Blistering performance; ‘Quattro-sophisticated’ handling; stylish inside
Sports suspension calibration may be too firm for some
At the Audi HQ in Ingolstadt, the engineer with the very first SQ5 parked outside his office picks-up the telephone and calls his mate at BMW. “Righto matey, you bring that X3 M you’ve been hiding, we’ll meet at the front gate of the Nurburgring and its ‘mano-a-mano’ five laps, the loser buys the bratwurst and beers afterwards.”
Maybe? Probably not – for starters unfortunately there’s no X1 M that we know of.
But the bottom line is there’s a war going on between the German brands and buyers of high-performance European SUVs are the beneficiaries. Exhibit A: the astonishing Audi SQ5 – the world’s fastest diesel-powered SUV - at $89,500 a bargain.
This 230kW/650Nm V6 twin-turbo diesel mid-size SUV accelerates away faster than a Scotsman who hears someone say: “Your shout”, delivers Quattro-enhanced ride/handling and cocoons occupants in the hallmark Audi sporty luxury.
Cut to the chase here: any Audi wearing the ‘S’ badge commands attention.
Audi SQ5 Overview
The world’s fastest diesel SUV starts life as Audi’s slick Q5 mid-sizer – nicely styled in the Audi way. Things get interesting when the high-performance ‘S’ division arrives with that stonking V6 bi-turbo-diesel and a heap of other ‘go-fast’ goodies.
There’s lowered sports suspension, a sporty interior, exterior changes and the stylish four tailpipes to allude fellow motorists that the SQ5 is something special. But it’s all nicely subtle in the German way.
Audi SQ5 Engine
Anyone with a passing interest in motor sport knows Audi is dominating world Sports Car racing at the moment (six wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans) and those high-tech racers are powered by Audi turbocharged diesel engines. So when it came time to develop the engine for the SQ5…well the choice was obvious.
The 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 diesel is what makes the SQ5 the world’s fastest diesel SUV and without doubt it is one of the world’s best engines. Designed from the outset as a twin-turbo V6, the 3.0 TDI Biturbo has a flap joining the two turbochargers which are arranged in series and also features high-pressure common rail fuel injection which can inject up to eight partial injections into the cylinders.
Driving through Audi’s eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive, the SQ5 covers zero to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 6.8l/100kms.
Audi SQ5 The Interior
Inside the stylish Audi Q5 gets the ‘S’ treatment – starting with the hallmark leather-wrapped ‘S’ steering wheel, ‘S’ instrumentation, ‘S gear-lever and ‘S’ badges on the door sills.
‘S’ sports front seats are electronically adjustable and the Nappa leather used throughout is available in three colours. As usual with Audi, a sporty driving position is easily attained thanks to that seat adjustment and height/reach adjustment for the steering wheel.
For the trim highlights you can choose from brushed aluminium, carbon atlas or piano black.
Audio is a 10-speaker system with the usual connectivity and 20GB music storage. The colour screen doubles for the satellite navigation and is a seven-inch display.
Rear seat accommodation is surprisingly spacious and cargo capacity is on-par with others in the segment.
Audi SQ5 Exterior & Styling
The ‘S’ version of the Audi Q5 is identified by a platinum grey single-frame radiator grille, unique bumpers and roof spoiler.
As well, the 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 version of the Audi Q5 scores xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs, the four elliptical exhaust tail-pipes and aluminium look exterior mirrors.
Wheels are 20-inch alloys (21-inch on the options list for $3,600).
Audi SQ5 On The Road
Even if you’re totally ‘blah-blah’ about cars, one stab on the throttle of the Audi SQ5 will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. And with Quattro as your ally, mash the loud pedal on a wet road and that ‘thump’ you’ll notice will be your cranium connecting with the head-rest.
Sure, like other Q5s, Q3s, X1s and X3s, the SQ5 has all the wading competency of a Fiat 500 but forget the river crossings and desert treks – for starters there’s the 30mm lowered S sports suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 tyres - this SUV is all about blistering on-road performance. Mind you we’d happily take an SQ5 for a skiing holiday – we’d really enjoy those twisty mountain roads and the Quattro system will safely get you out of most snow drifts.
Of course it’s the way that 650Nm is delivered from just 1450rpm which makes the Audi SQ5 so good. Naturally Quattro eliminates wheelspin but the eight-speed Tiptronic is vital – snapping through virtually imperceptible gear changes in hundredths of a second keeps the V6 twin-turbo diesel on-song.
It’s been a while since we’ve driven a regular Audi Q5 so direct comparisons are difficult but the performance of the SQ5’s sports suspension over our high-speed mountain roads test loop was nothing short of astonishing. Flat, responsive, balanced and of course blended with the instant power delivery courtesy of Quattro.
A smidge of understeer at the very limit is an Audi Quattro trait. But in the SQ5 if you’re that close to the edge you’ve made a blunder somewhere beforehand – the limits in this thing are beyond reproach.
Audi SQ5 Challenges
Winter and recent rains have many of Melbourne’s roads again looking like ‘Pot Hole Central’ and the roads we use for our high-speed mountain loop are not immune. You can’t miss all of ‘em and certainly the firmly damped/tautly sprung Audi SQ5, like all performance cars, was on the harsh side.
Audi SQ5 Verdict
Quite simply there is no better high-performance mid-size SUV than the Audi SQ5. We’d heard on the ‘Bush Telegraph’ about the SQ5 but nothing prepares you for the phenomenal response when you first floor the throttle or the accompanying roar – enhanced by sound actuator admittedly - from the four tailpipes.
Mid-size SUV convenience, massive 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel, Quattro road holding and a classy interior…you have to love the Audi SQ5.
And remember while Audi rules the roost in Sports Car racing with its turbo-diesel racers - this is the ‘S’ division’s first crack at a TDI-powered vehicle and straight-away it’s the world’s fastest diesel SUV. Love to know what’s under development!
In the meantime, high-performance European fans with a hankering for an SUV should race to their nearest Audi dealer and plonk-down a deposit on an SQ5 – you won’t find anything like it.
Audi SQ The Competition
There’s an over-ride in the rivals for the Audi SQ5 – Mercedes-Benz’s all-new downsized SUV is on the way. No Australian details as yet…but it’s a ‘Benz so we know it will be brilliant.
Sadly BMW doesn’t do an ‘M’ version of the X3. So the 190kW/560Nm xDrive 30d ($76,500) is as close to sporty as the handsome X3 goes.
And of course Land Rover isn’t chasing SQ5 buyers with the Evoque - $75,375 for the ‘Prestige’ SD4 with its 140kW/420Nm 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel is as meaty as the ridiculously good-looking Evoque gets.
In a similar way, Volvo’s XC60 D5 R-Design ($72,490, 158kW/440Nm five-cylinder twin-turbo diesel) is excellent and sporty but not ‘SQ5’ sporty.
