Audi Q5 vs Audi SQ5

A year into its third generation, the Audi Q5 comes out swinging with screens, screens, and more screens in an attempt to hold its position as one of the bestselling compact luxury SUVs in North America. Audi customers and car enthusiasts, however, have panned the company's shift to a derivative exterior design and subpar interior materials. With thousands of test kilometres logged in Q5 models dating back to the first generation, we came to this Q5 review with an open yet highly critical mind, especially considering our Technik test car’s more than $70,000 asking price.

Verdict: Competent but not compelling, the Q5 meets expectations without setting the bar like it did in previous generations.

Based on the redesigned 2025 Audi Q5, the SQ5 is a compact luxury crossover SUV that features styling, equipment, and mechanical upgrades to deliver a sporty, luxurious, and fun-to-drive experience. It comes in standard or Sportback body styles, the latter equipped with a racy roofline that doesn’t compromise passenger and cargo space as much as you expect. Upgrades with this redesign include a new vehicle architecture, more power, added practicality, and next-generation technology.

Verdict: Choosing a sport-tuned SUV over a sport-tuned sedan typically means making a dynamic compromise. The added weight and higher centre of gravity can make an SUV less enjoyable when the road turns twisty. With the 2025 Audi SQ5, that’s not the case. We like it more than the Audi S5 Sportback that shares its Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture.