Audi SQ5 diesel SUV returns

Powered by a muscular 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine punching out 255kW and 700Nm, the 2021 Audi SQ5 TDI medium-sized luxury SUV will return to Australia in November.

The high-performance turbo-diesel variant will join the 260kW/500Nm petrol-powered Audi SQ5 model after more than three years in the wilderness. Not only will it out-torque the turbo-petrol model, it will cost more too.

Starting at $104,900, the Audi SQ5 TDI is $3764 more than the petrol-powered $101,136 SQ5 TFSI but offsets the increase with more standard equipment, including matrix LED headlights and massaging front seats.

Audi Australia’ managing director, Paul Sansom, said customer demand was the driver behind the Audi SQ5 TDI quattro’s return.

"In 2013, the first SQ5 TDI established a new segment of performance [diesel] SUVs and was incredibly popular throughout its lifetime: for a while it accounted for a third of all [Australian] Q5 sales," he said.

"Since then, the new Audi SQ5 TFSI has taken its place and has also proven popular, however some of our customers have yearned for the returned of the iconic SQ5 TDI. We're pleased to be able to meet their request..."

Audi will launch a facelifted Q5 range from around February 2021, debuting a new look with ‘dancing’ organic LED lights and several other high-tech other upgrades, while the SQ5 will continue as the pre-facelifted model.

However, Audi now has a two-pronged attack strategy to take on the BMW X3 M40i and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, both around $10,000 more expensive than the Audi.

The SQ5 TDI’s brawny diesel V6 propels the mid-sized luxury SUV to 100km/h in a rapid-fire 5.1sec; three tenths of a second quicker than the petrol SQ5.

Power reaches all four 21-inch alloy wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

The sound actuators located in the exhaust system returns to add a little razzle to the dazzle, while a self-locking centre differential defaults to a 40:60 torque split front to rear and is able to push that ratio to 15:85 under hard acceleration. There’s also an optional quattro sport differential.

Using a 48V mild-hybrid system, the SQ5 is relatively efficient given its athletic sprinting ability, with an average (claimed) fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km which is significantly less than the 8.7L/100km of the petrol SQ5.

Given there’s no tyre-frying Audi RS Q5 model-grade yet, both SQ5 models represent the top-spec Q5s and equipment levels are suitably generous, including a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, an 8.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power-adjustable Nappa leather sports seats, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound sound system, wireless phone charging, head-up display, panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, proximity entry with push-button start, a powered tailgate and colour-adjustable LED cabin lighting.

Driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and semi-autonomous parking assist, and adaptive damper control offers push-button switching between dynamic and comfort suspension modes.

The SQ5 TDI gets a few more high-end features as standard, including matrix LED headlights, massaging front seats, carbon interior highlights and a black exterior styling package.

Like all Audi vehicles, the Audi SQ5 comes with a three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and regular service intervals are set every 12-months or 15,000km. Audi also offers a five-year servicing plan that costs $2940 up front.

Audi Q5 sales are down almost 19 per cent in 2020 and it is currently the fourth-best-selling mid-sized luxury SUV in Australia, behind the Lexus NX, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

How much does the Audi SQ5 cost?
SQ5 TFSI - $101,136
SQ5 TDI - $104,900

*Prices exclude on-road costs