2025 Audi SQ5 Sportback

As the coupe-style variant of the popular SQ5 SUV, the SQ5 Sportback is less focused on daily practicality and more focused on style and fun. It’s still practical, of course, and a comfortable daily driver — we’d say it’s one of the most well-rounded SUVs in its class. The SQ5 Sportback also offers lots of standard and optional technology, and all versions come with all-wheel drive (AWD).

One thing to keep in mind is that the SQ5 Sportback is smaller yet more expensive than its main rivals.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving the current class of compact luxury SUVs, including the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Red brake calipers and Audi Advanced Key are now standard equipment on all models, and Homeink buttons are now integrated into the rearview mirror. Two new appearance packages are available, offering black or magnesium gray accents, bespoke wheel designs, and other visual distinctions.

The 2025 Audi SQ5 Sportback is priced near the middle of its competitive set, starting at just over $63,000 and topping out above $70,000. The most comparable BMW X4, the M40i, starts at about $68,000, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe starts at $74,000 or so, but both also offer significantly more power than the SQ5. The Infiniti QX55 is considerably more affordable, starting around $52,000, but it doesn’t offer as much power or performance as the Audi.

Before buying an Audi SQ5 Sportback, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying, based on what others have paid for similar vehicles. The SQ5 Sportback’s resale values are about average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The SQ5 Sportback’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, upgraded suspension, and more powerful brakes make the most of the 349-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged V6. Spirited driving is rewarded with quick, nimble movements and rapid acceleration without sacrificing comfort or luxury.

The BMW X4 M40i is a sportier choice, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe is also more athletic and nearly 70 horsepower stronger. The SQ5 Sportback’s balance of performance and luxury may suit more people, however.

Fuel Economy

The SQ5 Sportback sits on the low side of average fuel economy in its segment at 21 mpg combined (19/24 city/hwy). That’s about even with the 416-horsepower AMG GLC 43 Coupe, but a bit behind the X4 M40i’s 23 mpg combined and the QX55’s 25 mpg combined.

Refined and classy with some of the best materials in the compact luxury SUV class, the SQ5 Sportback’s cabin epitomizes Audi’s reputation for making some of the finest interiors in the business. Leather, wood, and metal trims and accents are available, and you can even get special carbon inlays.

The SQ5 Sportback’s legroom is great up front at 40.9 inches, and still excellent in the rear seats at 38 inches. That’s almost 3 inches more rear legroom than the BMW X4, and almost an inch more than the Mercedes-AMG GLC Coupe. Likewise, the SQ5 Sportback’s cargo space is among the roomiest at 24.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats, considerably more than the X4’s 18.5 cubic feet or the GLC Coupe’s 19.2. With the rear seats folded, all three are more closely grouped at about 50 to 52 cubic feet.

A sleek, sloped, coupe-like roofline on a compact luxury SUV has become a more common sight, but it’s still an outlier, and that marks it as premium before you even notice the badge. Audi’s tasteful, understated style hints at the SQ5 Sportback’s performance potential, but without garish graphics packages or neon colors. The new black and magnesium gray appearance packages for 2025 underline the subtlety.

S Sport package
With a sport version of Audi’s adaptive air suspension actively adjusting ride height and damping, the SQ5 Sportback’s already athletic build is taken to the next level. A sport rear differential also helps apply maximum torque without harming dynamics. This package is available on Premium Plus and Prestige trims.

Turbocharged V6
Electric motors are fun and fast, but there’s still something to be said about the engineering and experience of a high-output turbocharged gasoline V6, and the 349-horsepower unit in the SQ5 Sportback doesn’t disappoint, enabling 4.7-second zero-to-60 mph runs and a top speed of 155 mph.

Driver assistance features
As much as the SQ5 Sportback is a passionate, performance-driven choice, it’s also a luxurious and practical daily driver, so it should have the safety elements required to keep you and your family safe every day. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control with active lane assistance, plus a host of sensors and software to keep you safe in urban environments as well as on the highway.

Virtual Cockpit Plus
With a sharp 12.3-inch display and a lot of customizability, this system can show maps, directions, speed, and more. It can also adjust the information displayed based on the drive mode selected (Classic, Sport, or Dynamic). It’s standard on Premium Plus and Prestige SQ5 Sportback trims.

Quattro all-wheel drive
Standard all-wheel drive gives the SQ5 Sportback plenty of traction for hard acceleration, or grip when the weather turns cold and snowy. The system switches intelligently between front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD to maximize efficiency and traction.

MMI infotainment system
Wireless smartphone integration, a 10.1-inch display, and an easy-to-use interface mark the standard MMI infotainment system as one of the best in the segment. Premium Plus and Prestige models also get a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system as standard equipment.

The 2025 SQ5 Sportback has just one powertrain, a 3.0-liter turbo V6 rated for 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are also standard.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-car warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. A period of complimentary roadside service is included, which is typical of most luxury brands.

Safety

The SQ5 Sportback hasn’t been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the structurally similar Q5 Sportback earns top marks of five stars. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, active lane assistance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and much more.