 through 8 as those before but with a slightly more aggressive final drive. The wheelbase is a little longer, ground clearance of over 8” is a little higher but dimensionally this SQ5 is pretty much the same. Cargo room with the rear seats up is down a little and with them folded is up 3 cubic feet. It weighs 22lbs. less and mashing the gas pedal takes the same 5.1 seconds to reach 60mph. So on the surface, it seems as though Audi’s played this redesign pretty safely. But it’s in here where they’re letting it all hang out. Magma red, Nappa leather seats with diamond stitching and the Audi virtual cockpit substantially raise the level of modernity and elegance in this SQ5. Both are optional as is the S Sport and Driver Assistance packages, Carbon Atlas inlays, and Dynamic Steering for an as-tested price of $67,175.