Audi does able-bodied with its Q5 exceptional SUV, consistently affairs able-bodied in the insatiably accepted chic founded by rivals from BMW and Lexus with solidity, glassy architecture and barbarous efficiency. Yet the Q5’s array has never been as ample as that of some of its rivals, befitting aberration to a minimum and best models about sensible, after achievement flagships or absurd administration to about-face anyone off.
Or that was the case until recently, with Audi alone now chief to barrage an SUV-cum-coupe Sportback another alongside the second-generation model’s facelift. The administration is mostly based on that of the accepted SUV, but pairs an abnormally shaped glasshouse and actual abbreviate rear end to actualize a tortoise-like silhouette. You can accomplish up your own apperception whether you anticipate it a acknowledged transformation.
Together with this new anatomy style, Audi has additionally reintroduced a diesel-powered SQ5 another to alter the antecedent petrol – an agent that was brought into the UK from American-market SQ5s to ample in the gap amid the antecedent agent actuality off the alley due to aldermanic reasons.
The new agent is the aforementioned mild-hybrid another additionally begin in the S4, S5, S6 and S7 models, packing 336bhp from a twin-turbocharged 3-litre V6 akin to an eight-speed automated manual and quattro all-wheel-drive system. The mild-hybrid arrangement is a about abundant one, featuring a baby chip amateur generator-style electric motor that not alone assists at low rpm, but additionally gives a attenuate addition beneath adamantine acceleration.
On the road, while its 336bhp array of makes an impression, it’s the 516lb ft of torque from 1750rpm that’s acquainted with far added force, slingshotting the SQ5 bottomward the alley with absolute urgency, alike admitting the agent doesn’t feel like it’s alive adamantine to accomplish it. You accept to be patient, mind, as alike admitting it’s affiliated to the auto via a aciculate torque-converter automatic, the turbos charge time to acknowledge to the throttle, sometimes abrogation you aerial and dry back you alarm for absolute shove.
Smooth out your inputs and accord the turbos some time to spool, though, and its adeptness is actual impressive. Back accumulated with the arresting clarification and a abroad yet able agent beef (with the weird, throbby aggrandized agent complete switched off, of course) it makes for a superb long-distance cruiser that’ll additionally breach 45mpg. This is area the SQ5’s at its best, steamrolling bumps at acceleration and acceptance you time and activity to acknowledge the alluringly complete berth and all-round premiumness that emanates from every breach of the bendable and adhering leather.
Peel off the motorway and the anatomy is beneath impressive. Despite accepting bigger council weighting and antecedent acknowledgment compared to a BMW X4 M40d, the anatomy itself still exhibits that hardly blurred and above affection that the X4 and added rivals such as the Porsche Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio are able to avoid. It feels like there’s added accumulation complex than there absolutely is, and you can feel it back loading the anatomy over aflutter surfaces, as the sidewalls alpha to accord in and address bigger bumps through the chassis.
Start to over-drive the car and it won’t acknowledge like the Porsche and BMW either, absolute a nose-led antithesis that the anatomy contrarily does a acceptable job of hiding. Vorsprung models, like the one we drove, affection air suspension, giving you added options in agreement of ride height, but as a bribery introduces that crabbed agitate that afflicts about all air-sprung cars, abnormally those with aerial unsprung weight, which this does on its 21-inch wheels.
So the SQ5 Sportback isn’t a sports car, yet it was never absolutely meant to be, but contrarily nails the abrupt of actuality a fast, able-bodied and adequate cruiser that’s additionally able to hit some appealing absorbing abridgement numbers back apprenticed sensibly. Yet while its abridgement of active accomplishment at aerial speeds will be abundantly unimportant to abounding buyers, for us it’s absurd to avoid back abounding of its rivals are clearly better.
Audi SQ5 Sportback models are accessible in two blueprint in the UK, with a abject car starting at £60,635 and absolutely loaded Vorsprung models hitting £75,785. All SQ5s accept a big advance of accepted features, but the Vorsprung’s air springs, OLED rear lights, Bang & Olufsen complete system, across-the-board roof and 21-inch auto up the ante. Its atramentous anatomy sections and account additionally advice the aesthetics, camouflage the SQ5’s affected detailing.
In agreement of rivals, BMW’s X4 M40d is an accessible and absolute another that has additionally aloof been accustomed a midlife update. Priced from £61,460, it’s hardly bigger able than the abject SQ5, and back specced appropriately will attenuate the Vorsprung at the high level. Porsche doesn’t action any agent Macans in 2021, but the new £64,770 GTS is by far the added dynamically able SUV and will authority its amount bigger to boot.
Alfa’s Stelvio Veloce Ti is acceptable to drive, but baffled by its lacklustre four-cylinder engine. However, if you can amplitude to the £74,949 Stelvio Quadrifoglio, you’ll accept with you the best administration SUV on auction appropriate now, and one of the coolest.
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