Is the SQ5 the ultimate Q car?

On first seeing the SQ5 you would be forgiven for not really knowing which engine is under the bonnet: On the front wings there are badges that say V6 Turbo, so you would imagine it is a V6 petrol, but move round to the rear and on the boot list it says TDI, so confusion starts, is it a petrol, or a diesel. On start-up, there are not many clues either, it doesn’t sound like a V6 petrol, or a diesel. The best way to determine what powers the SQ5 is simply to look at the fuel filler flap, and there is the answer.

The SQ5 is in fact powered by a 3.0 litre BiTDi V6 diesel that produces a very respectable 313PS. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 5.1 seconds and has a limited top speed to 155mph. As ever with diesel it’s the torque that is impressive, it delivers 650NM of torque from just 1450 RPM. The standard 2.0 litre TDi Quattro has 380NM, to put things in perspective.  The pulling power from this car is fantastic, it is off like a rocket, but it’s the sound that adds to the driving pleasure. Under full acceleration, the noise from the engine and exhaust is exquisite, you could listen to it all day, Audi have certainly got the noise right with the SQ5.

The standard Q5 with the 2.0 TDi is a brilliant car, but add the 3.0 litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine and you turn it into something very special. The Q5 is a great looking car, and despite the fact it has been on the market for over 6 years, it looks as fresh and modern today as it did when it was launched. It is one of those cars that certainly stands the test of time, and is always popular in the used car market.

We used the car quite a bit during the time we had it, and did plenty of miles, up and down the M1 and over the Pennines to Manchester airport, and just generally running around locally, and it was a pleasure to get in and drive in any weather conditions, day or night, and any types of road. You just felt so safe and comfortable, and the car felt as solid as a rock, or as many say, as solid as an Audi.

The build quality fit and finish and materials used are typical from this premium German manufacturer, it is superb throughout. The interior looks and feels premium and despite its sporty appearance the cabin in quite luxurious.

The official combined fuel consumption figure is 41.5mpg, but during the time we had the car, it achieved an average of 33mpg according to the on-board computer. But every now and again, we did reset the computer drive it extremely economically and it went up above 37mpg, although still not quite the claimed figure. The CO2 emission figure is 179g/km, therefore the first year VED rate is £345 and subsequent years are £225. But for the amount of power it produces, and the amount of fun to be had, there has to be a penalty to pay and high road fund licence and regular visits to the fuel station are where you pay here. 

The V6 engine is coupled to an 8 speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, and these two work in perfect harmony, so smooth, whether it is changing up or down.

The SQ5 comes with Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system as standard, but we didn’t take it off-road to see just how effective it was. But in some very wet conditions, where the roads were partially flooded it was a pleasing thought to know you were in the safe hands of Quattro, and it would get out of most messes that you could get the car into. You just feel so confident in this car, it has the power, it has the Quattro system and it has Audi quality and reliability.

As you can probably tell, we really enjoyed using the SQ5; Audi have got this car absolutely right and it is brilliant throughout. But all this brilliance comes at a price, and that price is £44,715.00 OTR although add a few nice options and you can easily be up to nearly £50,000 for a quick Q5! But it is a special car, and a car you really struggle to criticise, and therefore it is probably worth the high price tag.

Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager