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2018 Audi SQ5

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$54,300

starting MSRP

Key specs

Base trim shown

SUV

Body style

21

Combined MPG

5

Seating capacity

183.9” x 65.3”

Dimensions

All-wheel drive

Drivetrain

Overview

(32 reviews)

The good:

  • Comfortable, adjustable backseat
  • Visibility
  • Power liftgate standard
  • Aggressive engine note
  • Responsive transmission
  • Cargo space

The bad:

  • Multimedia functionality
  • Control ergonomics
  • Price premium over Q5
  • Mild styling for a sport model
  • Requires premium fuel

2 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2018 Audi SQ5 trim comparison will help you decide.

See also: Find the best SUVs for 2024

Notable features

  • Redesigned for 2018
  • Five-seat compact luxury SUV
  • All-wheel drive standard
  • 354-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6
  • Standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
  • Standard automatic emergency braking
See also: How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2018 Audi SQ5?

2018 Audi SQ5 review: Our expert's take

By Jennifer Geiger

The SQ5 is the performance-oriented version of Audi’s Q5 SUV; both models were redesigned for 2018 with additional room and updated powertrains. The Q5 competes against the likes of the BMW X3, Porsche Macan and Mercedes-Benz GLC (compare them). The SQ5’s main competitors are the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and Porsche Macan GTS (compare them).

Mild Hides Wild

The SQ5’s rounded curves and stately face are polished but hardly exciting; the thrill comes from under the hood. The car vaults off the line and stays strong after just a trace of turbo lag. The turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is good for 354 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque — a bit more torque than the previous SQ5’s supercharged V-6. Standard Q5 models use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 252 hp; the new Q5’s four-cylinder pairs with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission while the SQ5 gets an eight-speed automatic. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard.

The Audi SQ5 powertrain’s thrust is lively, but its sound is exhilarating. It thunders to life like the opening bars of the Imperial March — both ominous and thrilling — and Dynamic mode adds even more snarky, burly bark. Four driver-selectable modes alter the SUV’s driving characteristics: Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual. The modes change the accelerator response, transmission shift points, ride height, suspension firmness and steering effort to customize the SQ5’s driving dynamics along the spectrum of sport and comfort. Auto is the default setting, and Individual can be programmed by the driver.

Overall, ride quality is firm but not punishing. The optional air suspension adjusts vehicle height as well as the firmness of the shock absorbers. The Audi SQ5 comes alive in Dynamic mode with firm, connected steering and sporty handling. The accelerator’s hair trigger delivered more responsiveness for quicker pep off the line, and the ride felt much firmer — even choppy at times. Comfort mode takes the edge off; there’s a decent amount of cushioning, but the steering lightens up and handling loses some of its crispness.

Performance-oriented competitors match the SQ5’s powertrain in potency — the Macan GTS makes 360 hp from its twin-turbocharged V-6, and the AMG GLC43’s twin-turbo makes 362 hp — but fail to meet it in fuel economy. The SQ5 is EPA-rated at 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined, above the Macan GTS (17/23/19) and AMG GLC43 (18/24/20). All of these vehicles require premium gasoline.

Control Confusion

Writing occupies a nice, cushy couch within my brain’s comfort zone, while math transforms it into a waterboarding table. Coincidentally, that’s also what’s happened when I’ve tried in the past to use Audi’s MMI multimedia system — it was more painful than high school calculus. The Audi SQ5 uses the most recent version of the system and, though it’s more straightforward than previous generations, it’s still a long way from simple. Its learning curve is steep, and for me it required studying the owner’s manual and watching a YouTube tutorial to figure out. Even after that, some of the system’s more nuanced layers — swipe left for this, tap here for that — still eluded me and will likely take owners a lot of practice to master.

In the plus column, the tabletlike screen sits high on the dash for good visibility and has crisp, modern graphics — I especially appreciated the navigation’s realistic Google Earth satellite view. However, it’s not a touchscreen, so the driver’s focus must shift down to a console-area knob and trackpad to control different parts of the system, from audio to navigation. (Thankfully, the climate buttons are separate and straightforward.) Using the knob for things like inputting an address into the navigation system is obnoxious and time-consuming. It also makes Apple Car Play and Android Auto operation clunkier.

The system earns points for its volume knob, but it’s too far away from the driver and requires an awkward stretch. And the oddness continues: To use the knob as a tuner, you have to bump it like a joystick rather than twisting it. More oddness: The system’s trackpad takes up a lot of real estate on the center console for not a lot of functionality. It houses the audio preset numbers, but its main role is to function as a writing pad — you “write” a letter with your finger to call up a destination in the nav system. Overall it feels gimmicky and is more time-consuming than using a touchscreen system; also, lefties will have even more trouble with the right-hand placement of the pad.

On the whole, MMI is better than before but has a long way to go in terms of functionality when compared with the industry’s best systems, like touchscreen executions from Chrysler and Volvo.

Overstated Luxury

A couple of things stood out about our SQ5’s cabin — for better and for worse. First, we must address the lipstick-bedecked elephant in the room: the Magma Red interior. The lavish, quilted-leather seats and tasteful Carbon Atlas inlays convey elegance, but it’s smothered by a big bucket of bright Magma Red. Like a well-placed lipstick, that kind of red should be a tasteful pop that adds some jazz to an otherwise ho-hum look. In the SQ5, it’s everywhere, taking the cabin’s finishes from understated to garish. Thankfully, other color palettes are available — like black.

In other ways, the SQ5’s interior is the picture of a luxury SUV. Cabin craftsmanship and materials quality are top-notch, like the plush padding and detailed stitching on the doors and console.

The bolstered rear seats are comfortable, and they slide and recline for added flexibility. By the numbers, the Audi SQ5’s backseat offers slightly less headroom than the GLC but slightly more legroom. (Porsche has not published backseat specs for the Macan.) Two adults will be comfortable in back, and I managed to squeeze my three kids and their car seats back there without much drama. My toddler twins’ forward-facing convertible car seats went in without a problem thanks to the SQ5’s exposed lower Latch anchors, and I fit my second-grader’s compact, inflatable booster in the middle. A traditional booster would not fit. I had a tough time installing a rear-facing infant seat during our Car Seat Check due to inadequate legroom.

Behind the backseat, there’s 26.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the GLC43 (19.4 cubic feet) and Macan (17.7 cubic feet). Fold the seats to create 60.4 cubic feet of space — again, more than the others. I fit a full grocery run in the cargo area (with the seats in place) and found the adjustable suspension’s lower loading height useful when loading and unloading bags. The cargo wall’s small netted bins were also handy for corralling fragile groceries (like bottles of wine).

Safety

The 2018 Audi SQ5 had not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as of publication.

A backup camera is standard; a 360-degree camera system is optional. Standard Audi Pre-Sense Basic, a crash-preparation system, closes the windows and moonroof and tightens safety belts before impact. A forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking system is also standard, as are blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems. Lane departure warning is part of the optional Driver Assistance package.

Sticker Shock

The 2018 SQ5 starts at $55,275 including destination, about $1,000 more than the 2017 version and $12,800 more than the regular Q5. The version I tested clocked in at $68,750 after extras like those quilted Nappa leather seats, an adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, navigation and a premium sound system, among other features. That sounds steep, but competitors start even higher: The AMG GLC43 starts at $57,245 and the Macan GTS at $69,950 (all prices include destination charges).

The SQ5 appeals in its balance of a classy, elegant vehicle with a fun factor in a way that few in the class manage as astutely. Its engaging road manners add an air of excitement to the everyday personality of the Q5, but Audi is overreaching with the SQ5’s designer-label price premium.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Photo of Jennifer Geiger
News Editor Jennifer Geiger joined the automotive industry in 2003, much to the delight of her Corvette-obsessed dad. Jennifer is an expert reviewer, certified car-seat technician and mom of three. She wears a lot of hats — many of them while driving a minivan. Email Jennifer Geiger

Consumer reviews

(32 reviews)
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.7
  • Interior 4.8
  • Performance 4.5
  • Value 4.2
  • Exterior 4.8
  • Reliability 4.4
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Most recent consumer reviews

2018 SQ5 blown engine at 40,000 miles.

2018 SQ5 blown engine at 40,000 miles. This has been my wife’s car to drive around Boise. So do the math…$55,000 purchase for 40,000 miles. New engine estimate is $30,000. Trade in value of vehicle with current blow engine will be well below $10,000. The long term reliability of this vehicle based on original cost is ZERO.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Does not recommend this car
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Reliable Audi SQ5

This is my wife car but after several years of ownership, I can say that the SQ5 prestige is a winner. Other than routine maintenance and brakes once, we have had no issues. Great vehicle super comfortable and reliable.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Very reliable in 5 years of driving.

Bought it brand new in 2018. Still got it in 2023 with over 80k miles on it. Super reliable all those years. That was the biggest surprised. We knew we'll get comfort and performance but never counted on reliability. What a great surprise.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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See all 32 consumer reviews

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Audi
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
48 months/50,000 miles
Corrosion
144 months/unlimited distance
Powertrain
48 months/50,000 miles
Maintenance
12 months/10,000 miles
Roadside assistance
48 months/unlimited distance
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
5 model years or newer/less than 60,000 miles
Basic warranty terms
1 year or 20,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
Powertrain
N/A
Dealer certification required
125-point inspection
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

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Expert Review

2018 Audi SQ5 Review

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