Audi SQ5 plus 2016 Review

Audi SQ5 plus
Road Test

My first impulse was to describe the ride quality of the SQ5 plus as 'brittle' – not normally a word bandied around lightly. But in the case of the Audi, it seemed appropriate after stepping out of a Range Rover Sport from the week before.

I personally found the Audi's ride too punishing on all but the smoothest surfaces, although a week of familiarity with the car drew me to the conclusion that harsh as it seems at first, the ride is about right for a vehicle of this kind and its target buyer.

The ride complements the SQ5's character, and naturally it's the concession one must make for the roadholding and handling of the Plus version.

The intelligent all-wheel drive system and the SQ5's passive dynamics ensure you can apply the formidable torque from the diesel V6 mid-corner with practically zero change in stance or direction in the corner, even negotiating a tight hairpin – although the stability control does play a part in that too. All highly impressive.

And just as impressive too is the utter composure when you lift off the accelerator at the apex of a bend. There's some sensation of the inside rear suspension lifting slightly, but the flat-handling Audi just tracks around – business as usual.

I found the steering was overly light in Comfort/Efficiency modes, but lacked on-centre feel in Dynamic mode. Overall, the steering was weighted properly in whatever mode was appropriate at the time, but heaviness in Dynamic mode doesn't necessarily make the steering especially communicative.

The heart of the SQ5 plus is the turbo-diesel V6, which has been fettled for slightly higher output than the last SQ5 I tested three years ago. This latest iteration of the bi-turbo powerplant produces 250kW and 700Nm. Despite the bigger numbers the fuel consumption seems to be on par with the earlier model – around 10.8L/100km for the week.

But while the fuel consumption is important, it's the solid thrust from the engine that endears the SQ5 plus to drivers. Switched to Dynamic mode in the Audi Drive Select system, the engine has a V8-like warble to it, thanks to a sound actuator in the exhaust, and it revs past 5000rpm... pulling like a very fast freight train the whole way.

As with the previous car tested, there's some turbo lag, but building up revs before launch sees the SQ5 plus take off like a shot, belting you back into the comfortable, well-shaped driver's seat.

Between the wall of torque available anywhere in the rev range, and some NVH characteristics, this is clearly a diesel engine. But it's also significantly more refined and sportier than most V6 diesels. The vibration present serves as a reminder that there's a heavy-hitting diesel up front. There's none of that teeth-grinding, labouring shudder at lower revs however.

The automatic transmission – a very capable unit with a torque converter – behaves differently in the extreme drive modes. In Efficiency mode it will allow the SQ5 plus to coast along downhill with little engine braking. There's much stronger engine braking in Dynamic mode, and in that mode the transmission will shift up much later, letting the engine stretch its legs to 2500rpm or higher. In contrast, using Comfort or Efficiency modes it's short shifting at around 1500rpm.

Shift paddles provide very swift response, but the SQ5 plus will also kick down in the transmission's sport mode (draw the gear lever back and release to change from Drive to Sport) and manual mode – a safety measure for those occasions when more performance is needed post haste… overtaking for example.

Once the transmission has kicked down it will shift up automatically when the engine reaches max revs, but it will also shift up manually using the paddles. In Sport mode, the transmission won't automatically shift up if the driver has previously used the shift paddles for manual changes.

It remains in 'manual' mode for an extended period, but will eventually make the transition back to Sport auto mode. This makes the SQ5 plus a very effective machine for drivers who want to get somewhere in a hurry – but without breaking a sweat.

Whether by accident or design, the lowish-riding SQ5 plus is well placed for ease of entry and exit. I found the hip-point to be spot-on. Over the weekend we carted three tall teenagers around in the back with no complaints concerning accommodation.

One of them even fell asleep back there, such was the roominess and comfort of the seats. The rear seats fold nearly flat (by either a lever on the seat base or finger pulls in the luggage compartment), and actually lock in place with the back of the folded seats flush with the luggage compartment floor.

Ergonomics in the SQ5 are a mixed bag. The starter button is closer to the front-seat passenger than the driver, but the volume control for the audio system – distinct from the switches on the multi-function steering wheel – is closer to the driver. Controls for the purpose of driving are otherwise well located and the instruments are large and clearly legible. Trip computer and infotainment functions operate in conventional Audi fashion.

Headlights on low beam are no more than adequate, but in automatic high-beam assist mode (part of the optional Technology pack for $3100) there was a much broader and brighter spread of light for driving on dark country roads. The blind-spot detection system was over-sensitive and somewhat disconcerting. Three sudden flashes out of the corner of the eye could be interpreted by the brain as the indicators on a car adjacent the SQ5 – a car that's not actually there.

On a few occasions it flashed when I was safe to change lanes, in slow-moving traffic with a car obliquely behind the Audi. In a similar vein, the autonomous emergency braking system takes no chances. On a wet road, it slammed on the brakes hard enough to trigger the anti-lock system. As is often the case with AEB systems, it was prompted into action by a car ahead slowly making a left turn.

The satellite-navigation in the Audi will accept a destination by voice control – provided you spell out the place name. There are other systems around that will have a crack at plain voice data entry for place names. At least the Audi's system is more or less fool-proof, although it doesn't accept "double-R" in 'Warrandyte' or "double-O" in 'Moorabbin'.

Users have to be in the habit of spelling out each letter individually, even when two consecutive letters are the same. It's ultimately faster than entering the destination by hand using the MMI (single-point) controller and an alphabetical listing. On the subject of the MMI controller, turning the knob anti-clockwise will scroll down through a list, rather than scrolling up.

The vehicle tested came with quilted seat upholstery featuring contrast ('lunar silver') stitching. It breaks away from the conventional dark charcoal trim that hides dirt but also looks drab after just a short period of ownership. It's up to the usual standard of build quality expected from an Audi, also revealed in vault-like door closure.

The boot itself is reasonably large and practical, with an expandable cargo net held in place by hooks and anchorage points in the floor. It's a useful fixture for holding loose items in place. Under the boot floor is a space-saver spare, something that tends to divide opinion. I don't think it would be a deal-breaker for most SQ5 plus buyers.

There's not much about the SQ5 plus that would be a deal breaker for target buyers. Audi anticipates the SQ5 plus could account for as much as 20 per cent of all Q5 sales – and it's easy to see why.

2016 Audi SQ5 Plus pricing and specifications:
Price: $114,850 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 250kW/700Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 180g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP, 2009)

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