2018 Audi SQ5 Sound Check and Acceleration Test Are Here

Sure, we get it, Audi needs to do everything to preserve the slipperiness of its cars now that every gram of CO2 matters. But this is not a Prius rival; it's the freaking SQ5, which goes up against the Mercedes-freaking-AMG GLC 43 or the BMW X4 M40i, not to mention the Macan and F-Type. None of those have pieces of black plastic where the gas is supposed to come out.

The good news is that it sounds great. I don't know what Audi does to tune exhaust systems, but they haven't messed anything up recently. For the Europeans, the new SQ5 is especially sweet since all they ever got was a twin-turbo diesel.

In case you didn't get the memo, the supercharged V6 has been ditched in everything but the Q7. So like the S4 and S5 models, all five of them, the SQ5 has a 3.0 TFSI with a single turbocharger. It's a pity that performance SUVs weren't around in the early 2000's because it would have been sweet if they could make the SQ5 with the old 4.2-liter.

Regardless, six cylinders aren't too bad when they deliver 354 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque from as low as 1,370 rpm and all the way to 4,500 rpm. Supposedly, it will do the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds. However, independent numbers find that it needs 5.8 seconds.

The turbo takes almost a second to kick into action, dulling the experience. However, the SQ5 needs just 20.7 seconds to reach 200 km/h, which is perfect for a 1,945kg high-rider. However, we'd still pick the AMG for its screaming nature and, of course, the more exciting design.