The redesigned 2018 Audi Q5[1] made its debut last year at the Paris auto show, so it was no mystery that a new version of the performance-minded SQ5 variant was on the way; we just didn't know when. It turns out that when is now. Audi brought out the SQ5[2] as one of the few surprises at the 2017 Detroit auto show[3]. It arrives lighter, more efficient, and with a new approach to achieving adequate power. It looks a little spiffier as well.
Body by Germany
The SQ5 has lost weight—77 pounds compared with the previous model—but not to the extent of the nearly 200 pounds cut from the 2018 Q5. The company says the SQ5's weight loss comes from the use of more aluminum in the structure and the fact that the SQ5's engine is 30 pounds lighter than before. At 183.9 inches long overall, the SQ5 is nearly an inch longer than the previous SQ5, while the 111.2-inch wheelbase is 0.7 inch longer. It's 0.7 inch narrower and an inch lower, too.
The SQ5 adopts the base Q5's exterior looks but adds a few extra pieces to spice up the looks. More aggressive bumpers give the crossover a more edgy appeal, and the new trapezoidal grille falls in line with the rest of the Audi family. The SQ5 also has sporty air intakes and a front spoiler. The double aluminum-slatted radiator grille is specific to the S range, and red accents help identify the sport models, too. In the rear, the S brings twin exhaust tailpipes with an aluminum diffuser clasp. Both front and rear lights are LED.
So Long, Supercharger
The 2018 SQ5 moves from a supercharger to a turbocharger for force-feeding the 3.0-liter V-6, but a reworked combustion process also ups the output. The 2018 SQ5 has the same 354-hp rating as it did with the supercharger, but the torque figure jumps from 347 lb-ft at 4000 rpm to 369 lb-ft at 1370 rpm. Audi claims the same 5.1 seconds from zero to 60 mph as for the previous SQ5, a figure we couldn't match in track testing[4]. The claimed top speed remains unaltered at an electronically governed 155 mph, although we saw only 152 mph in our test of the previous edition. An eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters delivers torque to Audi's Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system, which biases torque toward the rear axle during regular driving conditions. A sport differential with torque vectoring is optional and can be adjusted with the car's Drive Select system.
Audi claims that the new SQ5 will get a combined 27 to 28 mpg on the optimistic European test cycle. Expect an improvement when we get U.S. EPA ratings compared with the 2017 model's 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. This engine, the same one used in the latest Audi S4[5], employs a higher compression ratio with high-pressure injectors, all in the name of efficiency and reduced emissions.
Drive Dive
Both the front and rear of the 2018 SQ5 use five-link suspension setups, and driving dynamics are further dialed in with adaptive damping control, again integrated into the various drive modes. As an S-specific option, an adaptive air suspension allows drivers to change the ride height of the vehicle on command. The electrically assisted steering has been tuned for a sportier feel, and optional dynamic steering will alter the response on the fly based on driver inputs and vehicle speed.
Planting the SQ5 to the ground are 255/45 tires on cast-aluminum 20-inch wheels as standard. For a bigger stance, Audi offers 21-inch wheels as an option, and Audi Sport offers five differently designed 21-inch wheels as well. Behind those rims are black S-branded six-piston, fixed-caliper brakes and 13.8-inch discs.
Saucy Seating
The first things drivers will notice on entry into the SQ5 are the S-branded illuminated doorsills. The standard seats in the S are upholstered in faux suede and real leather, and both the seats and the steering wheel have contrast stitching. Nappa leather (it feels softer) seats with diamond quilting and massagers are optional. Throughout the cabin, brushed aluminum inlays are standard, with wood or carbon-fiber trim options. The shift paddles are "aluminum look," and the pedals and dead pedal are made of stainless steel.
The 2018 SQ5 has plenty of tech features to aid drivers. Among them are adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist for speeds under 40 mph, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, and pedestrian detection with automated emergency braking.
There's no word on pricing yet, but the 2018 Audi SQ5 3.0 TFSI will arrive in German showrooms in the middle of this year and should reach the U.S. market soon thereafter.
References
- ^ redesigned 2018 Audi Q5 (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ the SQ5 (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ 2017 Detroit auto show (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ we couldn't match in track testing (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ the latest Audi S4 (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ View Photos (www.caranddriver.com)
- ^ View Photos (www.caranddriver.com)
