2018 Audi Q5 & SQ5 TFL Expert Buyer’s Guide: Here’s What You Need to Know! [Video]

The Audi Q5 is by far Audi’s best selling vehicle, accounting for 10% of their total sales last year. However, there are a ton of ways to spec your 2018 Audi Q5 & SQ5. Here is your TFL Expert Buyer’s Guide!

2018 Audi Q5

2018 audi q5 quattro
2018 Audi Q5 [Photo: TFLcar]
Starting out with the Q5 there are three trim levels available: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Each comes with a different set of features, different base MSRP, and different option packages.

Powerplant:

In the Q5 you get one choice of powerplant. A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The EPA estimates this drivetrain will get 23 MPG city, 27 on the highway for 25 combined MPG.

Premium – $41,500

Standard features include a 7″ infotainment screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, a 10 speaker stereo, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and dynamic LED tail lights (they blink cool). Curiously, Audi has given the Q5 keyless start/stop, but no keyless entry as standard. Plus a power tailgate and 18″ alloys.

The option packages available include:

$3,000 – Navigation and virtual cockpit: LCD in-dash dynamic display plus an 8.3″ infotainment screen with navigation.

$900 – Convenience Pack: 8-way power adjustable seats, and keyless entry.

$1,450 – Panoramic Sunroof

$500 – Heated front seats

$850 – Ash wood trim inlays

$800 – 19″ alloy rims

$350 – Thorax rear passenger side airbags

N/C – Black cloth headliner

Premium Plus – $45,500

Standard stuff includes full LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, keyless entry & start/stop, and a driver enhancement suite that includes park assist.

The options:

$500 – Cold Weather pack: Heated rear seats & heated steering wheel

$2,600 – Navigation and virtual cockpit: 12.3″ in-dash dynamic display plus an 8″ infotainment screen with navigation

$1,450 – Warm weather package: ventilated sport seats

$1,600 – 20″ alloy rims

$800 – 19″ alloy rims

$350 – Thorax rear passenger side airbags

N/C – Sunroof delete

N/C – Black cloth headliner

Q5 Prestige – $50,800

Standard features include an 8.3″ infotainment screen with navigation, virtual cockpit, Bang & Olufsen speakers, a heads-up display, dual pane acoustic glass, and 20″ rims.

The options change once again to include:

$500 – Cold Weather pack: Heated rear seats & heated steering wheel

$1,800 – Driver Assistance Package: Adaptive cruise control, active lane keep assist, and high beam assist

$1,450 – Warm weather package: ventilated sport seats

$1,000 – Adaptive damping suspension

$350 – Thorax rear passenger side airbags

N/C – Sunroof delete

N/C – Black cloth headliner

2018 Audi SQ5

2018 Audi SQ5

Similarly, the SQ5 has its specific trims and option lists. Though, Audi omits the option for the base Premium trim, skipping straight to the Premium Plus for $54,300 or the Prestige for $58,500.

Again, there is only one engine choice, a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6 that makes  354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The SQ5 sends its power to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. As you would expect, the bigger engine is also thirstier: EPA says 19 MPG city, 24 MPG highway for a combined rating of 21 MPG.

SQ5 Premium Plus – $54,300

Standard features include LED headlights, leather or alcantara seating surfaces and a 7″ infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

Options include:

$500 – Carbon fiber trim

$1,000 – 21″ allow rims

$500 – Cold Weather pack: Heated rear seats & heated steering wheel

$2,600 – Navigation and virtual cockpit: 12.3″ in-dash dynamic display plus an 8″ infotainment screen with navigation

$3,000 – Sport S Package: Red painted brake calipers with ‘S’ badging, adaptive air suspension and a sport rear differential

$1,100 – Dynamic steering

$950 – Bang & Olufsen stereo

$1,200 – Warm Weather package: color choices of Milano leather

SQ5 Prestige – $58,500

Standard features include an 8.3″ infotainment screen with navigation, virtual cockpit, Bang & Olufsen speakers, keyless entry & stop/start, and parking system plus (park assist).

Options:

$1,250 – Napa Leather

$1,200 – Warm Weather package: color choices of Milano leather

$500 – Carbon fiber trim

$1,000 – 21″ allow rims

$500 – Cold Weather pack: Heated rear seats & heated steering wheel

$1,800 – Driver Assistance Package: Adaptive cruise control, active lane keep assist, and high beam assist

$3,000 – Sport S Package: Red painted brake calipers with ‘S’ badging, adaptive air suspension and a sport rear differential

$1,000 – Dynamic steering

Recommendations

There’s a fairly significant price gap between the Audi Q5 and the SQ5, as prices for the SQ5 start where the Q5 stops. If you’re not looking for out-and-out performance, we’d recommend going with the Q5. You get the same sort of styling, and that 2.0-liter engine is still no slouch. It should have plenty of punch to get you and the kids where you need to be without any trouble at all.

However, when it comes down to features, there’s a bit more to consider. The Premium trim comes well-equipped already, however you do have to spend extra for Audi’s virtual cockpit. If you’re a technophile, we’d say go for it – and you get navigation. However, if you’re not too bothered about having a futuristic dash, you can save $3,000 and just go with regular dials. Of course, the Cold Weather pack is nice if you live in a cold climate, but it’s just added cost and complexity if you don’t.

When you get down into the SQ5’s options, we’d recommend going for the Sport S package, as it does throw in adaptive air suspension and a sport rear differential. The dynamic steering also sharpens up the driving experience, and its nice that the system provides a linear feel. It variably changes the steering depending on your speed, so it doesn’t feel as weird as some steering assistance systems. We’d recommend going for that as well if you want the sharpest driving experience possible.

That covers all of the notable features, both standard and optional, available on the 2018 Audi Q5 & SQ5. To find out more, and see how each vehicle performs in a 0-60 run at a mile above sea level, be sure to watch the whole video!

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