Audi SQ5 Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

The Audi SQ5 is a great choice for those seeking a sophisticated, understated, high-performance SUV. The design isn’t over the top and the subtle ‘S’ design elements are discreet nods to its potent performance. Some will prefer something more overt, of course – perhaps the firm will launch an RS Q5 in time?

If you’re after the ultimate in fuel efficiency, the Audi SQ5 maybe isn’t for you. It’s only available as a petrol mild hybrid with no plug-in electric capability. It means that Audi expects most will be sold to private buyers rather than company car drivers. 

However, for those who are not yet ready to make the switch to electric, the Audi SQ5 remains a compelling choice. Many of its rivals, such as the Porsche Macan, are now going electric, and this will probably be one of the last new high-performance SUVs Audi launches. Therefore, for some, it will be a matter of get it while you can! 

The Audi SQ5 is only offered in one model, the Edition 1. This range-topping version comes with all the extras as standard, meaning you don’t have to hit the options list to create the perfect SQ5 – it is ready straight out of the box. 

The SQ5 has a single engine choice, the 3.0-litre V6 TFSI that produces an ample 367PS. As with the previous Audi SQ5, it is petrol-only, with no diesel or plug-in hybrid alternatives. 

The Audi SQ5’s most obvious rival is the BMW X3 M50 xDrive. This too has a 3.0-litre petrol engine, this time a turbocharged straight-six unit rather than the Audi’s turbo V6. The BMW produces a bit more power, at 398PS, but the Audi is marginally quicker in 0-62mph performance. 

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is another direct alternative. It has a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine producing 420PS, for 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. There’s also a Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, but instead of a bombastic V8, this uses a highly-tuned four-cylinder turbo engine. It produces 680PS for 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, but enthusiasts don’t like it because it lacks character. 

The Porsche Macan remains on sale in petrol guise, with the V6 Macan S being the most direct rival to the Audi SQ5 – and it’s around £10k cheaper, too. The new Porsche Macan Electric switches to EV power. 

A leftfield choice is the effervescent Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, although this is even more expensive than the Audi. You could get a Maserati Grecale for less, although neither GT nor Modena has as much power or performance as the Audi SQ5. 

As the range-topping model in the Audi Q5 range, the Audi SQ5 has a suitably high-end level of quality and finish inside. While some of the plastics lower down are a bit hard, the upper-level surfaces are beautifully finished. We particularly love the suede-style Dinamica trim that covers the door panels and other trim sections. It is beautiful to the touch. 

The solid feeling of integrity is apparent on the move, too. The Audi SQ5 feels robust and built to last. The ‘S’ detailing adds a jewel-like feeling of added quality inside, although the swathes of gloss black plastic do chip away at the overall finish slightly – they’re fine when they’re clean, but less so when covered in fingerprints and dust. 

The Audi SQ5 uses the latest Audi Digital Stage infotainment. This freestanding curved glass screen features an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit driver display and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen. Both displays are bright and crisp OLED screens, which are brilliantly detailed and colourful. 

Unlike before, the new Audi SQ5 is now touchscreen-only – there’s no centre touchpad on the centre console. With its various menus, it takes a bit of familiarisation, although a vertical bar of shortcuts does help you navigate your way around. It’s a pity the heater controls are now located on the bottom of the touchscreen, rather than having physical dials and buttons. 

There’s a new built-in Audi app store, giving access to third-party apps. It also has over-the-air updates, and the always-connected system also has an improved Audi voice assistant, which the firm reckons can self-learn and boasts AI support to recognise more than 800 voice commands. 

The driver display is controlled by touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons. These, again, are fiddly, and there’s another set of new menu structures to get used to, although it becomes easier with experience. It’s a shame the full-screen mapping ahead of the driver is no more – it is now restricted to the central screen. 

An information-packed head-up display is worthy of note. It packs in readouts such as speed and sat nav instructions in a colourful and easy-to-understand way. It too is bright and crisp, and even uses the in-house Audi font. It’s one of the best head-up displays we’ve used. 

The Audi SQ5 has a standard 10.9-inch passenger MMI display, too. The idea here is to mirror the functionality of the centre screen, so they can set the sat nav on behalf of the driver while also allowing access to apps independently of the centre screen. The jury is still out on how useful it is. 

The Audi SQ5 has a standard Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound stereo. Sound quality is superb, aided by the quiet cabin of the Audi SQ5. Audi always seems to deliver exceptional audio when it teams up with Bang & Olufsen, and this is no exception. 

The latest Audi SQ5 is a bigger car than before, measuring more than 4.7 metres long, with an extended wheelbase compared to its predecessor. Add in the optimised design of the PPC platform, and it means more space and improved practicality inside. 

Those in the front will have no complaints, and nor will those in the rear, who get extra legroom thanks to the longer wheelbase. With lots of space for legs, knees and feet, there should be ample comfort, even for someone sitting behind a taller driver. Headroom is good, too – and the sleek Audi SQ5 Sportback has barely any less space than the more upright Audi SQ5 SUV. 

The Audi SQ5 SUV has a roomy 520-litre boot, which dips only slightly in the Audi SQ5 Sportback to 515 litres. With the rear seats folded down, there’s 1473 litres in the SUV and 1415 litres in the Sportback. The SUV has a squarer, more practical shape, particularly with the rear seats folded, making it the more useful choice, but the Sportback is still amply spacious. 

Both new Audi SQ5 have a rear luggage cover that can be removed and stored beneath the boot floor. They also have split-slide rear seats to balance passenger and luggage space – and the rear seats are folded via remote-control levers in the boot. 

The air suspension has a clever access feature, lowering by 50mm when you open the boot. 

The Audi SQ5 features a single 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine choice. It is paired with a standard S tronic seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, and quattro four-wheel drive is standard as well. 

The engine produces 367PS and a noteworthy 550Nm of torque. With the grippy quattro system helping traction off the line, it serves up 0-62mph performance in 4.5 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 155mph, where legal. 

The Audi SQ5 is fitted with Audi’s clever MHEV Plus mild hybrid system. This isn’t just there to improve fuel economy but also to boost power. It comprises a lithium-ion battery with a ‘powertrain generator’ connected to the gearbox. This alone can generate 24PS of supplementary power and a beefy 230Nm of additional torque. 

Already a responsive engine, this makes the Audi SQ5’s V6 motor even more alert. Small accelerator pedal inputs have an immediate effect, making the SQ5 responsive without feeling overly aggressive – such a nature is a key part of the Audi S ‘sophisticated performance’ mantra. You can ramp up the responsiveness even further by selecting Sport mode, which really gives it a sporting edge while also holding onto lower gears for longer. 

The MHEV Plus system means it can switch to engine-off pure electric mode in town for added refinement. The engine cuts in and out seamlessly at lower speeds, although it can be a bit jerkier and less fluid when you’re pressing on, where the gearbox can also get confused – again, this is good reason to leave it in Sport mode, which will also overcome the occasional surprise downshift from the gearbox. 

Because there’s so much turbo-assisted pulling power, you don’t need to rev the Audi SQ5’s engine to the redline all the time. Indeed, it’s generally happier if you don’t. Instead, enjoy the plentiful mid-range pull and the super-smooth hum of that sophisticated V6 engine. The quattro grip means you can use more of the power, more of the time – even in bad weather.

The Audi SQ5 has very powerful and responsive brakes, that inspire confidence on twisting roads. The brake pedal feel is less consistent at lower speeds, though, due to the MHEV Plus system’s energy regeneration. It can initially feel a touch light and grabby, although you do get used to it. 

The Audi SQ5 is a very refined car with low noise levels. Despite having beefy 21-inch wheels, road noise is hushed at speed, while the acoustic front glass keeps wind noise at bay. 

The engine is subdued in everyday driving, but more importantly, it sounds really rich and refined. Rather than a dull four-cylinder growl, the V6 purr feels upmarket and refined even when pootling around town. 

Those inside will barely hear the quad exhausts in Comfort mode. Switch into Sport, and they are more audible, with a deeper and more menacing noise. If you open a window, you’ll also hear a rich (but not OTT) flutter and burble from the exhaust when you lift off, which is a characterful trait for such a sophisticated car. 

The Audi SQ5, like the regular Audi Q5, hasn’t yet been tested by Euro NCAP. The new Audi A6 is related to both versions, though, and it has just scored a full five-star rating, with particularly high marks for adult and child occupant protection. 

There’s a good array of driver assistance functionality, including hill hold assist, front emergency brake assist and camera-based traffic sign recognition. ISOFIX mountings are standard on the front and outer rear seats. There’s a rear seat occupant reminder too, so you can’t ‘forget’ there’s someone in the rear when you leave (amazingly, some people do). 

The Audi SQ5 builds on the regular Audi Q5’s solid reputation for reliability. Although older Audis in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index perform poorly, newer models are much better, and we’re sure the Audi SQ5 won’t be any different. 

The Audi SQ5’s high-performance engine is also a well-proven design that’s used in other Audi models and has a good reputation for reliability. 

The Audi SQ5 has the standard three-year, 60,000-mile Audi warranty. This can be extended to four years and 75,000 miles or five years and 90,000 miles at an added cost. 

The Audi SQ5 has a group 45 insurance rating. This is high, but it still avoids the current group 50 top-tier rating. This means that although insurance costs will be higher than a regular Audi Q5, they shouldn’t be excessively expensive. 

With CO2 emissions of 190g/km, the Audi SQ5 has a first-year road tax rate of £1065. That’s high, but it could be worse – if CO2 was just 1g/km higher, it would be a first-year charge of £1650. 

After the first year, the Audi SQ5 will have the standard road tax rate of £190. However, because it costs more than £40,000, it is subject to the £410 Expensive Car Supplement between years two to six, taking the annual rate up to £600. 

The Audi SQ5 comes in a single Edition 1 trim level. Standard equipment reflects its range-topping status, with a huge amount of kit as standard. 

Notably, the Audi SQ5 gets the S adaptive air suspension as standard. This is key to its wide-ranging driving dynamics. Plenty of grip comes courtesy of the 21-inch black metallic multi-spoke Audi Sport alloys, which have a snazzy gloss-turned finish. These are set off by S exterior styling, including the enviable Audi S red rhombus symbol. The Audi SQ5 also has Audi rings front and rear finished in anthracite grey, plus black door mirrors, roof rails and four dark chrome tailpipes. 

The Audi SQ5 front sports seats are trimmed in perforated fine nappa leather with diamond stitching. They have integrated headrests and an ‘S’ embossed logo. The front seats are ventilated and heated, and the outer rear seats are heated. Front seats get pneumatic lumbar support with a massage function. The gorgeous Dinamica microfibre trim also features inside. 

Acoustic glass for the front door windows adds to refinement, and provides a great stage for the standard Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system. Meanwhile, a panoramic sunroof floods the sportily-trimmed interior with light. 

The Audi SQ5 has a standard head-up display, adaptive cruise assist plus with steering intervention (it automatically keeps you centralised within a lane, a safe distance from the car in front), while the 10.9-inch passenger MMI display is included. 

To help high-performance driving at night, the Audi SQ5 comes with standard Matrix LED headlights, which include active digital light signatures. For parking, a top-view camera is standard.