Running late for the girl’s soccer tournament and the team’s star players happen to be your 10-year-old twin daughters? No problem. Strap them in, quickly input the new game location in MMI’s ergonomic Navigation, throw the 8-speed Tiptronic transmission in Sport mode and dutifully be on your way. Petite, highly agile, potent and full of technological wonders, the 2014 Audi SQ5 quattro Tiptronic is one of the most remarkable SUVs on the planet.
Whether for a mom or dad, the SQ5 experience is breathtaking with every increasing mile. To begin, you are assured added safety and performance measures by way of Audi’s patented quattro permanent AWD system with its 40/60 torque split. Quattro is confident in both increment weather and helps track dynamically on and off road. Not that we were surprised during a recent highway trip from New Jersey to Maryland that quattro fought through three hours of heavy downpour and never broke a stride.
It is phenomenal how savvy Audi’s AWD technology administers grip to the four 21” 5-double-spoke star rims tucked in summer Dunlop rubber. Add in ABS with brake assist and ESC with rollover mitigation and you feel as safe as a bank vault. Enhanced with the company’s 3-liter TFSI supercharged V6, the SQ5 expels 354 horsepower and 346 lb.-ft. of torque while pulling away from crowds effortlessly upon acceleration. Actually, it was disrespecting many of your favorite brands during our week-long test drive. Shifting is actuated through an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission with paddle shifters that are positioned on the massive and sporty steering wheel which of course maneuvers the Electromechanical speed sensitive power steering.
Dominating the SQ5’s exterior is Audi’s traditional fish mouth, 8-layer grille, an intensive front fascia led by xenon plus lights with LED DRLs, the aforementioned 21” rims, quad exhaust pipes and roof rails. Yes, it’s a compact SUV, but it stands tall and provides ultimate comfort. With an MSRP of $51,900, our Monsoon Gray metallic Audi was augmented with a cadre of option packages that increased pricing to $64,195. This included the $1,500 Nappa leather sports seats with firm side bolsters, $1,100 layered aluminum/black wood inlays, $800 wheels and the $7,500 Prestige package which upped the ante with our darling Bang & Olufsen sound system. Yes, this vehicle is quite pricey being you can step up to the larger Q7 with equivalent funding, but the SQ5 also provides the level of performance Audi “S” connoisseurs come to expect, and they don’t mind the ancillary financing to make their dream come to fruition.
Luxury and technology amenities are also defined by Audi’s industry leading MMI Navigation and Infotainment system; Audi connect online services; a panoramic sunroof; Audi side assist; thermo cupholders that cool and heat; manual shades for the rear windows; and a power tailgate. I’m surely not an alien as the brand’s cunning commercial spots display, but I certainly enjoy the elevated motor vehicle advancements, comfort, safety and style that attract the attention of all. It’s truth in engineering optimized to the highest degree.
