12:55AM - 25.07.'14
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News Source: autoblog.com
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It may be obvious at this point, but here in the United States, European manufacturers routinely give us the short end of the stick. Now, I'm not talking about models or brands that don't come here, like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or the entire Renault line. No, instead, I'm referring to cars that are sold right here in the Land of the Free in one bodystyle, while Europe enjoys the same vehicle with a wider variety of configurations. A prime example of this is the Audi S4/S5 line. In America, we can have the supercharged twins in two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and cabriolet body styles. Meanwhile, our Euroland cousins get the same trio of bodystyles, as well as the A5/S5 Sportback, a characterful 'four-door coupe,' and a versatile hauler, the S4 Avant. At first glance, Audi of America lacks a vehicle that can compete with the latter's blend of performance, versatility and subdued looks. So, what's an American with around $60,000 and an obsession with quick, conservative haulers to do? Well, he can buy an SQ5. (Though it bears mentioning, our US-spec SQ5 is vastly different than what's available to our European friends.) The SQ5 has a huge number of things going for it that make it a viable alternative to a proper hot wagon, and foremost among them are its looks – this is a sleeper. Audi has thankfully decided not to molest the clean looks of the standard Q5 when penning the sportier model. The SQ5 gains a unique set of wheels: 20-inchers are standard, but our tester was fitted with a set of 21-inch rollers. Visually, neither make a huge departure from the standard Q5 though. Other standard features of Audi's S models are also found on the SQ5, including a set of quad exhausts, silver mirror caps and mildly different front grille and foglight surrounds. If anything, the Q5 TDI diesel I tested late last year looks sportier than today's tester. It's a similar story of minor but purposeful changes in the cabin. Audi has ditched the Q5's standard steering wheel and slotted in the excellent, flat-bottomed unit found in other S models, which in this case is flanked by a set of high-quality "alu-optic" paddles. Upgraded leather seats complement the new wheel, while my SQ5 offered the Carbon Atlas interior trim (a $500 option). Outside of the S-specific changes, this is the same cabin I've enjoyed in other Q5s, with fresh, attractive materials and excellent fit and finish. The SQ5's interior updates are targeted specifically at the driving enthusiast, so it should come as no shock that the cabin is an excellent place to spend time. The seats are wide and comfortable, yet they aren't even remotely short on support. The 12-way power seats offer a wide range of adjustability that is supplemented by a leg extension (heat on these chairs is standard, while ventilation is optional). Combined with tilt and telescoping functions for the sport wheel, there's no reason that even the most oddly proportioned driver won't be able to arrange their seating position just so. Meanwhile, the ample paddles fall nicely to hand, as do the rest of the cabin's various buttons and knobs. It isn't a bad interior for the folks in second class, either, as Audi offers standard reclining seats in back, which pair well with the plentiful rear legroom (37.5 inches, more than a BMW X3). The overarching influencer of the SQ5's drive experience is Audi Drive Select, the German brand's name for its all-encompassing electronics that manage throttle mapping, shift points, engine sound and steering effort. There are three global settings – Comfort, Auto (Normal) and Dynamic – which run the gamut of these adjustable systems. There's also an Individual mode, in which the driver can select his or her preferences for the CUV's systems (e.g. engine and steering in Dynamic, noise in Auto and transmission in Comfort). I greatly prefer this approach to global Sport and Comfort modes, as it really allows the driver to tailor the various systems to create a just-right driving experience. So, the SQ5 is a match for the S4 Avant in terms of its exterior styling, interior function and custom-fit for drivers. That wouldn't mean much were it not also a match for the longroof's performance. Under the SQ5's hood sits the same 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 that's on duty in the S4 and S5. In this guise, however, it's more powerful, producing 354 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque versus the sedan and coupe's 333 ponies and 325 lb-ft. The extra power doesn't fully make up for the SQ5's 4,409-pound curb weight (551 pounds more than the S4), but this is still a riot in terms of outright quickness. It's not only the power on offer that's so seductive, it's also the quickness with which this engine revs. Particularly in first gear, the SQ5 comes with a sense of urgency that is shocking at first, and becomes exhilarating with subsequent drives. The sharpness of the throttle is dependent on how the Audi Drive Select system is set, yet to its credit, it avoids dead spots or sluggishness in all three settings. Power is robust throughout the rev range, delivering a particular punch in the middle of the tach without feeling out of breath as the 6,800-rpm redline approaches. 60 miles per hour arrives in a manufacturer-estimated 5.1 seconds, but I thought it felt quicker from behind the wheel. This sensation may be down to the evocative sound coming out of the SQ5's four exhaust pipes rather than actual performance. If Audi could bottle and sell the sound of this 3.0-liter, supercharged six-pot, I'd buy it by the case. It's rorty and buzzy (in a good way) at first, and it builds into a potent, smooth V6 scream. Keep the radio volume low and leave the Audi Drive Select system's engine noise setting in Dynamic, and not only can you better hear the boisterous exhaust, you can even hear the supercharger working its magic. Adding to the experiences provided by the engine's performance and sound are the effects of the SQ5's eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox. I'll admit that I was initially disappointed to learn that Audi hadn't fitted the seven-speed, S-Tronic dual-clutch found in the S4 and S5, but as it turns out, the automatic seen here is a gem. |
