Audi

SQ5

SUV models just weren’t meant to be this good. Audi’s dynamic SQ5 looks amazing, has all the tech could wish for and drives like an absolute demon while still covering the practicality bases well.

The good

Looks, agility and blistering performance

The bad

No-one on the school run will ever speak to you again

Tech Specs

Price from

£57,360

Combined Fuel up to

34.0mpg

0-62 from

5.1 seconds

max speed up to

155mph

co2 from

174g/km

Test Drive

Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDi tiptronic (2022)

Take an Audi Q5 and give it the sporty ‘S’ treatment and the result is a powerful, yet practical family SUV that’s big on style and very big on performance.

With a mighty 3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel engine delivering 341PS of grunt and 700Nm of torque, the SQ5 can power its way from 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds and maxes out at a limited 155mph. Not bad for a vehicle that has an unladen weight of just over two tonnes.

And it will turn heads as it passes too with dynamic styling and the roar of that V6 powertrain.

Eye-catching features include a bold, muscular design with Matrix LED headlights and dynamic indicators, a panoramic glass sunroof, black roof rails, privacy glass and striking 21-inch alloys.

Moving inside, the interior is modern, upmarket and loaded with high-end fixtures and fittings. The red Nappa leather upholstery is not the subtlest, but looks stunning just the same. There is ‘S’ badging on the steering wheel, chunky gear lever and seats, along with soft-touch surfaces, piano black trimmings and decorative inlays throughout.

It’s a driver-focused cockpit featuring a wealth of tech, such as a pitch perfect Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, Bluetooth, full smartphone connectivity, a DAB radio, sat nav, a head-up display, park assist and three-zone deluxe air conditioning.

The seats are power-operated and there are memory settings along with a massaging function for the two front occupants. A state-of-the-art 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is the nerve centre of the car and offers access to the many systems via the steering wheel or a voice assistance set-up.

When it comes to performance, the SQ5 is a dynamic car with plenty of road presence and handling to match. The acceleration through the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission is sharp and responsive with paddles for added driver engagement.

Despite its high-sided SUV dimensions, the vehicle is really well planted with minimal body sway no matter how enthusiastically bends are attacked. The steering is well weighted and, apart from the roar of the engine, occupants remain well protected from any noise filtering through into the car.

The SQ5 eats up motorway miles for fun, but keep a watch on that speed as it reaches 70mph in the blink of an eye and has so much more to offer. Bumps and dips are smoothed out by the highly-effective suspension set-up and the vehicle is also agile and easy to manoeuvre in busier town centres, where the good driver visibility and park assist are both plus points.

There are drive modes to alter the driving characteristics of the car. These are called Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Off-road, Allroad and Individual. No prizes for guessing which setting offers the most fun!

Admittedly, this Audi comes at a cost with the range-topping Vorsprung edition, as tested, starting from £74,175. Our car also featured a number of optional extras that saw the final price climb to £76,310. Running costs are not too bad for such a powerhouse of a car though with a combined 33.6mpg but the carbon emissions figure of 221g/km will result in a hefty initial road tax bill.

There is ample space in the back of the SQ5 for a trio of passengers to stretch out, provided the front seats are not pushed right back. The rear seats can be heated to fend off the winter chill and storage options are good with a boot that can swallow 550 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,550 litres with the rear seats dropped flat.

And there are a number of convenient storage options throughout the vehicle, including a lockable glovebox, central cubby bin with charge port, door pockets with room for a water bottle, front and rear cup holders, seat back nets and some trays.

A folding tow bar is an optional extra costing £765 and the SQ5 can pull a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.4 tonnes, making it ideal for family holidays, especially as it also features Quattro – Audi’s all-wheel drive set-up.

With a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the SQ5 is packed with features to keep occupants safe. Systems include Audi pre-sense city, side assist, hill-hold assist, pre-sense rear, camera-based traffic sign recognition, Isofix child seat fixtures, a full suite of airbags and lots more besides.

All in all, the Audi SQ5 is a large SUV that delivers on all the demands of an active family, but also offers exceptional performance in the process.

Test Drive

Audi SQ5 3.0 TDI

Audi has just unleashed another newcomer on the unsuspecting high performance SUV market in the shape of the beautiful SQ5.

It’s the first ever diesel-fuelled S vehicle, but fear not because this exquisitely-defined model can launch itself to 62mph from a standing start in just 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed limited to 155mph.

In order to do justice to the S badge and still offer TDI frugality of 41.5mpg on a combined cycle, the SQ5 utilises a 3.0-litre V6 BiTDI engine which works with a highly efficient eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.

Guaranteed to turn heads as it whizzes past the SQ5 is 30mms lower than the Q5 and that helps the vehicle deliver nimble, agile handling along with magnificent driving dynamics.

But there’s no mistaking that the SQ5 is a little bit special. It features larger wheels with black brake callipers displaying the SQ5 logo, a platinum grey single-frame grille, a roof spoiler, S bumper design, quadruple tailpipes, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, a double panoramic roof and lots more.

The test model was priced at £43,075 although the optional extras bumped up the price-tag to £53,140, but for that hefty outlay you can expect a car packed with premium technology that is capable of delivering an all-round breath-taking performance.

And the SQ5 doesn’t disappoint.

The interior is beautifully finished in the finest materials money can buy with luxuriously comfortable and electrically-adjustable leather seats.

Creature comforts include an excellent sound system, a 6.5-inch colour monitor housing Audi’s multi-media interface, Bluetooth connectivity, three-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, light and rain sensors and plenty more besides including many S specific designs.

All occupants are treated to plenty of room and the massive panoramic sunroof (£1,125 extra) allows light to flood into the cabin creating a warm and inviting environment.

The generously-sized boot can offer 540 litres of space which can be increased to 1,560 with the rear seats folded flat.

But there is so much more to the SQ5 than comfort, style and technology, because this vehicle loves to be driven and will happily demonstrate its capabilities at any given time.

The acceleration through the automatic transmission is incredibly smooth and all bumps, dips and potholes are easily absorbed along the way as the occupants enjoy the peace and quiet within the cabin.

That said, the sound actuator in the exhaust system helps give the vehicle a beautifully growling tone when desired.

Road-holding is exceptionally good and the high-seated position means the driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility.

Of course, Audi has packed a comprehensive range of safety features into the SQ5 and with its quattro all-wheel-drive Mother Nature shouldn’t have any surprises in store.

All in all, the SQ5 looks amazing, handles beautifully and remains incredibly refined in the process. It’s ideal for the motorist who really appreciates all the finer things in life without losing a single ounce of excitement along the way.