Audi SQ5 Sportback

The SQ5 Sportback is a coupe-like version of Audi’s performance-oriented compact crossover SUV, the SQ5. The five-seater trades some of the more traditionally shaped SQ5’s rear-seat room and cargo space for a sportier design that features a tapered rear roofline. It’s the smaller of two high-output fastback SUVs offered by the German automaker, measuring about a foot shorter than the midsize SQ8.

Under the hood, the SQ5 Sportback features a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that makes 349 horsepower. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which routes power to all four wheels via the automaker’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive system. To date, no hybrid or electric versions of the SQ5 Sportback have been offered.

Audi builds the SQ5 Sportback in three trims: the entry-level Premium, the mid-tier Premium Plus, and the top-of-the-line Prestige. All versions come with a generous allotment of standard features, including an adaptive suspension, parking sensors, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Standard active safety tech includes forward collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring; adaptive cruise control also became standard in 2023 (and was previously limited to higher-level trims). Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim also adds a digital instrument panel (which Audi calls “Virtual Cockpit”), a heated steering wheel, a surround-view camera, and lane-keeping assist. The range-topping Prestige further includes acoustic glass, a head-up display, navigation, heated rear seats, and a premium Bang and Olufsen audio system. Some notable options include ventilated front seats, an adaptive air suspension, and a torque-vectoring rear differential.