Audi SQ5 vs Porsche Macan Diesel: Blood Bros
If it has to be a diesel crossover it may as well be a fast one but which wins this fraternal power struggle?
Diesels are the engines of choice in this sector of course, but that doesn't mean you'll be short-changed in terms of performance - especially with the Macan, or its even faster Audi SQ5 cousin. Built on similar underpinnings, the SQ5 offers a very similar package with an almost identical price. Waiting lists are playing a part in buying decisions as much as brand image though - you'll have to wait as long as 12 months for your new Macan S Diesel to be delivered, rather than just three or four months for a new Audi SQ5. But in spite of these current supply differences, there's actually very little else separating these two close relatives. The question is though - which is best?
Audi's SQ5 was the first of these two blood brothers to be shown to the public - on the eve of the 2012 Le Mans 24-hour race, subsequently dominated by Audi's R18 diesel and hybrid-diesel race cars. As Audi's first SUV to carry an S badge and also its first S-branded diesel, the SQ5 was a real ground-breaker.
Priced at £43,870, initial UK cars were delivered in the spring of 2013 offering owners the tantalising prospect of 313hp from a 3.0-litre bi-turbo diesel combined with four-wheel drive, 41.5mpg and relatively tax-friendly 179g/km CO2. Performance was every bit as impressive as expected with 62mph dispatched in just 5.1 seconds, courtesy of an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi's Quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The TDI V6 at the heart of the SQ5 features bespoke cooling plus unique intake camshafts and pistons. As standard the SQ5 features stop-start, 20-inch alloys, sports suspension (sitting 30mm lower than a standard Q5), Nappa leather, xenon headlights and subtle Audi 'S' body identifiers including the grille, mirrors and badges. A compelling package for the money then, one that's already being enjoyed by 2,852 delighted UK buyers.
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Porsche's Macan S Diesel arrived a year later and, alongside the petrol S and Turbo, was delivered to the first few UK buyers from April 2014. All three models came with Porsche's active all-wheel drive system and a PDK dual-clutch transmission as standard. The turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine in the Macan S produces less power than the Audi SQ5 though, with 258hp at 4,000rpm, enabling the Macan to accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds.
All Macans are produced at Leipzig and standard spec for the Diesel includes 18-inch alloys, Porsche Traction Management (PTM), Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with Hill Control plus Sport and Off-Road modes. The same 350mm front brake discs are fitted to both the petrol and diesel Macan S models, with rear braking provided by 330mm discs - complete with floating rear calipers. With the compact SUV sector so buoyant, demand for the Macan S Diesel has - not surprisingly - been very high. Porsche GB has delivered over 1,500 Macans to customers in the UK already, of which around 1,000 have been the Macan S Diesel.
And despite being premium rivals on the automotive high street both Porsche and Audi are refreshingly happy to talk about the common strands of DNA shared by the Macan and SQ5. From Porsche's perspective this is perhaps more surprising given its elevated brand status - but with over 60 per cent of UK Macans sold to people who have never owned a Porsche before, it's perhaps understandable. The Macan S Diesel in particular is responsible for opening up the Porsche brand to a new audience.
So just how much do these two rivals actually share in common? Well the Volkswagen Group MLB platform is the key component in both models, and Audi is responsible for the development of the MLB - like the smaller MQB, it's essentially a modular tool kit of components and systems for a number of Audi and Porsche vehicles with longitudinal engines. So elements of this architecture will be found under the skin of the next Audi A4, A6 and A8.
The underlying Audi platform is produced in Ingolstadt, whilst the Porsche Macan is built in Leipzig - utilising Audi's MLB components and systems. Porsche claims that over 75 per cent of the Macan's components are actually either new, totally unique to Porsche, or have been significantly updated by Porsche. And that includes of course the Macan's V6 diesel engine, which has been modified and specially tuned by Porsche engineers.
At first glance though, these two SUVs look they share the majority of their genetics. Both sit similarly on the road, big front grilles and large headlamps dominating, with large chunky mirrors and mildly aggressive faces completing the sporty SUV look. But each claims styling elements from its own brand. The boxier SQ5 follows Audi family tradition, boasting a huge corporate grille, a recognisably safe side-profile and a discreet smattering of SQ5 badges. The Macan too is relatively low-profile on the road, but still unmistakably Porsche. Arguably better looking than the Cayenne, it's a far sportier proposition, with the tapering rear roof line and shorter overhangs in particular marking it out from the larger Porsche SUV.
The SQ5 looks solid as a rock though, and feels it too from the driver's seat with predictably Teutonic build quality. Rapid yet dependable, the ride is firm yet smooth on most surfaces and there's a purposeful V6 growl from the four (!) exhaust pipes. Against a standard Q5 it's very good to drive, but pitted against the Porsche the SQ5 doesn't seem quite as rewarding - though quicker on paper it's not quite as progressive as the Porsche in terms of handling or performance, the ride quality can't quite match the Porsche either and ultimately it's less engaging. Many Audi buyers won't care though.
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Those seeking a sports car experience in a diesel SUV (yes, there seem to be a few) should look no further than the Porsche Macan S. It revs with real enthusiasm and a pleasing lack of inertia, the seven-speed PDK transmission is sharp and the dynamics are superb. With the £785 Porsche Active Stability Management and Sport Plus Mode selected the Macan's composure is second-to-none. The brakes are excellent too.
Both suffer from some turbo lag though, but it's the Porsche that continues to impress - its ride is supremely comfortable yet communicative, and the steering feels more precise. Furthermore, the Porsche's cabin is classier and arguably feels even more expensive than the Audi.
You'll have to pay for the privilege of owning a Macan S though, or have a degree of patience - limited supply means used ones currently trade at £54,000 or more, while lead times for new ones are still around 9-12 months. This should fall to around three to six months by the end of 2015 though.
If you are prepared to wait for a new order then please be warned - the asking price can rise very quickly if you're trigger happy with the options list. The Jet Black metallic car you see here for example comes with options totalling £13,545 (!) including metallic paint for £607, Sport Chrono (£728), black leather (£1,052), Porsche Communication Management ( £2,007), 20-inch wheels (£1,457), PASM (£785), adaptive sports memory seats (£1,214) and cruise control for £348 amongst others.
This elevates the asking price to a mighty £56,845. To match this spec our Sepang Blue Audi SQ5 started life at £43,725 and added nearly £6,000 of options, taking the OTR price to £49,540. But that's still a lot less than a new or used Macan S Diesel. Don't forget those shorter delivery times too.
However, if you're prepared to pay more now, or wait until Christmas for a conservatively-specced factory order then the more engaging Porsche is your best choice. And you can justify a Macan S Diesel with your head too - the Porsche actually boasts better fuel economy and emissions.
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AUDI SQ5 TDI
Engine: 2,967cc V6 bi-turbo diesel
Power (hp): 313@3,900-4,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 479@1,450-2,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Kerbweight: 1,920kg
Top speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.1secs
MPG: 41.5 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 179g/km
Price: £38,800 to £50,000
Manufactured: 2013-on
Love it: Power, performance, noise, relative value
Loathe it: Variable ride quality, numb steering
Spotted:SQ5 TDI, Blue, 30K miles, £39,999
PORSCHE MACAN S DIESEL
Engine: 2,967cc V6 diesel
Power (hp): 258@4,000-4,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 428@1,750-2,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK dual-clutch auto
Kerbweight: 1,880kg
Top speed: 142mph
0-62mph: 6.3secs
MPG: 46.3 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 159g/km
Price: £43,300 to £58,000
Manufactured: 2014-on
Love it: Looks good, drives like a proper sports car
Loathe it: Expensive options, lengthy waiting list
Spotted:Macan Diesel S, Agate Grey, 20-inch wheels, 9K miles, £54,850
Many thanks to Richard Papp for his assistance with this feature.
Photos: Tom Begley
I see a Sepang Blue SQ5 fairly often on the morning commute. Think it looks quite smart actually.
Wouldn't go near either with a barge pole though.
As to 'small' crossover, these look pretty big to me.
The profit generated by these cars keeps Audi and Porsche viable, which in turn makes the next few generations of R8 and 911 viable too. That's their true value to PHers.
Also, while many are bought for superficial reasons there are people who appreciate them as slightly nicer family boxes with high driving positions which are nicer to drive than a Nissan Qashqai. Not very PH but valid enough.
The profit generated by these cars keeps Audi and Porsche viable, which in turn makes the next few generations of R8 and 911 viable too. That's their true value to PHers.
Also, while many are bought for superficial reasons there are people who appreciate them as slightly nicer family boxes with high driving positions which are nicer to drive than a Nissan Qashqai. Not very PH but valid enough.
Example:- a friend of mine has always hankered after a 911, however marriage and family got in the way of the dream. Compromise? He took delivery of one of the first Macan Diesels in the UK and was told by the dealer that as long as he keeps it within the agreed lease mileage they will give him back the money he paid for it new if he brings it back to them after driving it for a year, effectively meaning he gets the experience of owning something with a Porsche badge for a year for free. His wife loves it too so happy days there. Having now enjoyed the car for a few months he intends to now give the car back and buy two cars, one being a 911.
I'd say that's a win all around.
You could get 45 cars for the price of one of these - more even, if you had the reddies, hardly the same though is it?
In so far as these cars are concerned, they aren't really for me, if I needed a bit of room, 4WD and a turn of pace at this price point I'd have a Volvo V60 Polestar instead, the fuel economy might be crap but who cares about that? Available for £41,000 pre registered now, too.
Actually think both would be nice for pootling around North Devons narrow roads, sit up high for a great view and plenty of grunt for getting past grockles, lovely and in some ways like the Golf country I used to have in Germany which was not exactly off road biased, except they are like everything getting so dash wide, just makes me wince when thinking of how much time I spend scraping along hedgerows to get past other traffic and all that lovely paint getting scratched to heck!
The profit generated by these cars keeps Audi and Porsche viable, which in turn makes the next few generations of R8 and 911 viable too. That's their true value to PHers.
Also, while many are bought for superficial reasons there are people who appreciate them as slightly nicer family boxes with high driving positions which are nicer to drive than a Nissan Qashqai. Not very PH but valid enough.
The cars themselves are not an issue, they are a valid proposition, each to their own.
I just don't see why a site like PH seems to write so many articles about them.
If I want to read about small diesel SUVs I'll log on to Caravan World or Mumsnut...
Yawn.
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