I Drove the Sporty and Luxurious 2025 Audi SQ5: Here’s My Honest Review

Blending luxury and sportiness is about picking a side

On setting out to make something that’s supposed to be both luxurious and sporty (be it a sedan, crossover, SUV, or any other car), you’ve got to pick a path. The car will lean towards one of the two sides of that equation. Audi‘s S models are intended to lean a bit more toward the luxury side of things than something like a BMW M car, which is intended to be the ultimate in performance from the Bavarians. The new SQ5 still aims to strike that balance, with more power, bigger brakes, and greater performance than your average Q5. However, it’s not overtly sporty. The ride is still (mostly) plush, the interior just as nice, and the seats aren’t aggressively bolstered. So, the question remains, as it always has: does Audi hit its mark?

Powertrain & driving dynamics

We’ve got to begin with something of a disclaimer. Pull up to a dealer and ask to see a new SQ5, and you’ll be shown one of two cars: either the one you see here or what is effectively a pre-facelift 2024 SQ5. That aside, there are major changes to the facelifted 2025 SQ5 (and not the other SQ5). For one, there are now 13 more horsepower from the 3.0-liter V6, for a total of 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Gone is the old 8-speed dual-clutch automatic, now replaced with a new 7-speed of the same. Of course, it’s all hooked to Audi’s famed Quattro all-wheel drive system. Speaking of, two new drive modes make an appearance for 2025: Balanced, which blends the best attributes of the car’s comfy and sporty personalities, and Offroad, which allows the traction and stability control systems a little more leeway on slick surfaces.

All this adds up to a very typical Audi driving experience. We drove this SQ5 through one of the West’s only snowstorms this year (kiss your Ikon pass goodbye), and the unbeatable combination of all-wheel drive and snow-tires, plus that plush and techy interior, leaves no doubt the SQ5 makes a fine luxury car. Its ride is hushed, with hardly a peep seeping through at some truly impressive speeds. The SQ5’s ride is a bit on the “sporty” side of things, but the trade-off is manageable body roll in corners from the newly standard air suspension setup.

Speaking of sporty, the SQ5 delivers on this, too. There are two big caveats, however. For one, Audi insists its transmissions force an upshift while driving with the wheel-mounted paddles. Get too close to the redline mid-corner, and you’ll find the car has shifted into the next gear. Manual, if you ask me, should mean exactly that. The other problem (also an issue in the twisties) is the SQ5’s steering, or total lack thereof. Sim racing has gotten pretty realistic in recent years, and it feels a disservice to that progress to say that SUV’s steering feels like a video game. It’s worse.

Moving past that, it seems Audi has managed to largely mitigate understeer, although the SQ5’s big turbo V6 sits entirely ahead of the front axle – usually a recipe for understeer. Instead, the SUV is neutral in its handling, providing plenty of grip and confidence. Audi doesn’t bombard you with in-cabin engine noise, either, though the V6 will pop and bang plenty on the overrun. You can’t beat the brakes off an SQ5, but it’ll hold up on most backroads the way you’d expect a slightly spicy SUV would. If you want to push your SUV harder than that, you’d be best off stepping up to one of Audi’s RS models, though those introduce more noise, harshness, and vibration into the cabin as a result.

The technology

The SQ5’s facelift brings new screens and a new interior design to the SUV. There’s an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster, a larger 14.5-inch center touchscreen, and an available 10.9-inch passenger display. Those riding shotgun have the ability to use it to stream content or browse the web, while a privacy filter makes sure the driver can’t see what’s on the screen, mostly to keep them from being distracted, but also to keep them from snooping too much. Audi has also introduced haptic interfaces, which cheapen the otherwise excellent screen setup. They feel cheap and creaky, and the wash of smudgy black plastic and mis-clicked buttons is a frustrating affront to one of the better infotainment systems in the business right now.

Slight changes to the SQ5’s interior extend beyond just new tech. Heated, power-adjustable front seats are standard, but the optional quilted leather really ups the luxury factor. The seats are comfy, but they could do with some more adjustability. BMW offers side bolsters that will inflate or deflate, conforming to your body. It’s something the SQ5 could benefit from. Slimmer folks won’t be held down as tightly as a result of the wide seatbacks.

A new face

Of course, the SQ5 also receives a new look in addition to the other changes discussed so far, which largely serve to improve the SUV’s looks. Things have a softer edge to them now, with a newly designed grille and hood complemented by a new set of wheel choices and refined lighting arrangements. It’s a look that works well and has also resulted in another cubic foot or so of cargo capacity in the back.

Pricing

Pricing rises as a result of the changes, predictably. Audi wants more money for the SQ5, but largely, it feels as though you’re getting a lot more car. We’d recommend the Premium Plus trim – it’s the sweet spot in the lineup, with luxury features like a 360-degree camera system, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and Audi Virtual Cockpit, which enhances the tech experience.

Verdict: 8/10

We’d call the latest SQ5 a success. Its sporty driving dynamics are exciting enough to keep even enthusiasts entertained, and the SUV’s luxury credo isn’t diminished by the addition of a sportier driving experience. The SQ5 does have its weak spots, its dead steering and frustrating haptic controls among them. While the S model doesn’t stand toe-to-toe with hardcore competitors like the X3 M, it’s still a potent combination of sporty and luxury.

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