Audi SQ5 plus 2016 Review

Audi SQ5 TDI plus quattro tiptronic
Australian Launch Review
Phillip Island, Victoria

If the standard SQ5 – Audi's most powerful diesel model – is not quite wild enough for you, the German car-maker has the answer. It's dialled up an additional 10kW and 50Nm and a claimed $13,000 of additional standard equipment to create the SQ5 'plus'. For an extra $16,300, that sounds like a reasonably good deal but, at almost $110,000 (plus on-road costs), makes it an expensive mid-size luxury SUV.

Audi's Q5 hit the sweet spot with SUV-hungry Australians when it first arrived here in 2009, selling up a storm with its attractive combination of size, style and value and quickly becoming the nation's top-selling luxury SUV.

Even in 2015 – its seventh year on sale – the Q5 fell only a handful of sales short of BMW's bigger X5, which has long been one of Australia's most popular premium SUVs.

Of course, Audi has continued to keep fresh its answer to the BMW X3 with usual model upgrades and performance versions like the SQ5, which for a fairly hefty $92,600 (plus ORCs) brings a 240kW/650Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel that makes it Audi's most powerful six-cylinder diesel model.

With a sports car-like 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 5.1sec, it also edges out BMW's X5 M50d – by a tenth of a second – to claim the honour of being Australia's quickest diesel SUV.

Now, three years after the 2013 release of the SQ5, which has accounted for as much as a third of all Q5s sold, comes the SQ5 'plus', which itself is forecast to comprise 20 per cent of SQ5 sales.

Call it a swansong special, because the 'plus' will be the final iteration of Audi's first Q5 before an all-new model appears later this year and arrives in local showrooms in 2017.

Like the standard SQ5, the engine is the highlight and in this case it scores more turbo boost pressure and a bigger fuel pump, new fuel injectors and revised engine calibration to up fuel pressure from 2000 to 2100bar.

The result is 250kW and 700Nm, but peak power now comes over a narrower, higher rev range (4100-4300rpm v 3900-4500rpm in the standard SQ5) and maximum torque arrives between 1500-2550rpm, which is impressive but not as impressive as the regular SQ5's 650Nm over 1450-2800rpm.

Fitted as standard with the same eight-speed automatic transmission, top speed (250km/h), kerb weight (2075kg) and towing capacity (2000kg) all remain unchanged over the regular SQ5.

Likewise, despite the extra power and torque at higher revs, Audi claims the same 0-100km/h sprint time, the same 6.8L/100km combined fuel consumption figure and the same 180g/km CO2 emissions number, but says in-gear flexibility is improved.

And that's exactly how it feels on the road: slightly more performance but at slightly higher revs. Admittedly, we drove the SQ5 plus over a mix of tight and open rural roads immediately after flogging Audi's new RS 6 and RS 7 'performance' models around the Phillip Island GP circuit.

The SQ5 – in either standard or plus form – is an undoubtedly quick SUV for its size, launching crisply off the line and offers a fistful of midrange punch, making open-road overtaking and filling gaps in urban traffic a breeze.

It also sounds fairly spritely – for a diesel – thanks to a pair of exhaust sound-actuating speakers at the back-end of the car. But it never sounds or feels as quick as many of the larger V8-powered luxury SUVs on the market.

Likewise, Audi says it's the first ever Q5 to come with its new quattro sport differential, which actively distributes torque via torque vectoring by braking (TVBB). It not only adds to the SQ5 plus' exclusivity, but raises its dynamic abilities.

We couldn't tell much of a difference on the launch loop, but the standard Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres did deliver plenty of grip and the high-riding mid-size wagon did offer sharp steering and flat cornering over all manner of round surfaces.

However, the solid dynamics come at the expense of a relatively firm, busy ride, which is no doubt partly due to its unique 20-inch plus wheels and tyres.

Other additional standard kit is purely cosmetic, like the red brake callipers, specific quad exhaust outlets with centre clasp and an extended high-gloss black exterior package, which is optional on the base SQ5 and includes a black grille, wing mirrors, diffuser, roof spoiler, upper door-handles and window surrounds.

Changes inside are arguably more notable, including an interior design package comprising unique fine Nappa leather with diamond-pattern contrasting stitching in dark silver, a leather-clad instrument binnacle and carbon-fibre inlays.

But overall the SQ5 plus can't hide the Q5's dated cabin design and technologies, including a comparatively small infotainment touch-screen, lack of Audi's latest 'virtual cockpit' configurable digital instrument panel and a somewhat staid, symmetrical dash design.

Naturally, there's all of the Q5's standard safety equipment, but extras include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), on top of eight airbags (including rear side airbags missing on the BMW X3) and a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Whether the extra performance, equipment and exclusivity is worth the significantly higher price tag is something only customers can decide, but be aware there's still a host of optional extras, some of which should be standard for the price of a mid-range BMW X5.

They include metallic paint ($1850), a Technology Package comprising Audi connect, Bang & Olufsen audio, digital radio, adaptive headlights and high-beam assist for $3100, privacy glass ($950), heated front seats ($800), luggage rail system ($450) and a panoramic sunroof ($3100).

There's also dynamic steering ($2400), digital TV ($2300), aluminium or beaufort black oak inlays ($1650), a range of 20 and 21-inch wheels ($1500), heated/cooled cup-holders ($300) and rear-side sunblinds ($250).

So the SQ5 plus isn't cheap, even without adding a host of pricey options, but it's a fitting swansong for Audi's super-successful first Q5 and will be more exclusive than the benchmark-setting SQ5 on which it's based.

2016 Audi SQ5 plus pricing and specifications:
Price: $108,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder 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)