2021 Audi SQ5 review: A little more S, please

The Audi SQ5 certain sounds sweet on paper. It has 88 more horsepower than the common Q5, complemented by an additional ninety six pound-toes of torque. The SQ5 will even do the -to-sixty-mph jaunt a whole second more rapidly than its fewer-potent sibling. But truthfully, you’d by no means know.

For all the things the SQ5 does nicely, it has a significant deficiency in just one key location: drama. It is really a problem that is not one of a kind to the SQ5 several of Audi’s sporty types are simply also buttoned-up for their individual superior. But this lack of visceral excitement looks especially egregious in the SQ5. And which is a disgrace, simply because objectively talking, this compact luxurious crossover is truly superior.

The SQ5’s 3.-liter turbocharged V6 would make 349 hp and 369 lb-ft — very big raises in excess of the common Q5’s two.-liter I4. Audi claims the SQ5 will hit sixty mph in four.7 seconds, which is just as speedy as its two primary opponents, the BMW X3 M40i and Mercedes-AMG GLC43. The difficulty is that the V6 provides future to nothing in the way of aural accompaniment. There’s no hearty engine note, no raspy exhaust. There’s no authentic turbo punch, both, just a precise and linear software of thrust. The SQ5 is potent, but every little thing is so sleek and predictable, it will not really feel potent.

Almost everything else about the SQ5’s driving practical experience is a comparable story. The trip excellent is super sleek, the system will not roll beneath tricky cornering and the brakes are surefooted and strong. The steering is very mild and totally numb, and though the SQ5 can maintain its individual if you acquire a corner speedily, this SUV just will not really feel like it cares about obtaining a superior time. It is really a straight-A college student held back by its individual apathy.

If you will find an upside of this shrug-and-a-meh enthusiasm, it is that you can uncover it quick to meet up with and exceed the EPA’s gasoline overall economy estimates. Considering the fact that the SQ5 will not goad you into driving with gusto, you can have no trouble matching the 18 miles per gallon town, 24 mpg freeway and 20 mpg mixed rankings. In fact, after a 7 days of tests, I averaged 24 mpg. You won’t get that in a GLC43 or X3 M40i. Then once again, you won’t be obtaining as a great deal entertaining.

Fittingly, I suppose, the SQ5 will not seem all that sporty, however I’m not also upset about that. The common Q5 is a handsome thing, and the SQ5-particular updo is tasteful. The lower air intakes seem relatively more intense, and 20-inch wheels arrive common, with more substantial 21s obtainable if you’ve got received excess cash to blow. The SQ5 receives all of the foundation Q5’s 2021 model yr styling enhancements, also, such as redesigned headlights with common LED illumination and a modestly tweaked rear bumper and diffuser. There are some new hues on the possibilities list, as nicely, such as the great District Eco-friendly you see right here.

The SQ5’s inside is a whole lot like its exterior: Thoroughly clean and handsome, with minimal in the way of superfluous flair. This test motor vehicle is unfortunately awash in a sea of black and gray resources, which would make the complete cabin seem very dark and drab. (Bolder colour schemes are obtainable.) Also, there are five or six distinct shades of gray in this illustration — the dash, door cards, seize handles, seats, carbon fiber trim and piano black console are all ever so a little distinct from just one another. If this monochromatic tapestry is supposed to incorporate visual curiosity to the SQ5’s cabin, it undoubtedly will not do the job. At the very least all the things you can really contact are truly higher excellent, and the buttons and knobs on the center console have a fulfilling click to their motion.

Up entrance, the leather activity seats are super cozy for long drives. Rear travellers won’t have anything to complain about, both, except they’re 95th-percentile tall. The SQ5 provides twenty five.8 cubic toes of cargo area with its rear seats upright, which is more than the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 but fewer than the BMW X3 M40i. Fold the seats flat and you can have 54.one cubic toes of area to do the job with, although in this configuration, equally the BMW and Mercedes present more place.

The Q5’s 2021 model yr update brings up-to-date infotainment tech to the party, with Audi’s MIB 3 multimedia technique housed on a 10.one-inch touchscreen atop the dash. I really like this interface — it is neatly organized, colourful and dazzling, and most importantly, speedy to answer to inputs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are equally common, as nicely, however only the previous connects wirelessly.

The infotainment is not the cabin’s most impressive bit of tech, by the way. That honor goes to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which is not a new bit of infotainment wizardry, but it is even now just one of the finest. A 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster sits powering the steering wheel, giving Google Earth maps and tons of car and multimedia knowledge. You can deal with a whole lot of the infotainment large lifting through this interface, with no ever needing to acquire your palms off the steering wheel.

Talking of tech, the SQ5 will come with lane-departure warning, blind-place monitoring, rear cross-traffic inform and forward collision warning common. You’ve received to pony up for a increased trim amount to get niceties like whole-pace adaptive cruise control, lane-trying to keep support, parking support or a 360-degree digicam, which feels like a bummer on a luxurious SUV that starts at $fifty three,995 (such as $one,095 for place). I will remind all the luxurious carmakers that a whole lot of people possibilities arrive common on fewer-high priced Hondas, but whatever, you do you.

Go for the gold and you can possibility a 2021 SQ5 Status like my test motor vehicle up earlier mentioned $70,000. With things like the S Activity pack, dynamic steering, 21-inch wheels, Black Optic pack and Nappa leather seats, the SQ5 pictured right here will come out to $seventy one,790 delivered. Oh, and if you want all this SQ5 goodness in a more eye-catching but fewer purposeful condition, Audi will sell you the complete package and caboodle in swanky new Sportback guise for an excess $3,two hundred.

In the long run, simply because the SQ5 lacks so a great deal in the way of uncooked entertainment, I’m not truly certain it provides adequate of a draw in excess of the common $44,395 Q5. Basically, if it is outright electric power you’re after, the Q5 plug-in hybrid need to be your jam, with 362 hp, 369 lb-ft, 19 miles of all-electrical selection and far better general gasoline overall economy. Did I mention the Q5 PHEV also prices $one,000 fewer? The 2021 SQ5 is a champ at its core competencies, but with no any added emotion, I are not able to feel of a cause to get it in excess of Audi’s now-excellent Q5.