2022 Audi SQ5 Sportback

Audi has been relatively late when it comes to "coupe-ifying" its crossover range but ever since it started shaving steel off the tailgate, it has noticed a spike in interest for its high-riding products. The Audi SQ5 Sportback in particular has added a more dynamic element to its current range of offerings as it challenges the BMW X4 M40i and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe head-on by employing a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine to produce 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Using this, the SQ5 will sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which some might argue is as quick as you really want to go in an SUV.

While it may be on par with its rivals in terms of performance, Ingolstadt's competitor takes a more reserved approach to appearances as it maintains smooth and composed design cues across the interior and exterior. With prices starting at $59,200 MSRP, the SQ5 also undercuts the competition by a few thousand dollars.

If anything, the Audi SQ5 Sportback looks far too conservative to be considered a performance car. Audi Sport-influenced highlights include the S line bumper up front and a unique rear bumper fixture housing a set of faux-quad exhaust pipes. The most definitive feature is its silhouette which employs a sharper C-pillar that replaces the SUV's hatch with a liftback, replete with a slim roof spoiler. 20-inch 10-spoke star design wheels finished in platinum are standard fitment but for $1,000, you can upsize this to a set of 21-inch five-arm-polygon design painted in silver. All trims get a panoramic sunroof as standard. While both premium and Premium Plus models retain similar exterior features, the Prestige gets Matrix-design LED headlights, and OLED taillights with animation.

At 184.6 inches long, 65.4 inches tall, and 84.2 inches wide with a wheelbase of 111 inches, the SQ5 Sportback falls under the compact luxury SUV segment. These dimensions make it marginally smaller than the BMW X4 M40i and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe. Oddly, the SQ5 Sportback weighs more than the SUV counterpart with a curb mass figure of 4,321 pounds, 33 lbs more than the standard model.

There is only one powertrain option available for the Audi SQ5 Sportback. Audi's 3.0-liter V6 TFSI mill, producing 349 hp and 369 lb-ft, powers all four wheels using the VW group's eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive. Free of any electrification, the quirky crossover doesn't fail to translate impressive straight-line performance characteristics both from a standing or rolling start. Although it only uses a single twin-scroll turbocharger, power delivery is responsive with a minimal amount of lag experienced. Despite being a partial Audi Sport model, the SQ5 Sportback doesn't match the characteristics of a performance car but rather a respectably quick crossover. The entire drivetrain has been tuned to be refined with a low amount of vibration and noise. The shifts are quick but lack any aggression, making the driving experience tame and relaxed as it blasts from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph on summer tires and 130 mph on all-seasons. It's a car that you'd be more than happy with on the open road rather than through an apex on a racetrack, making it somewhat of a polar contrast to both the X4 M40i and GLC 43.

Riding on a front and rear multi-link suspension with the added benefit of adaptive damping, the SQ5 Sportback holds its own fairly well through a sharp series of corners. The electrically assisted power steering can change the feeling of weight, dependent on speed, making fast cornering an easier task on the arms. Both of these elements have been tuned to be elegant and graceful, so you'll never feel any element of a performance car while doing so. The ride is plush, despite the standard fitment of low-profile 20-inch alloy wheels, so any inconsistencies along the surface will be greatly softened from the perspective of the driver's seat.

If you select the S Sport package, available on the Premium Plus and Prestige trim for $3,000, the compact crossover evolves into a slightly more capable performance car with the inclusion of a sport rear differential and adaptive air suspension. Using these two pieces of equipment, the SQ5 becomes tighter around the corners but the overall feeling is still on the plush side. With the added benefit of air, this package also improves the overall ride quality that undulates over harsher surfaces. These models also have access to the $1,150 speed-dependent variable-ratio dynamic steering, available only with the S Sport pack. With this applied the steering sharpness of the crossover increases or decreases based on your speed. Audi says it enhances confidence behind the wheel when faced with a series of intricate apexes, but we think it does the opposite as the same corner at different speeds can feel entirely different.

Despite having active damping and generous ground clearance, the SQ5 Sportback has a clear weakness on gravel roads, regardless of whether the aforementioned package is selected. The ride becomes jittery and unbalanced, translation a total contrast to the brand's rich rally history.

The SQ5 Sportback's consumption is in line with other V6-powered models with EPA-rated figures of 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined. This is the same rating provided to the SUV body style. The BMW X4 M40i, producing more power but boasting an almost identical curb mass figure, bests this with its rating of 21/26/23 mpg. Using a twin-turbo configuration means that the GLC 43 is hamstrung in the fuel economy race as it translates to a poorer 16/24/19 mpg estimate. With its 18.5-gallon fuel tank filled to capacity with premium gasoline, the SQ5 Sportback is capable of an average of 389 miles before needing a refuel.

Despite the interior packaging of the SQ5 Sportback being slightly more compromised than its SUV counterpart, the premium crossover can still be comfortably used as a family car. Headroom measures 38 inches in the front row and 37.5 at the rear, meaning those measuring six feet tall can occupy the rear bench with a reasonable amount of comfort.

The front row benefits from Audi's sports seats as a standard fitment with leather and Dinamica combination upholstery. For a more plush contact, you can cover the seats in fine Nappa leather with diamond stitching for an additional $1,000. This option boasts a pleasant blend of comfort and grip that near-perfectly matches the dynamic prowess of the crossover.

With its sloping D-pillar, the SQ5 Sportback sacrifices 1.2 cubic feet of trunk space compared to its SUV counterpart at 24.7 cubic feet. That's not a big compromise when you consider that the X4 and GLC Coupe only provide 18.5- and 17.6 cubic feet of trunk space respectively. This clever packaging means that there is enough space for four medium suitcases, making it a perfect weekend getaway car. A 40/20/40 rear folding bench opens the trunk up to 51.9 cubic feet of cargo space if you need to carry larger items around. Inside the cabin, the typical compliment of cupholders front and rear, door pockets, seatback map pockets, and a glovebox all apply, along with an under-armrest storage bin of modest size.

The roofline may have been cut, but the spec list hasn't been. Even in base Premium form, you can expect niceties like a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power steering adjustment, and heated front seats with power adjustment. On the mid-spec Premium Plus, Audi's virtual cockpit plus replaces a seven-inch driver information screen, joined by a top-view camera system instead of a regular rearview one, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control in place of standard, a wireless charger, and active lane-keeping assistant. On top-spec Prestige models, the rear seats are heated, the driver gets to use park assist instead of rudimentary park sensors on lesser trims, and a head-up display aids safety along with traffic sign recognition. Options to be added include ventilated front seats but are otherwise limited.

Audi's modern infotainment is considered by many to be class-leading but, unfortunately, the SQ5 Sportback still has to make do with the older MMI interface that is translated to the cabin via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Thankfully, it sports the brand's MIB3 operating system, meaning it is faster and clearer than before. Thankfully, it's still easy and satisfying to navigate as it employs a simple layout that is responsive to inputs. It supports a multitude of connections including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay while audio is pumped into the cabin via a standard 10-speaker system. With the Bang & Olufsen 3D system found in the flagship Prestige trim, 19 speakers are present for a more surreal aural experience. This is bolstered by the 90-day all-access trial subscription for SiriusXM. If you're happy to splurge a nominal fee every month, you can subscribe to the Audi Connect Prime functionality, This allows you to connect no more than eight devices to the system for audio streaming and other low-data consumption tasks.

There is currently one recall issued for the 2022 Audi SQ5 Sportback relating to the control module. The NHTSA explains that the gateway control module is vulnerable to liquids that may be spilled on the rear bench or from under the body. This would cause the entire unit to shut down. Owners will have to take their cars in so that the module can be housed in a protective cover and add extra sealant to the underbody seam.

Peace of mind motoring is provided by a standard four-year/50,000-mile limited and powertrain warranty as well as a one-year/10,000-mile maintenance plan.

As a member of the Q5 family, the 2022 SQ5 Sportback benefits from the IIHS's prestigious Top Safety Pick+ badge as it scores a good rating in all avenues of the crashworthiness test. In the crash avoidance and mitigation department, the headlights have garnered a good rating for higher trims and an average ranking for the models with the standard LED headlights. Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention is superior throughout trims, while the standard system's vehicle-to-pedestrian ranking earns an Advanced ranking. The NHTSA has no review of the 2022 SQ5 Sportback.

Standard safety features include six airbags (dual front, front side, and since curtain), although a further pair can be added in the form of rear-side airbags via the options list. Cruise control, park sensors, collision detection, and automatic emergency braking are also standard, while adaptive cruise control, a top-view camera, park assist, and lane assist are included on upper trims.

Objectively speaking, the Audi SQ5 Sportback is a good car for one in the warm coupe crossover segment. But if it's an athletic ability that you're after, this is unlikely to suit your needs as much as the X4 M40i or GLC 43 Coupe would. Ingolstadt's contender fails to translate the same dynamic edge as its neighbors and resultantly fails to advance the Audi Sport reputation.

However, that doesn't mean that there's no appeal to be found in the SQ5 at all as it is the most practical offering of the big German three. The powertrain is one of the most refined examples in its segment without compromising straight-line performance. So long as you keep it off the gravel, the ride will be more than satisfactory for daily usage with the added benefit of an adaptive suspension system and speed-sensitive steering.

It's not the most visually striking model in its class, but next to the SQ5 SUV, it certainly is more distinctive as it merges conservative styling from the front and rear with an athletic silhouette provided by the sloping D-pillar to create a liftback appearance.

The price of the Audi SQ5 Sportback range starts with the Premium trim at an MSRP of $59,200 excluding a destination charge of $1,195. After this comes the Premium Plus at $62,400 while the Prestige tops things off at a cost of $67,600. Individual options are largely limited with the bulk of the configuration experience relying on a small number of packages. When fully loaded, the most you'd pay for an SQ5 Sportback is just over $79,000.

The Audi SQ5 Sportback in Prestige-guise is the most costly model of the range but when you look at what is included as standard, it does offer the best value at $67,600. It includes all of the basic and intermediate comfort and safety features with the added benefit of Audi's impressive Matrix-LED headlights and OLED taillights, the navigation package, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, and a head-up display with traffic sign recognition. It also inherits the Convenience Package, virtual cockpit plus, and adaptive cruise control from the Premium Plus.

Avoiding the base trim model also gives you access to the optional Nappa leather upholstery, S Sport package, dynamic steering, warm weather package, and other visual revisions. Without any of these optional extras, it is still a conclusive premium offering.

BMW pretty much invented the crossover coupe segment with the X6 so it has become more than familiar with how to tackle the segment. With the X4 M40i, BMW has successfully provided its contender with a distinctive M Sport feel that is not as apparent in the SQ5 Sportback. The powertrain offers more enthusiastic characteristics from the power delivery of its 382 hp (nearly 40 more than the Audi) and 369 lb-ft to the engine note on its way to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds (three-tenths quicker than the Audi). Its eight-speed automatic transmission also has an element of aggression when rapidly shifting through the gears. Despite this, it's a car that can be used with comfort daily thanks to a reasonably soft-sprung ride and a direct and fluid electrically assisted steering wheel. At $62,400 MSRP, it is a bit more of an expensive option compared to the base SQ5 Sportback but its standard specification is in line with the Premium Plus which bears the same price. If we were looking at non-performance-minded alternatives, we would be having a different conversation.

Whereas the SQ5 is a diluted Audi Sport experience, the GLC 43 is a fully-fledged AMG product powered by a delightful twin-turbo gasoline V6 engine. 385 hp is sent to all four wheels via its impressive 9G-Tronic automatic transmission that is more driver-oriented than Audi's Tiptronic. At $66,500, it is a costly choice. To get it to the same standard as the flagship SQ5 Sportback, you'll also need to select a good few optional extras that will see its price climb much closer to the $70,000 mark. If you are looking for a more commanding visual presence and an unfiltered performance experience, the AMG will be the right choice for you but where practicality and general daily usability are concerned, the SQ5 Sportback manages things better as it translates a better ride comfort and lower noise vehicle harshness levels partly thanks to a more refined powertrain.