2020 Audi SQ5

The SQ5 gets a stiffer suspension tune, chassis and improved steering responses when compared to the standard Q5 other than the change in the engine configuration and the bump in power. The SQ5 comes powered by Audi's Quattro AWD system that offers plenty of grip at high speeds and makes cornering fun. Prices for the SQ5 begin from $52,400 for the base Premium trim and goes over $62,100 for the top of the line Prestige trim.

The 2020 Audi SQ5 is segregated in three trims unlike the 2020 version, which only came with two. The new addition comes in the form of the base Premium Trim which makes the SQ5, more affordable to the masses. All these trims come paired to Audi’s superb Quattro AWD system and there is no FWD/RWD option in any of them.

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The Prestige Trim justifies its high asking price with some luxurious and premium features like B&O audio, Power adjust steering column, HUD and more and hence, is the trim to choose.

On twisty mountain roads, the 2020 SQ5 feels more like a sports sedan than a crossover SUV-KBB.com

The 3.0L V6 Motor of the 2020 Audi SQ5 ranks as one of the most powerful motors in its class. It accelerates quickly and is able to deliver maximum torque at a low rev range. Audi’s famed TFSI tech allows for lower turbo lags and better power delivery down the rev range. On the other hand, the tried and tested Quattro AWD system ensures that the power generated from the Motor is properly orchestrated to all four wheels depending on the situation and the demand.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is smooth and swift in terms of shifting which delivers a great driving experience. The DSG unit is one of the fastest shifters in the segment and has been tuned for even quicker responses in the SQ5.

*-2019 Model used for reference

All the cars featured above come with a V6 unit under their hoods. Even their power figures are closely matched with each other. The Macan and the GLC 43 AMG stack up head-to-head in terms of numbers. However, if observed closely, the Merc just inches ahead of the Porsche but then the Porsche has an upper hand as the maximum torque kicks in at a very low RPM. The SQ5 and X3 also narrate a similar story as the former two opponents.

Acceleration

The SQ5 delivers rapid acceleration from the smallest of throttle inputs. It goes from 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds and in the quarter-mile race, the SUV achieves the feat in an astounding 13.5 seconds. The DSG further adds to the quickness of the car because of low transmission losses and quicker shifts.

While these were just numbers, in real life, the throttle pedal of the SQ5 is too sensitive. With the peak torque kicking at almost idling RPMs, this could get a little scary in traffic conditions. Thankfully, you can set the crawling speed of the vehicle with steering mounted controls in order to ensure, that the vehicle keeps a leash on those horses unless you slam the pedal down. 

The BMW X3 M40i has the best acceleration of the lot and takes just 4.6 seconds to breach the 60mph mark. Even in terms of emission, the BMW X3 M40i is the most environment-friendly vehicle. The GLC 43 AMG is slower by twentieth of a second to 60 MPH but both, the BMW and Merc clear the quarter-mile mark in 13.4 seconds. The GLC's Biturbo setup sure pulls great beyond triple-digit speeds. The same goes for the VW sisters. The Porsche sprints to 60 MPH quicker than the Audi, but then the story changes at the quarter-mile mark.

Ride and Handling

Getting behind the steering of the SQ5, you must already have some expectations with it on the sportiness front. Yes, it is agile and quick and everything you expected. However, what will surprise you is how well it maintains composure for city rides, thanks to the adaptive air suspension setup. The throttle is a bit snatchy but you'll surely get a hang of it in a while. 

Come to spirited driving, the SQ5 surely impresses us with its good body control and grip over the road. However, the steering might feel a bit less responsive in corners. Riding over uneven and bumpy surfaces won’t be an obstacle due to the marvelous ground clearance (8.2inches) of the SQ5 which is the largest in its class.

You can opt for the optional adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning to ease up the driving. The car offers six driving modes: Auto, Dynamic, Comfort, Individual, All road and Lift/Off-road. These numerous variations give the rider a lot of options to choose their most suitable adjustments as per their needs.

Braking

The 2020 Audi SQ5 brakes as quickly as it gathers pace. Courtesy of big brake rotors and a well-tuned ABS and ESC program, the SQ5 comes to a dead halt in no time. What is furthermore impressive is the fact there is little nose dive or loss of grip while braking and the ESC, makes the SUV’s tail and body maintain a linear path rather than leaving a wobbly trail of burnt rubber. 

Although we don't have the exact numbers, but we believe that the SQ5 will adhere to its genes that the past generations were proud of. In terms of feel, you are always connected to the road even when you slam the brakes down. Yes, the pedal is a bit squishy and we liked it better in the Merc GLC 43 AMG but the bite is pretty confident that gradually increases with their application.

Speaking of the competition, the rivals aren’t far behind either. All the SUV’s in this comparison are separated by each other by just 1ft of distance and that showcases the amount of importance, given to braking performance. The Audi is, however, the heaviest of the lot and might get overpowered by the rivals here.

The 2020 Audi SQ5 shows a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the previous gen model. This time, it can munch 19 miles in a gallon of fuel inside city limits. Take it out on the highway and this number escalates to 24 MPG. With a combined mileage of 21 MPG, the SQ5 might be an improvement over its predecessor, but it still has a long way to go in this aspect.

BMW X3 M40i has the best mileage rating in this segment and it’s rated at 20mpg for the city, 27mpg for highway and has a combined mileage of 23mpg. The Porsche Macan offers the lowest MPG figures in this comparison while the Merc manages to avoid embarrassment by delivering a slightly higher MPG figure than the gas-guzzling Porsche. The Audi remains in second position just behind the Bimmer.

The SQ5 provides enough room for four adults to get comfy and offers plenty of upscale features, even on the base Premium model-CarandDriver.com

Ergonomics and Comfort

The SQ5 has a seating capacity of 5 people. The leather seats are well contoured and provide a good support for comfortable long drives. The driver and the front-seat passenger can get the precise seating position as per their requirements using the 12-way power-adjustable front sport seats. The front seats also feature 4-way power-adjustable lumbar support. There is ample room for your legs, knees and head. The front row is very spacious, so, getting in and out of the car is really easy. The rear row might get a bit congested but overall, Audi has plush and comfortable looking interiors. Also, the standard heating and ventilating functions of the front seats further increase the lux-appeal of the vehicle.

The interior of the car feels spacious and the leather upholstery on the seats give the car a lavish vibe. The high tech virtual cockpit is easy-to-use. The controls are placed right and are responsive. The fit and finish on the door sill trim and aluminum inlays on the dashboard scream money, and all the detailing gives the car a luxurious feel. A few cheap plastics could be felt under the dashboard, but that's just fine. You won't really mind them being there.

In terms of passenger volume, it's the Audi that takes the lead here. It has the most airy cabin out of the lot. The Bimmer follows it closely leaving the Merc for the third position. The Porsche stays out of discussion due to the lack of data in this regard.

Infotainment

As with all Audi Cars, there is a standard 8.0-inch full HD infotainment unit serving your entertainment needs in the 2020 Audi SQ5. It also happens to be one of the most technologically advanced MMI in the automotive world currently. There is also an optional 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit system that extends the oomph factor of the cabin (as shown below). Not to mention it brings a plethora of technology along with it as well.

Some of the few features of this System are:

• MMI Navigation Plus and All in Touch with Handwriting recognition technology
• 755W 19 Speaker B&O audio system with 3D sound with 16 channel amplifier
• Cruise Control with Coast, Resume and Accelerate feature
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play compatibility
• HD/SiriusXM/INRIX XD Radio and Traffic system
• SD Card slot with 64GB capacity
• Heads Up Display with Navigation and Assistance System Info
• Audi Pre Sense Basic and City
• Home Link Garage Door opener
• Bluetooth Connectivity and 2 USB ports
• Audi advanced Key and Voice Control system

Cargo and Towing Capacity

The cargo volume of the SQ5 is not the biggest but it’s certainly not the worst. The SQ5 offers a generous 25.1 cubic feet of space and can further liberate more space, courtesy of the 60/40 split-flat folding rear seats. There are plenty of small cargo hooks on offer for hanging those small packages while the Cargo area lamp, illuminates the same during dark times.

The average towing capacity in this class lies somewhere around 3,500 pounds. The SQ5 can pull as much as 4,400 pounds and that’s more than its own curb weight. So much for a utilitarian!

The BMW X3 is the most spacious vehicle in terms of cargo capacity. The SQ5 follows it and secures the second place. Third comes the Merc and Porsche's puny 17.7 earns it the last position in this comparison. In terms of towing capacity, all of the said vehicles are equally matched except for the Merc GLC 43 AMG which can only manage 3,500 lbs behind it.

Interior Features

Like the Infotainment System, the Interiors of the 2020 SQ5 comes loaded with a plethora of features in it. Some of those include:

• Three-zone Automatic Climate Control
• Leather Covered Center Console and Door armrest
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Tilt and Telescopic adjust steering with Paddle Shifters
• High Gloss Dark Brown Walnut Wood Inlays
• Auto-Dimming RVM with Digital Compass
• Ambient LED lighting
• 8 Way heated and power front seats with 4-way power lumbar adjust and memory for driver
• Sliding, Split Folding 40/20/40 rear seatbacks with adjustable recline
• Leather-wrapped gear selector, center console and door armrest
• One-Touch Up/Down Power Windows

This version is a little sharper on the corners, the nose is a little longer, and the grille is a little bigger, but it’s largely conservative-TheCarConnection.com

Design and Dimensions

The Audi SQ5 has a sporty yet classy exterior. The platinum gray single-frame grille with the Audi logo placed in between gives the front an elegant look. The beautiful wavy shoulder-line flows from hood to tail.

The 20-inch double-spoke star alloys add to the classy appearance of this luxurious SUV. The Sleek looking LED Headlights, add to the appeal of the SUV while the sharp lines running across the Body of the SQ5 gives it a sporty look.

Neither the longest nor the widest but the car has the largest ground clearance of 8.2 inches. The wheelbase of the car lies in the middle with a length of 111.2 inches. In contrast, Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 4Matic has the smallest ground clearance (6.7 inches) and the longest wheelbase (113.1 inches).

Exterior Features

The Audi SQ5 has been the leader in terms of innovations on offer and the exterior features on the 2020 SQ5 are a living testimony to the same. Following are some of the features of the exteriors of the 2020 Q5

• 20” Alloy wheels
• Full LED Automatic Headlights with Dynamic Range Adjustment
• LED Taillights with Dynamic Turn Signals
• Heated Windshield Washer Nozzles
• Powered ORVM with Auto Dimming, Power folding, Heating Functions and Integrated LED Turn Indicators
• Power Tailgate
• Body Colored Roof Mounted Spoiler

Audi doesn’t compromise on the safety front of its cars and the 2020 SQ5 is no exception. The 2020 Audi SQ5 packs in a lot of safety features as standard and Audi takes it a step forward with the advanced driver aids on offer. Based on the trusted MQB platform, the SQ5 leaves us with no doubt at all with its build quality. Furthermore, its chassis has been borrowed from the conventional Q5 but this one has been reinforced to contain the extra capabilities of the car.

Some of the few safety features include

• Front dual-stage, seat-mounted thorax airbags
• Side guard Head Curtain Airbags
• ABS with EBD and Brake Assist
• ESC with off-road mode, secondary collision brake assist and Traction control
• Anti-Theft Alarm with motion sensors and vehicle immobilizer
• TPMS with Electronic Parking Brake
• LATCH in rear seats with Integrated Child Door locks in rear doors
• Hill Descent Control

Audi Q5 vs BMW X3

The BMW has a slightly more powerful engine when talking in terms of horsepower. The SQ5 is overshadowed by the BMW in terms of acceleration, cargo space, and fuel economy. The BMW is costlier than the Audi but not by a big margin. The SQ5 however, outshines the BMW in the braking department. Of the two, if driving is your top priority, the BMW will suit your needs well. For everything else, it's the Audi.

Audi Q5 vs Mercedes Benz GLC

The engine of the Mercedes GLC 43 AMG is a far refined and powerful unit than that of the SQ5. The Mercedes is quicker to accelerate but except acceleration, the SQ5 performs better in every field when compared to the AMG GLC 43 AMG. The SQ5 has better braking, fuel economy and more cargo volume and towing capacity. Further, the SQ5 is cheaper than the Mercedes. The SQ5 here hence clearly wins.

Audi SQ5 vs Porsche Macan GTS

The Porsche Macan GTS has the least efficiency rating and also the least powerful brakes in the comparison. The Macan, however, gathers pace much quicker than the Audi but falls behind in the braking department. Also, the Macan costs a fortune more than the SQ5. There is by all accounts positively no explanation behind purchasing the Macan GTS over SQ5. The GTS might be a better handler of the two, but the SQ5 offers all of that for a much more subsidized price.

Staying true to Audi’s name, The 2020 Audi SQ5 comes stuffed with performance capabilities, while not missing out on the luxury front. Its sport-tuned suspension and chassis account for fabulous stability around the corners and the ride never gets spine crushing. In terms of the looks, the SQ5 scores high with its futuristic-looking headlights on the outside and a superb digital display on the inside. Summing it up, if you want a performance SUV that does not compromise on features, practicality, luxury, and comfort, the 2020 Audi SQ5 is one of the best SUVs that you can get right now.

FAQs

Does the Audi SQ5 come with AWD?

Yes, the Audi SQ5 comes mated to Audi's legendary Quattro AWD system which is standard across both trims.

Is Audi SQ5 reliable?

Backed by its German roots, the Audi SQ5 is based on VW's trusted and well-proven MQB platform which has already earned maximum ratings for safety in other vehicles. Its V6 motor is also a tried and tested motor that ensures hundreds of thousands of miles if pampered properly.

Does the Audi SQ5 come in Manual Transmission?

No, unlike its previous iterations, the 2020 Audi SQ5 features only the automatic 8-speed DSG transmission with paddle shifters.

Does the Audi SQ5 come with any warranty?

Yes, the SQ5 is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. For more information, please head over to the beginning of this page.