Compact luxury SUVs are becoming increasingly popular among car buyers and they are here to stay. With this undeniable trend and with the never-ending need for speed and sportiness, it was only a matter of time before Audi launched an 'S' or 'RS' version of its 'Q' range of vehicles.
A stepping stone between Audi's standard models and the most athletic expression of the family (the 'RS' range), the 'S' treatment is available on virtually every Audi car. With the SQ5, the look and the performance have entered a new realm of compact luxury SUVs.
Unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show, the SQ5 is the first of the compact luxury SUVs to challenge the suburban 'soccer mum' stigma and pack a whole lot of performance into a non-threatening body.
Exterior
Unlike other S-tuned cars in its lineup, Audi played it quite conservatively when it came to the styling of the SQ5.
Pay more attention and you will be able to identify standard 'S' treatments such as the silver mirror caps, horizontal slates in the grille (vertical silver ones on the Q5) and front air intakes with a matt silver foglight surround.
For a little extra flair, the SQ5 also stands apart from lesser Q5 models with its sharply creased side skirt, rear matt silver diffuser housing oval quadruple exhaust pipes, split rear spoiler and 'V6T' logo written on the front fenders.
Besides the design, the dimensions of the SQ5 also differ from the regular Q5. Standing at 4,644mm by 1,911mm by 1,624mm (L x W x H), the SQ5 is 15mm longer, 13mm wider and 30mm lower than the regular Q5. The additional length comes from the sportier bumper design while the extra width is a result of a broader wheel track.
Interior
Inside, changes to the SQ5 are equally minimal but are nonetheless effective at relaying the car's athletic intentions.
Catching your immediate attention is the distinctive gauge cluster featuring grey dials with numbers illuminated in white and an aluminium needle, serving up vital information at a quick glance for a sporty car such as this one.
Engine start button is highlighted in red and this is paired with an exclusive SQ5 round shift lever knob. Completing this racy setup is a flat-bottomed steering wheel with enlarged shift paddles first seen on the Audi R8 as well as carbon fibre inlays throughout the cabin.
Inside, changes to the SQ5 are equally minimal but are nonetheless effective at relaying the car's athletic intentions.
Catching your immediate attention is the distinctive gauge cluster featuring grey dials with numbers illuminated in white and an aluminium needle, serving up vital information at a quick glance for a sporty car such as this one.
Engine start button is highlighted in red and this is paired with an exclusive SQ5 round shift lever knob. Completing this racy setup is a flat-bottomed steering wheel with enlarged shift paddles first seen on the Audi R8 as well as carbon fibre inlays throughout the cabin.
The Nappa leather dual-tone leather sport seats with contrasting stitching and the SQ5 logo embroidered onto the front seatbacks prove to be perfectly balanced - delivering the lateral support required for spirited driving with the comfort needed for long drives.
Despite the sporting objectives, the aspect of utility is not compromised either. As you would expect, there is plenty of room for passengers all round. This sporty SUV is also a good grocery getter with a total of 1,560 litres of available cargo capacity, including 540 litres with the rear seats in place.
The Drive
Perhaps there isn't an obvious racy appeal from the SQ5 on first glance but that isn't really an issue, because what really matters is the stuff that's underneath.
The SQ5 sports a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI V6 engine with direct injection, rated at 354 horses and 470Nm of torque. Bring it to life and a deep burble ensues, reaffirming that this is not the usual Q5.
Low-end torque is strong here and the SQ5 is quick, boogying from standstill to 100km/h in a whopping 5.3 seconds. That's a 0.6-second lead over the Q5 3.0 and 0.4 seconds faster than the Porsche Cayenne GTS 4.8.
The thrust is so linear that you are never clobbered with a giant wallop of torque or a crescendo of horsepower - speed is just served up effortlessly and smoothly.
And as the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission rips through upshifts under heavy throttle, exhaust flaps actuate, allowing the quad tailpipes to cut loose with a blat.
The real magic of the vehicle, however, is not how fast it can leave the pack behind. The charm of the SQ5 lies in the fact that it really shrinks around you as you drive it hard.
Perhaps there isn't an obvious racy appeal from the SQ5 on first glance but that isn't really an issue, because what really matters is the stuff that's underneath.
The SQ5 sports a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI V6 engine with direct injection, rated at 354 horses and 470Nm of torque. Bring it to life and a deep burble ensues, reaffirming that this is not the usual Q5.
Low-end torque is strong here and the SQ5 is quick, boogying from standstill to 100km/h in a whopping 5.3 seconds. That's a 0.6-second lead over the Q5 3.0 and 0.4 seconds faster than the Porsche Cayenne GTS 4.8.
The thrust is so linear that you are never clobbered with a giant wallop of torque or a crescendo of horsepower - speed is just served up effortlessly and smoothly.
And as the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission rips through upshifts under heavy throttle, exhaust flaps actuate, allowing the quad tailpipes to cut loose with a blat.
The real magic of the vehicle, however, is not how fast it can leave the pack behind. The charm of the SQ5 lies in the fact that it really shrinks around you as you drive it hard.
The whole experience feels very solid, taut and controlled with little roll and little sense you're in a compact luxury SUV - more like a large hot hatch.
Audi's Drive Select system for the electric power steering, throttle response and gear changing behaviour is also on board, offering four pre-set modes - Comfort, Dynamic, Auto, Efficiency and a user customisable Individual setting - giving drivers the option of changing the driving character of the car at their fingertips.
Unlike a car of its stature, the SQ5 feels highly planted and composed through bends and its firmer suspension also provides a ride that remains sporty yet comfortable for pockmarked pavements.
Conclusion
The SQ5 is a noble effort from the Vorsprung durch Technik people. It is effortlessly fast, surprisingly deft, comfortable and a confident performance vehicle.
The only setback here, like most cars now, is the price tag. At $335,050 (as of 5th Feb 2014), you'll have to fork out close to $170,000 as downpayment. And if you ask us, that's more than just your average chump change.
