Gallery
Pros
Cons
The original Q5 first appeared in 2009 and quickly became one of the brand’s most solid sales performers.
Redesigned for this year, the 2025 Audi SQ5 is the hottest performer in the lineup, with a turbocharged V6 under the hood to help set it apart. But could the brand have gone a bit farther — especially with this sportier offering?
Styling 6 / 10
The new look is slightly softer compared to its creased predecessor. Audi has been accused in the past of simply producing different lengths of the same sausage; for a spell, it was tough to tell an A4 from an A6 from an A8 in traffic, and that’s sort of the case here, too.
This tester, shod in Mythos Black metallic paint paired with a Black Optics package, is the epitome of German restraint; choose Navarra Blue or Grenadine Red if you’re looking to stand out.
Still, it’s not all German stoicism here. This author has read screeds from insufferable dweebs who say the illuminated badge, reflected on the rear glass upon braking, to be a visual blight. Nonsense. It adds a much needed dash of interest to the exterior, as do the make and model designations etched into its B-pillar areas. Less impressive is the new script Audi uses for its S logo.
Comfort 8 / 10
The visual drama ratchets up nicely inside, at least when shod with Nappa leather upholstery shaded in tremendous Arras Red. The quilting on these seats is absolutely gorgeous and neatly stitched with an abundance of soft-touch points where appropriate. Trim with a carbon-like weave dominates the dashboard and looks expensive — and it probably is. Not a single solitary soul carped about accommodations even on long road journeys; though, as with all entrants in this size class of vehicle, make sure to extensively test the rear-seat legroom before signing on the dotted line if your peanut gallery is of NBA stature.
Features 9 / 10
The top-rung Technik trim, a $2,500 walk from the Progressiv trim to basically add snazzier exterior lighting, features the likes of a power panoramic sunroof, tremendous 16-speaker sound system, and tri-zone climate control to keep arguing in the back seat to a dull roar. They get heated outboard perches back there as well. Audi has seriously stepped up its ambient lighting game in the face of what’s on offer from Mercedes-Benz, now permitting a mad mix of colours across multiple levels. Activating a turn signal illuminates a sequential strip of green in the appropriate corner. Luddites who don’t like this can turn it all off. (Killjoys.)
User-Friendliness 7 / 10
A bank of haptic-type non-buttons greet the driver on their door, commanding everything from the headlights to side mirrors; in fact, there are 18 separate controls here. That’s a lot to assimilate whilst driving. Meanwhile, the centre stack is where Audi has chosen to fastidiously sweep away almost all buttons, like when a frenzied spouse goes on an ADHD-fuelled cleaning fit. Save for gear that’s likely federally mandated, such as traction control and emergency hazards, there’s also a welcomed physical dial for audio volume.
Everything else is funnelled through one of several screens. A bright and responsive 14.9-inch infotainment display is the main attraction, deploying an operating system which is faster and better organized than previous efforts from Ingolstadt. A separate 10.9-inch tablet sits ahead of the passenger, serving up a bunch of redundant information but also allowing the person in that perch to issue navigation commands or play DJ. Necessary? Maybe not — but it’s a great party trick and delivers big bragging rights. Whether that’s important to you is a personal choice; this author thinks it is tremendous.
Practicality 8 / 10
There is a grand total of 782 L worth of cargo space behind the rear seat, aided by a clever folding arrangement which permits the centre section of that perch to be folded down independently in a 40/20/40 arrangement. This paid dividends when hauling a rolled queen sized mattress home from IKEA. Storage bins and the like are present for front-row occupants, though it’s hard not to wonder if Audi designers could have made better use of space around the new electronic gear selector instead of leaving it blank with piano black trim.
Power 7 / 10
Under the hood is a turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine making 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Those sums are increases of 13 and 37, respectively, compared to last year’s model. Audi says this should push the 2025 SQ5 to highway speeds from rest in about 4.5 seconds, a figure which feels correct whilst merging into Halifax’s increasingly congested highways. Is that enough? It feels greedy to make like Oliver Twist and ask for more, but the simple fact of the matter is that Mercedes serves up 416 hp in its AMG GLC 43 despite having two fewer cylinders, while BMW offers 393 hp (and a lot more torque) in its X3 M50.
Driving Feel 8 / 10
While the spec sheet might suggest the SQ5 needs more verve, there’s nothing wrong with the way it delivers. This V6 serves up its power in syrupy waves, paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that is as unintrusive as an attentive butler. Road manners are impeccable, with normal driving modes allowing this SUV to breeze along with a certain German seriousness. Poking at the drive select button to call up dynamic mode or a properly configured Individual mode does slightly firm the ride and sharpen response to driver input.
Fuel Economy 8 / 10
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) estimates a 2025 Audi SQ5 Quattro should return approximately 12.6 L/100 km in city environs, dropping to 9.8 out on the open road. Combined, expect something in the neighbourhood of 11.4 L/100 km, a sum just a couple tenths off what was managed here over a week’s driving. Audi recommends premium fuel, so budget accordingly.
Safety 8 / 10
Typical driver-assistance tools like adaptive cruise assist and lane departure warning work to keep the SQ5 shiny side up and drivers from talking to their insurance agents. The same goes for gear such as cross-traffic alerts, parking helpers, and emergency braking tools. Advanced headlights appear to illuminate the dark side of the moon.
Value 6 / 10
Only the uninformed would expect any Audi to be priced within reach of mere mortals, but an $86,000 as-tested bill requires smelling salts when applied to an all-wheel drive crossover of this size, brand be damned. The new Q5 family is closer in size now to the less-expensive Lexus NX than the RX, though neither of those models have anything remotely resembling the SQ5’s firepower. Crosstown rivals in Stuttgart have the aforementioned AMG GLC 43, a machine with slightly bigger dimensions and far more horsepower but a similar price tag to this Audi.
The Verdict
Germans aren’t always known for a sense of exuberant levity, so the 2025 Audi SQ5’s relatively restrained yet appropriately powerful personality fits that ethos well. Die-hard Audi fans seeking more flash in this price range should consider sampling a similarly-powered SQ5 Sportback which is more sport and less utility — in Navarra Blue or Grenadine Red, of course.
