By Ian Strachan.
Audi’s Q5 is an excellent upmarket SUV, but if you want to add sportiness to the mix, then the growling 341 horsepower SQ5 is the car for you.
Audi have taken their Q5 and sexed it up. Huge 20 inch alloys, quadruple chromed tailpipes, a large grille, roof spoiler and lots of aluminium trim shout “sporty”. And sporty it is, with a great three litre V6 diesel engine, but it still manages to be fairly frugal for its size and power.
The SQ5 is also very comfortable. With permanent quattro all-wheel drive, it handles well, is competent off road without being an all-out mud plugger, and is very well behaved on-road. It has virtually no body roll and handles bends confidently.
A superb motorway cruiser, the SQ5 can go from tarmac to mud without the driver having to do anything. And even though the SQ5 has lowered suspension, it has enough ground clearance to take bumpy lanes and tracks in its stride.
Despite its size, this is undoubtedly an Audi, with its distinctive deep Audi grille and pleasing lines. Inside it’s roomy and comfortable, with plenty of creature comforts including an effective air conditioning system, leather upholstery and ultra-comfortable sports front seats.
Like the Q5 and its big brother, the Q7, the design takes some cues from smaller Audi estates, but is obviously much taller. There’s plenty of room for rear seat passengers, without compromising the substantial 510 litre luggage capacity in the rear.
The SQ5 comes with a smooth but effective 3.0 litre V6 overhead cam diesel engine. This unit has more than enough grunt in its 341 bhp output, delivering power throughout the range without ever feeling the slightest bit reluctant to propel this big car. It has an eager 0-60 mph time of around five seconds, and mid-range acceleration is impressive.
The eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox is ultra-smooth to the extent that gear changes are almost imperceptible. It’s also pretty frugal, delivering a respectable 34.4 mpg in mixed driving.
The SQ5 handles better than most 4x4s. It is stable and predictable, with no suspension wallow, and flat cornering. On road its manners are impeccable and it’s a great cruiser. Steering is light but precise.
Specification is good, and includes black leather seats, dual-zone climate control, all-round electric windows and mirrors, nice 20 inch alloy wheels, all round parking sensors with 360 degree camera, lanes control, satellite navigation, and a good sound system with DAB radio, Bluetooth and MP3 connections.
It’s an Audi, and Audi motoring doesn’t come cheap. The SQ5 TDI 341 PS tiptronic will cost you £55,380 on the road. My test car was fitted with a range of extras including an up-rated Bang & Olufsen sound system (part of a comfort and sound pack at £1,050) and a huge panoramic sunroof (£1,400). Metallic paint comes at an extra £675.
This is a high specification SUV, a vehicle that won’t depreciate quickly, and a versatile and more than competent performer. The SQ5 will continue to do well.
