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 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.