What makes a vehicle appealing differs from person to person. For many, it’s the looks of the car, for some it’s the technology, others love the engineering and then you get those, like me, who love the sound that a car makes. However, as time progresses, vehicle sounds have become quieter due to emissions regulations. Engine downsizing has also played a role in making performance cars sound less ferocious as the use of four cylinders has become more prevalent, so gone are the days when most cars used a V6 or a V8 engine configuration. Instead, smaller capacity turbocharged engines have become the order of the day.
One can imagine my excitement,then, when I stepped into the Audi SQ5, pressed the start button and immediately the bark of a V6 emitted, followed by the constant burble that is known for making car lovers weak at the knees. Admittedly, one doesn’t have to drive the Audi SQ5 to appreciate what it offers as its beauty alone is enough to make you notice it. Finished off in Ultra Blue Metallic and sitting on 21-inch wheels, the black styling package and aggressive lines on the car make you quickly realise that this SUV means business.
The interior of the SQ5 follows the performance-based theme as you’re provided with chunky bucket seats wrapped in diamond quilted leather, as well as S-line badging in the cabin to remind you that this is not an ordinary Q5. Being an SUV, the car offers more than enough space for a family of five, which means the school run can be done comfortably. If you happen to find yourself late for a meeting though, you’ll be able to make up time easily, as you have 260kW/500Nm at your disposal.
Interestingly though, despite the SQ5’s impressive performance figures, you don’t have to drive it fast to enjoy it. That is where the sound of the 3.0 V6 turbo comes in, as it lets out a sonorous bellow at low speeds. With each gear change, the buttery smooth sonics keep you in a trance. The comfort levels in the car are also impressive, especially considering the larger wheel size. Often, the sporty variant of an SUV suffers from a firm suspension setup due to harder damping settings and low-profile tyres. In the SQ5, this is not the case, Audi have configured this car to prioritise comfort over dynamism which is appreciated as these are vehicles aimed at families more so than “boy racers”.
However, when your right foot does become heavier and you’ve selected Dynamic mode, everything sharpens up and becomes livelier, transforming the car from relaxed cruiser to apex chaser. As you accelerate, the sound of the car adapts into a higher pitched V6 scream, which is followed by a crackle from the exhaust each time the dual clutch transmission selects a new gear. Being a four-wheel drive vehicle, your confidence levels are great around corners as you always have maximum grip and the gear selectors on the steering wheel make you feel like a fighter pilot. Very quickly one can go from being a suburban dad to a hot hatch slayer in the SQ5.
The takeaway in this car for me is the balance it offers and the ability to be two cars in one. These personalities are linked through the sound of that V6. No matter what kind of SQ5 driver you want to be, you’ll always be entertained by that lovely engine tone. Long live the V6.
The Audi SQ5 is available for purchase in South Africa at a cost of R1 541 000.00. For other regions on the continent, contact your nearest Audi dealer.
Francisco Nwamba has spent over a decade at the intersection of torque and storytelling. With a sharp pen and an even sharper eye for detail, he’s written for top-tier titles including Top Gear South Africa, traversing the globe to test the world’s most coveted machines on-road, off-road, and occasionally off-script. As the former host of Ignition GT on DStv, he brought horsepower to the small screen, reviewing vehicles and interviewing guests with the charm of a car whisperer in cufflinks. Francisco brings luxury motoring to life with nuance, humour, and a little tyre smoke when necessary.
