A VERSATILE RIDE WITH PERSONALITY
There was not a lot wrong with the outgoing Audi SQ5, but the latest generation takes the lot to the next level. While it shares much with its mortal sibling, including the all-new hybrid steel/ aluminum platform and sharper styling, it has a personality it can call its own. It is equally at home puttering through a suburban neighbourhood as it is flexing its considerable muscle through a series of switchbacks.
The first giveaway that this Audi Q5 is different is a small badge on the fender. The simple V6T insignia indicates it has Audi’s new 3.0-litre V6, with a twin-scroll turbocharger, sitting under the hood. While it pushes the same 354 horsepower as the outgoing supercharged V6, it twists out 369 pound-feet of torque, which is up 23 lb-ft. The unspoken bonus is that peak torque enters the picture at 1,370 rpm, some 2,630 rpm earlier than before. This means the turbocharged V6 pounces off the line without the early lag of the supercharged engine.
The power reaches the road through an eight-speed transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and, in the case of the test car, Audi’s optional Sport Differential. The transmission is slick, bumping up and down the gears quickly, and with a rewarding precision when left to its own devices. Picking Sport mode and using the paddles is more fun.
The all-wheel-drive system sends 40 per cent of the power to the front wheels and 60 per cent to the rear. However, it can lock to prevent unwanted wheelspin on a slick road, or send up to 85 per cent to the rear wheels if that’s what’s needed.
Finally, the Sport Differential brings proper torque vectoring. Unlike the brake-based systems, it uses clutches to send more power to the outside wheel through a corner. This action turns the SQ5 in crisply and with less steering input required, which pushes understeer out to the point it is virtually nonexistent.
This combination delivers potent performance, running from rest to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. However, where the SQ5’s powertrain truly impressed was through the mid-range. The 80-to-120 km/h passing move comes in around 3.5 seconds and the speed just keeps piling on. This gives it the wherewithal to dust many of its peers.
The sporty theme continues with driving dynamics. The optional air suspension delivers a balanced blend of ride comfort and dialed-in handling. It also gives the SQ5 the ability to adapt to its surroundings. As before, Audi’s Drive Select gives the driver access to Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes. The additions here are the Allroad and Lift/off-road modes; the latter hikes ride height to give the SQ5 a fighting chance of running a rough road without bottoming out.
All modes alter the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and sport differential. For the most part, Comfort is the right choice when not out having fun. The throttle progression is smooth, the shifts are barely detectable and the ride comfort is where it should be.
Find a twisty road and select Dynamic mode. It sharpens everything and drops the ride height so the SQ5 now runs the twisty bits like a true sports car. There’s very little body roll, the ride is appreciably tauter but still compliant, and the steering is razor sharp with excellent feel and feedback.
Throw in the P255/40R21 rubber and you have the heart of a race car.
The cabin takes a marked step forward in its quality and list of amenities.
The materials are excellent and the layout is as dynamic as it is logical. For example, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit puts a 12.3inch screen behind the steering wheel. It is fully customizable: pick conventional dials or put the map info in the entire display. The information is shown in an easy-to-see format that’s very different from the norm.
The rest of the cabin is posh. The fully articulated front seats provide a ton of support without feeling confining, the driving position is just about ideal and the visibility is top notch.
The 360-degree camera eliminates all blind spots, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is now standard fare.
An option worth considering is the Advanced Driver Assistance package. It includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, plus Audi’s PreSense City technology, including automatic braking and active lane-keep assist.
Slide rearward and the overt sportiness does not hurt utility. The rear seat accommodates three adults, and with the 40/20/40-split folding seats
upright, the SQ5 handles 759 litres of cargo.
Fold the lot down and that number grows to 1,710 litres. It also has a privacy cover and tie-downs, along with a security net. The netting spans the gap between the top of the rear seat and the roof, so anything in the trunk stays in the trunk when the brakes are hammered.
The latest Audi SQ5 is the perfect ride for the driver with family obligations and the desire to drive something special. It is fast and technically sophisticated, yet cedes nothing in terms of utility. Overview: Performance and substance in a practical family hauler
Pros: Performance, driving dynamics, Virtual Cockpit instrumentation
Cons: Subdued exhaust note, option costs
Value for money: Good
What I would change: Add a little more bite to the exhaust’s bark
How I would spec it: SQ5 Technik with Sport Differential and adaptive suspension