2022 (71/22) Audi Q5 SQ5 TDI Quattro Vorsprung 5dr Tiptronic

Audi's third generation SQ5 switches to petrol power. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

The third generation Audi SQ5 packs a 367PS petrol powerplant into the brand's rejuvenated take on what a premium mid-sized sporting SUV should be. It's not the fastest contender of its kind, but it might arguably be the most complete one - and it brings a welcome shot of sparkle to the Q5 line up.

Background

Think of the original first and second generation versions of the Audi SQ5, if you ever do, and the memory will be of an uber-fast diesel-powered sporting SUV. In many ways, the perfect family Q car - an under-the-radar sporting mid-sized premium crossover we've always really liked. So what of this third generation model, launched late in 2024? Well it's now petrol-powered, so that's a key difference, though Audi hopes its latest 48V mild hybrid tech will ease loyal SQ5 customers into that transition. Actually, the SQ5 was briefly petrol-powered once before, in 2018 when the second generation model was first launched (five years after the original). Now this Audi drinks from the green pump again - but there's also lots else to tell you.

Driving Experience

The ordinary Q5 isn't often sold to customers of premium upper mid-sized SUVs who prioritise an involving driving experience. So this SQ5 has quite a job on its hands to convince buyers that it's a real alternative to, say, a BMW X3 M50 xDrive or a Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC in this class; especially as those two competitors are more powerful. Well it is. True, if you've owned an SQ5 before, there's stuff you're going to have to get used to; primarily the fact that the 550Nm torque figure of this MK3 model's new 3.0-litre petrol V6 is way down on the 700Nm figure of its 3.0 V6 TDI diesel predecessor. But power is up (from 341PS to 367PS) and of course the pleasingly urgent engine sound is vastly better. It's faster too - the 0-62mph sprint time of 4.5s is 0.6s faster than the previous TDI. Top speed is still limited to 155mph. It goes without saying in an SQ5 that there's quattro 4WD and 7-speed dual clutch S tronic auto transmission. What's new, as with every third generation Q5, is that it all sits on completely different underpinnings, the brand's latest 'PPC' 'Premium Platform Combustion' chassis. To try and compensate folk who might be miffed by the switch from the old diesel unit, Audi has decided to fit this MK3 model's 3.0-litre TFSI petrol powerplant with its latest 'MHEV plus' mild hybrid system. As for drive dynamics, well these are usually fundamentally good with fast Audis, but normally let down by the kind of vague, uninvolving steering we found when we tried an ordinary third generation Q5 a few weeks ago. In this SQ5, the helm's been tuned to tell you a little more about what the front wheels are doing, but an enthusiast would probably still want more. What you can't complain about is something that's fitted here but is lacking on the two rival models we mentioned earlier - adaptive air suspension. You'll find this 'S adaptive' set-up very impressive indeed as you scroll though the now more clearly-differentiated 'Audi Drive Select' settings that influence it - 'comfort', 'dynamic', 'balanced', 'efficiency' and 'off road'. In 'comfort', it's a perfect partner for our nation's pock-marked tarmac (which is just as well given the firm ride you'd otherwise get with this variant's larger 21-inch wheels). Yet in 'dynamic', it makes the car as firm and responsive as you could want. If you need a unique SQ5 selling point - and we could understand why you might - then without doubt, this is it.

Design and Build

Audi says this third generation Q5 has become 'even sportier' - and that obviously suits this SQ5 model, whether you order it in Sportback form or the SUV guise we tried. From the side, there's little to set this top Q5 apart from lesser versions, unless you happen to notice the B-pillar badging and the bespoke 21-inch wheels with their red calipers. At the rear, there's a subtle rear spoiler and a bespoke rear bumper incorporating two pairs of potent-looking twin round tailpipes. Behind the wheel, it's very nice, with lots of expensive-looking technology surrounding all the new 'Digital Stage' screen tech. But for this kind of spend, it really shouldn't be this hard to identify the differences that set this SQ5 apart from lesser variants in the Q5 portfolio. The fact that there's hardly anything added (eventually we found a lap timer buried into the new instrument screen) is masked by the plushness of the 'Edition 1' trim level that Audi insisted this top model had to have from launch. And that gets you these lovely diamond-quilted nappa leather sports seats that heat, cool and massage you. Plus niceties like a dash-top 'dynamic interaction light', a head-up display, a 10.9-inch MMI front passenger touch display, a 3D Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and suede-style Dinamica door trimming. At the rear, though there's plenty of space to slide your feet beneath the front seats, knee room isn't that great, so it's just as well that this back seat still has a sliding base, which along with the reclining backrest is part of Audi's 'rear bench seat plus' arrangement. As for ceiling space, well this is where you get the benefit of choosing your SQ5 with this SUV body style rather than the alternative Sportback version; the more conventional SUV variant has 80mm more headroom. The powered tailgate rises to reveal a bit less boot space than you'd normally get in a conventionally-engined Q5 - 475-litres in this SQ5 SUV model, as opposed to the usual 520-litre figure; with the SQ5 Sportback, it'd be 470-litres.

Market and Model

At the time of our test in late 2025, Audi was offering this SQ5 in 'Black Edition' or top 'Vorsprung' forms, priced from around £77,000 in SUV guise. The alternative SQ5 Sportback variant attracts a £2,500 premium. You'll want some value perspective on that. Making this 367PS Audi available only in this fully-loaded 'Edition 1' form skews its value proposition somewhat, making it pricier than both its two segment arch-rivals, which is unfortunate because both of those offer significantly more power. BMW's X3 M50 (which has 403PS) was priced at around £71,000 as we filmed. If you're prepared to sacrifice a bit on this Audi's plush level of trim, much the same kind of spend that would be needed for an SQ5 'Edition 1' would also get you a Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC, which has 427PS. If having considered all of that you still conclude that it is this Audi that you really want, then you're going to need to know just how generous the Ingolstadt brand has been with standard spec, so let's take a look at that now. Specific SQ5 features include 21-inch 'multi-spoke' Audi Sport alloy wheels with red calipers, S adaptive air suspension, special S exterior styling and Audi's 'Black styling package plus', which means the use of that colour for the exterior mirrors and roof rails. On top of that, 'Edition 1' features include Matrix LED headlamps with 'active digital light signatures', Digital OLED tail lights, a switchable-transparency panoramic sunroof and a Digital key system that'll allow you to lock and start the car with your 'phone. Inside with top SQ5 trim, you get Fine nappa quilted leather-upholstered power-adjustable sports front seats with ventilation and a massage function; that upholstery features Steel grey stitching and can be finished in either the usual black or, rather more interestingly as here, in 'Arras Red'. There's also Dinamica cabin trim, 4-Zone climate control, a heated power-adjustable bespoke steering wheel and the brand's 'Ambient lighting package plus' with its dash-top 'dynamic interaction light'. Plus you get a head-up display, rear seat heating, a 10.9-inch MMI front passenger touch display and a 3D Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

Cost of Ownership

The SQ5's 'MHEV plus' mild hybrid system cuts the engine at parking speeds and in traffic to give the rather pleasant illusion that this 367PS 3.0-litre six cylinder super-SUV is planet-friendly. It isn't. The official figures for this SUV version are up to 34.1mpg on the combined cycle and up to 188g/km of CO2; it's 34.7mpg and 187g/km for the Sportback version. Based on this test, you're going to need to keep the drive select mode pinned to 'efficiency' pretty much all the time if you're to get anywhere near to 30mpg on any sort of regular basis. Anyway, what else might you need to know? Residual values should be pretty strong; expect 54-55% of original value to be retained after the industry-standard three year/36,000 mile period. But Audi isn't particularly generous with its vehicle warranty; like with BMW and Mercedes, it's a three year policy, but unlike those other brands, Audi caps it at just 60,000 miles. You can extend that cover to four years/75,000 miles or five years/90,000 miles at extra cost - quite a lot of extra cost actually, over £600 for four years and 75,000 miles or over £1,400 for a five year, 90,000 mile package.

Summary

At first glance - and perhaps after a first drive - you might wonder why you'd ever choose this third generation SQ5 over its two talented class rivals from BMW and Mercedes. Those two competitors have more power and they make more of a pavement statement. You might also wish that this SQ5 had been differentiated from its cheaper Q5 range siblings a little more. But, as we found with previous generation SQ5s, if you live with this Audi and pile on the miles with it, positive attributes begin to shine through. Chief amongst these is the class-leading air suspension system, which you don't get and can't have with either an M50 or a GLC 43. Whether you want a comfortable cossetting ride or a sporty engaging one, it'll oblige and is perfect for poorly-surfaced UK roads. And yes, it really would sell us on this car. As for that power deficit over rivals, well you simply won't notice it. With 367PS under your right foot, you're never short of forward thrust and with a generous 550Nm of torque on tap, overtaking is almost instant. Lots to like then, even if you don't happen to get on with the new cabin design or the meaner look. We can still see why you might have preferred this car better in its previous diesel guises, but sadly perhaps, the days of diesel high performance SUVs are now behind us. And what we've been given instead - on the evidence of this SQ5 at least - might have longer-lasting charms.