The new one sets out to do much the same. It\u2019s powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged V6 very closely related to the engine seen in the excellent S5<\/a>. Here, it develops 354 bhp to deliver a 0-100 km\/h time of 5.1 seconds. It\u2019s also draped in much chrome and sporty S badges, and it has quad-exhausts, so you know it\u2019s the fun one of the range.<\/p>\n The experience is dominated by that V6 engine, which is a masterpiece. On paper, the 0-100 km\/h time and power output aren\u2019t really that extreme by modern-day performance SUV standards, but on the road, the SQ5 is plenty exciting enough. The exhaust pops and crackles and the engine growls and snorts \u2013 it feels and sounds more like a hot-hatch than it does a sensible SUV. It feels naughty, and that\u2019s something to be celebrated in a car like this.<\/p>\n The throttle response is mega, especially if you stick the drive selector into \u2018dynamic\u2019 mode. But even if you\u2019re in straight-up \u2018automatic\u2019, the way the SQ5 hauls its weight towards the horizon is astonishing. You stick your foot down, and power is instantly available. And then you\u2019re doing the speed limit and you need to slam on the (very good) brakes.<\/p>\n Our test car had the adaptive air suspension option box ticked and we\u2019d recommend it. It makes the ride as supple as a Range Rover\u2019s, but it also keeps you flat and planted when you\u2019re being silly through the bends. There\u2019s decent feel through the steering, too, meaning you can place the car pretty accurately when you\u2019re hooning around corners. Don\u2019t expect to be pulling any drifts in this thing, but the SQ5 grips well at unsafe speeds \u2013 you\u2019d have to be going stupidly fast to see a hint of understeer.<\/p>\n The SQ5 is also adorned with plenty of off-road tech. In fact, for its regional launch, Audi had SQ5s driving through the harsh, mountainous terrain of Oman. Most of the off-road stuff is electronic, meaning the car probably won’t respond well to being taken dune-bashing. But you should certainly be able to throw your SQ5 at some of the rough stuff. Just don’t catch those lovely, 21-inch, cast-aluminium alloy rims on any rocks.<\/p>\n And when you\u2019re done messing around, the SQ5 is much like the regular Q5<\/a> \u2013 quiet, comfortable, refined. It\u2019s a very pleasant thing to pootle around in. There\u2019s more space than the outgoing model, meaning that, with the back seats folded flat, the car could easily swallow a big IKEA shop.<\/p>\n The SQ5\u2019s interior is lifted pretty much wholesale from the S5<\/a>\u2019s, which in turn is basically the same as the A4\u2019s \u2013 but with a few sporty touches added in here and there. That\u2019s no bad thing at all \u2013 the interiors on this generation of Audis are beyond reproach. There aren\u2019t many non-man-made materials, but seriously high-quality plastics, supple leather and flashes of alumunium combine to create a stunning overall design. The quilted leather seats deserve a special mention; they contribute to a feeling of being in something very expensive. Which we like.<\/p>\n Tech-wise, the SQ5 is pretty much at the top of the game. The MMI infotainment system is feature-packed and easy to navigate, and the Virtual Cockpit (which comes as standard on the SQ5) allows you to pick and choose what information you want directly in front of you. It\u2019s been around for a while now, that system, and it\u2019s still fabulous. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now come as standard, too.<\/p>\n There\u2019s one gimmick in the \u2018all-in-touch\u2019 handwriting pad on the centre console, which allows you to write in numbers or letters to search instead of scrolling for them using the control wheel. And you can use it as a mouse trackpad for selecting things on the screen. Sounds cool, but it\u2019s actually more distracting and more difficult to use than the standard method.<\/p>\n Our test car had an optional Band & Olufsen sound system fitted. If you\u2019re into your sound quality on the move, it\u2019s an option worth ticking. There\u2019s an ambient lighting option, too, and while it does give the interior a cool, funky nightclub vibe, it\u2019s pretty non-essential.<\/p>\n The previous Q5 was, according to Audi, the best-selling car in its class, and there\u2019s no reason to think that the current-gen car will be any less popular. Residuals are strong for the old car, even despite the fact the new one is out, and the S models tend to hold their value just as well. Fuel-wise, you\u2019re looking at 10.8 litres \/ 100 km \u2013 not bad for a car with over 350 bhp. And for insurance<\/a>, budget around AED 7,000 for fully comprehensive cover<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2018\/03\/IMG_2227-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nHow does it drive?<\/h3>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2018\/03\/2018-Audi-SQ5-cabin-01-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nInterior quality and tech<\/h3>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2018\/03\/IMG_2066-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nRunning costs<\/h3>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2018\/03\/IMG_2139-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nOur verdict<\/h3>\n