Audi SQ5 - any PH'ers bought or thinking of buying one?

[afinman]

Ranger 6 said:

It's all quite deceptive - people I know who had D3s told me they weren't slow, but a bit of digging shows the following 0-60 times (from the Parkers website)

I tried the 4.2 and 3.0 Touaregs back to back at Millbrook and found while the V8 had very good grunt the extra weight of the engine made itself known in the twisties. Personally I preferred the agility of the 3.0.

An interesting comparison to the 520d - the D4 is only marginally slower

D3 2.7 TDV6	11 sec
D4 3.0 TDV6	9 sec
520d	8.4 sec
Touareg 3.0 V6 (245bhp)	7.4 sec
Q5 3.0	6.3 sec
X3 3.0d	6.0 sec
Touareg 4.2 V8	5.6 sec
X3 3.0d bi-turbo	5.6 sec
SQ5	4.9 sec

Interesting table, but really? These are not perfomance cars by any stretch of the imagination. The 520d is a rep mobile company car market arse kisser. The D4 weighs 3.2 tonnes! The Q5 I drove which was 12 months old was averaging 30mpg on my run which is only 4mpg better than the Disco.

I will concede the bi-turbo engine is awesome, but I'm happy with the Disco for now. Roll on the M5!

[josedebardi]

Hi,

I have an SQ5 on order - hoping to take delivery in the next 10 days.

I recommend you look at http://www.myaudiq5.com if you haven't already. 1 guy in Belgium took delivery a week ago and has posted his thoughts after the first 1000 and 3000 miles. The first 2 UK members also took delivery yesterday and today (18th April was the first date Audi UK would allow delivery) so looking forward to hearing their thoughts!

Delivered SQ5 threads;
http://www.myaudiq5.com/index.php/topic/2973-sq5-f...
http://www.myaudiq5.com/index.php/topic/3018-my-fi...
http://www.myaudiq5.com/index.php/topic/3011-one-m...

The built-in site search has a minimum 4 character limit - but Google will let you find all the SQ5 threads. There has been a lot of discussion on it over the last couple of months;
http://www.google.co.uk/#safe=off&tbs=qdr:m&am...

Edited by josedebardi on Wednesday 24th April 18:14

[mondie]

Thanks mate for posting those links, I am keen to have a read. Please post back with your opinions after taking delivery of your car.

[josedebardi]

I see you are in Aberdeen. Your local Audi had 4 in the show room this week. The guys on myaudiq5 (Zed and missile) that took delivery this week are local to you. I'm sure they'd be more than happy for you to take a look and take you for a spin if the dealer doesn't have a demonstrator yet.

[Ranger 6]

afinman said:

Interesting table, but really? These are not perfomance cars by any stretch of the imagination...

No, you're right they're not performance cars.

My point was that there's actually quite a large difference in performance across the various 4x4s listed.

However, if you're wanting a bit of grunt then 4 of them have a 0-60 of less than 6 seconds which for a 4x4 is pretty good. The SQ5 at under 5 seconds could be compared with some sports cars which have similar figures - it's an interesting list; Evo FQ300, Lotus Evora, VXR8, XKR, AM V8V, SLK55, etc etc

[mondie]

josedebardi said:

I see you are in Aberdeen. Your local Audi had 4 in the show room this week. The guys on myaudiq5 (Zed and missile) that took delivery this week are local to you. I'm sure they'd be more than happy for you to take a look and take you for a spin if the dealer doesn't have a demonstrator yet.

Thanks mate, I will join up on the other forum that has been linked to and introduce myself. Might try ad get along to Aberdeen Audi next week for a look, first I need to determine if the car is large enough for us as I have concerns the rear may be too small

Cheers
mondie

[Kell]

It would seem like Audi is expecting all their drivers to be b4st4rds.

The type that would just drive off when this happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goc3giF2-oE

[MacG]

Picking up the wife's SQ5 today. Quite excited. Obviously ordered 'blind' as the dealers have only just got their own cars. But drove a Bi-tdi A6 to get a feel for the engine - and now relieved to read a couple of pretty positive reviews (4 stars seemingly being the consensus).

Will probably have to let Mrs Mac drive home from the dealership as it is nominally her car, but will be leaving her and the nippers at home later for some solo familiarisation!

[Dr G]

I can imagine it being (in true Audi style) a really, really good all rounder.

Let us know your thoughts

[DMS1979]

got mine last week - loving it

[MacG]

Dr G said:

I can imagine it being (in true Audi style) a really, really good all rounder.

Let us know your thoughts

Exactly that. Have not driven it much yet, but liking it a great deal so far. Traded out of a Range Rover Evoque into this and, with the sole exception of the comparative 'plain Jane' looks, everything else seems better (either slightly, or dramatically). The Evoque was a really good car, and I am not going to start bhing about it just because we have sold it, but the SQ5 is a cut above.

NVH in the SQ5 is certainly way better, interior quality is incomparable (even though it is not quite Audi's state of the art) but most importantly the drivetrain is an absolute feature, rather than being an Achilles heal. I realise the Evoque is getting a new gearbox (which should deal with the shocking fuel consumption), but that will not stop it feeling a bit agricultural. The Evoque arguably feels a bit lighter on its feet, but the SQ5 feels solid and very planted. I also think the Audi's suspension seems more pliant, albeit based on my local (and somewhat unscientific) speed table assessment.

The Evoque still turns heads, while the SQ5 will pass almost unnoticed (other than by PH'er-type cognoscenti), but unless avantgarde exterior looks are critical, the SQ5 is unquestionably the better car.

The engine is a gem. It can be really frustrating running in a petrol performance car as you know you are missing out on a heap of performance, but in the SQ5 it can gather pace at a fantastic rate without making you feel guilty about thrashing it.

Time will tell whether the new car afterglow turns into long term (by my standards) 'love', but so far it is very encouraging. My other recent purchase may see a bit less action in the next few weeks, as long as my wife doesn't hog 'her' car too much.

[josedebardi]

Had mine just over a week now...
My first thoughts and some pics here http://www.myaudiq5.com/index.php/topic/3065-t-18-...

[Dr G]

MacG - useful info and comparison there.

Jose - I spotted your comments on Q5 forum recently. Also interesting to read

[paras]

Hi all, great forum!!

I am waiting for y SQ5 (due late June, cant wait) and was wondering if you had tried your car off-road.
I dont intend to use it under extreme off road of course but will eventually drive through wide tracks and snow and I havent been able to find any test / user review that describes the SQ5s off-road capabilities (or where its limits are)

Many thanks!!!

[GruntyDC5]

Saw one of these in Aberdeen at the weekend. It's a very nice looking thing for a mid-size SUV.

[vjj]

mondie said:

Must admit I find the new SQ5 a tempting proposition. A great mix of grunt, looks, economy and practicality with a typically nicely designed interior.

Anybody driven one, bought one or thinking of taking the plunge? if so fill me in

Cheers
mondie

Just bought this SQ5 - chopping in the A6 Avant.

SQ5 has tech pack high, drive select, DAB,etc etc - got a fair price for my A6 Bi Turbo avant S-line - which was too low and giving me grief getting out (30 years of scrummaging ain't too good for the back).

SQ5 seat base is 10 inches higher so should be easier on the old back.

They will be retailing my A6 Bi Turbo at 42500 so if anyone wants it you can have it for 40k(mega spec,daytona grey, RS alloys, one owner, 15000 miles,FSH mint)

Just hope this magnificent engine is as good in the Q5.........

Edited by vjj on Monday 13th May 20:33

[va1o]

Anyone else find the TDI badge on the rear just a little bit annoying? Maybe its just me being OCD but it doesn't need to be there IMO and the S petrol models don't have a TFSI badge.

Otherwise looks good

[Ranger 6]

I'd take both badges off TBH - people don't expect a mid-size 4x4 to have anything more than a 2.0 so it would be totally stealth (except for the exhausts and noise of course )

[y2blade]

DMS1979 said:

got mine last week - loving it

Lovely

All the best with it.

[josedebardi]

I am having the TDI removed by my dealer... Annoyingly the factory option is all or nothing and I want to keep the SQ5.