Audi has confirmed pricing and spec for its new Q5 models, with all variants available to order now ahead of first deliveries in April next year. While the bulk of initial sales will be taken by the 204hp petrol (from £49,950 as a Sport) or £51,600 diesel with the same power - at least until the plug-in hybrid arrives - the 367hp, V6 SQ5 model is the one of interest to PH. It’s priced from £74,400 in Edition 1 trim, presumably with more modest specs to follow.
The turbo V6 should shoot 2,040kg of SQ5 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds, with best scores of 34.9mpg and 185g/km said to be possible. Unsurprisingly given the connotations of an ‘Edition 1’ billing, these initial SQ5s will come loaded to the gunwales with kit, including 21-inch Audi Sport wheels, adaptive air suspension, organic LED rear lights, a pano roof, heated rear seats, cooled front ones and a B&O stereo upgrade. It’s gonna feel pretty plush.
While a launch spec makes exact comparisons with alternatives a little tricky, prospective SQ5 buyers won’t be short of other fast SUVs for £75k or so. The new BMW X3 M50 (398hp, 4.6 seconds, 36.2mpg) is probably going to be the closest rival, priced from £66,980 but easily nudged over £70k with paint, 21-inch wheels, BMW Individual leather and a tech pack. There’s also the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, with a 421hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid turbo - it’s from £73,190 as a Premium spec, or £83,190 as a Night Edition Premium Plus. While an older design, moreover, the 400hp Jaguar F-Pace 400 Sport probably shouldn’t be entirely discounted, either, especially with straight-six appeal.
And this is PH - it would be remiss not to mention canny lightly used buys. Because if you’re spending £75k on a fast SUV, and willing to accept something that might not have a Digital Stage, advanced electronics or a passenger display, check these out: a 2024, 2k-mile Stelvio Quadrifoglio, in the good green, for £69,788, or one of those gorgeous purple F-Pace SVR 1988s, with just 140 miles, for £78k. Maybe we’ll bring one along when SQ5 and X3 go head to head…
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