Written by CJ Hubbard Updated: 3 July 2025

Overview

Should you buy an Audi SQ5?

The Audi SQ5 is a fine example of how to make an SUV go very fast. Some will wish it offers a little more drama at lower speeds, but for us it’s an attractive blend of comfort, performance and no-nonsense capability, all wrapped-up in a luxuriously appointed package. This makes it well worth buying, we reckon.

Yes, there’s perhaps a little too much piano-black trim on the inside, and you will have to get your head – and fingers – around a lot of touch-sensitive tech. But sensible shortcut functions made this a quick process for us, and we spent much more of our time with the car enjoying its poised suspension and muscular engine than we did worrying about that.

Add in plenty of space for passengers and a boot large enough for all their luggage, and you’ve got a very capable all-rounder that provides a lot of solutions to a lot of different driving requirements. We like it a lot.

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What’s new?

The SQ5 is a high-performance version of the Audi Q5 SUV. This latest version, launched in 2025, is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 and available in both the conventional SUV bodystyle and as a coupe-styled Q5 Sportback variant. We’ve been driving the former.

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The 367hp engine – and the included adaptive air suspension – puts it well above the capabilities of other performance SUVs from the Volkswagen Group, such as the Cupra Terramar and Skoda Kodiaq vRS. But so it should, considering the £76,000 asking price is 50% more than the most expensive Terramar. For example.

On the other hand, the Audi’s also not quite as powerful its key rival, the BMW X3 M50, and the BMW starts at around £71,000. Still, the SQ5 comes with loads of standard kit and, as we’ll see, it’s extremely well-polished and a remarkably comfortable way to cover ground remarkably quickly.

Read more about the best SUVs on Parkers.

What’s it like inside?

The interior of the SQ5 is the epitome of modern Audi. That means lots of screens – one for the driver, one for the central infotainment system and a third for the front passenger – a quite chunky vibe throughout and decent materials. Some of the team think that too much of this is fingerprint-attracting piano black, but the leather is nice at least.

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There are lots of touch-sensitive controls outside of the screens, which are also a little divisive – especially the slightly flimsy feeling panel for the lights and mirrors that’s attached to the door (adding a nonsensical amount of girth to the handle of the driver’s side in the process). All I’ll say on the matter is that these work better than they used to.

The infotainment is a much more definite triumph. The 14.1-inch screen, which occupies the same curving plinth as the digital instrument cluster, is pin sharp and very responsive. Better yet, a selection of shortcut tiles permanently occupies the side nearest the driver, so I found it’s usually not difficult to get to the function you want without diving too far into the menu system.

Comfort

As with most Audi models – and VW Group cars in general – the seats initially feel rather firm. But this translates into supportive comfort over longer journeys, meaning you typically emerge at the other end without too many aches and pains.

The SQ5 is a sporty SUV, so here the front seats are also bolstered well-enough on each side to stop you sliding about too much during harder cornering. But not so much that they’re then difficult to get in and out of.

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An impressive degree of reach and rake variation in the electrically operated steering wheel adjustment means it shouldn’t be too hard for most people to find a suitable driving position, either.

Both front and rear doors open wide enough for easy access and there’s a generous amount of rear headroom and legroom as well.

Audi SQ5 boot space and practicality

With a boot volume of 475 litres, the SQ5 is slightly down on luggage room compared with a regular Q5, which crams in as much as 520 litres. The rear seats tilt and slide as well as split-fold 40:20:40 for added practicality, and with them fully folded you get 1,446 litres of space (down from 1,473 litres elsewhere in the range).

This is smaller than the latest-generation BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but most owners will still find that accommodating enough for all but the longest family holidays. The cabin has cupholders and a cubby beneath the front arm rest, plus a glovebox and reasonably large door bins.

Audi SQ5 engine

In addition to the 367hp, the SQ5’s new 3.0-litre TFSI V6 twin-turbo engine produces a chunky 550Nm of torque (pulling power), which is available all the way from 1,400rpm to 4,000rpm.

On top of that, as one of Audi’s latest ‘MHEV Plus’ engines, it has a 24hp / 230Nm electric motor added into it drive system. Although this is still described as a mild hybrid rather than full or self-charging hybrid, that’s still a useful hit of additional performance and means the SQ5 can move at (very) low speeds on electric power alone.

Combined with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and Quattro four-wheel drive as standard, this means 0-62mph in a swift and highly repeatable 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of electronically limited to 155mph.

What’s it like to drive?

The engine is an immediate highlight, with the SQ5 feeling muscular and instantly keen to please – that big wodge of peak torque means it’s ready to go right from low rpm well into the mid-range. The default, emissions-friendly driving mode can make it seem a little hesitant pulling away, but this is easily fixed by switching to the Dynamic setting. What’s more, it sounds good in a naturally pleasant way, unlike some of the more artificial soundtracks you get from other fast SUVs.

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Traction is excellent, and once you start to go faster you can really feel the quattro system squeezing every bit of grip from the road surface and the tyres. It’s not quite as dynamically thrilling as the fastest BMW X3s unless you’re really going very, very quickly, but the steering is impressively well judged, and the Audi feels nicely balanced at all times.

My personal preference for a thinner steering wheel is happy here, too (BMW favours much thicker affairs, which lack delicacy for me), and there’s little sign of the nose-heavy all-wheel drive behaviour of some older fast Audis. The SQ5 turns in smartly, is easy to place through a sequence of corners, and if you lean heavily on the accelerator you can really enjoy the power shifting to the rear – which largely manifests itself by slingshotting you out of the turn rather than developing into anything lairy.

Helping matters is the excellent – and standard fit – air suspension, which does a tremendous job of soaking up bumps while controlling the body of the car during direction changes. This makes it compliant yet capable over Britain’s broken tarmac, and contributes to the SQ5’s remarkable ability to cover ground quickly with very little effort from the driver.

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For the most enthusiastic drivers, this may come across as lacking in involvement. But I found it good fun in an undemanding but still satisfying way. It’s a car that flatters the driver rather than exposes your shortcomings, and will certainly get you from A to B very swiftly.

The only real downer for me when driving it was the brakes. I’d like a little more initial bite and progression than the slightly soft reaction I found they had; this isn’t massively confidence inspiring when driving more quickly.

Audi SQ5 running costs

Audi says the SQ5 will do 33.6mpg according to the official WLTP results, and is officially rated at 190g/km CO2 emissions. In my hands it was more like 19mpg when I was in a hurry, settling down to around 28mpg on a fast motorway cruise. About right for the performance you get in exchange, frankly.

Other running costs to consider include the likely cost of the tyres, which the Quattro 4x4 will work pretty hard, and the brakes – given the potential speed and the SQ5’s 2,040kg weight.

What models and trims are available?

The SQ5 comes in Edition 1 specification only – although the car I’ve been driving is a limited edition early Launch Edition. Standard equipment is exceptionally comprehensive, including Audi’s fanciest LED lights, a full suite of safety kit and lots of creature comforts.

As one of Audi’s high-performance S models, it also gets bespoke exterior styling details, four tailpipes, 21-inch alloy wheels, and a nicely trimmed interior sport package. Three-zone climate control, three front screens (including one for the passenger), and all the connectivity you and your children are likely to need feature, too.

Click though to the next page to see a detailed set of ratings for every aspect of the SQ5, or read more about how we test cars.