Long-termers

AS you would no doubt have gleaned from previous updates, Audi’s polished SQ5 has done little wrong in the 10 months I’ve been its custodian. It’s deceptively rapid, surprisingly comfortable (considering the low-profile Pirelli P Zero rubber wrapped round those optional 21-inch alloys) and boasts a top-drawer interior. Indeed, the only major criticism I feel justified in lobbing its way involves the 3,0-litre V6’s proclivity to guzzle unleaded.

And that had me thinking: why did the Ingolstadt-based automaker opt to engineer this current-generation SQ5 in petrol form when the preceding iteration was offered – locally, at least – in oil-burning guise? The most likely answer, of course, centres on the VW Group’s diesel emissions scandal, but it’s still a question worth considering.

You see, as the first dieselpowered S model from Audi, the previous-generation SQ5 TDI developed quite a following both here in South Africa and on the global stage. And for good rea- son, too; it served up a tough-toresist mix of grunt and efficiency.

In fact, that 230 kw biturbodiesel unit directed a whopping 650 N.m (150 N.m more than our 260 kw V6 petrol mill) to all four corners, facilitating a sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 5,1 seconds. For the record, that’s some 0,3 seconds quicker than the model pictured here.

While the German firm’s fueluse claim of 6,8 L/100 km might seem optimistic, the dieselpowered SQ5 was certainly capable of impressive frugality in real-world scenarios, with reader Kevin Lee writing to tell us he achieves “less than 8,0 L/100 km in mixed driving” in his 2015 SQ5 TDI. Colour us jealous.

So, would this latest model have been better off sipping from a diesel tank? Perhaps, although there’s also an argument to be made that a lighter foot would see the petrol-flavoured V6 taking more measured swigs, as suggested by colleague Wilhelm, who reported an indicated 8,6 L/ 100 km after a 50 km commute.