2026 Audi SQ5 Sportback

At Audi, the letter "S" signals a sport-tuned model, and the name "Sportback" indicates a vehicle with a rakishly sloped roofline for a more fashionable appearance. As such, the 2026 Audi SQ5 Sportback is a compact crossover SUV that combines extra style with more speed. Redesigned midway through the 2025 model year, the SQ5 Sportback receives meaningful changes for 2026 that should make you glad you waited. A new infotainment system debuts, and Audi has added standard features and a complimentary maintenance plan to the SUV.  

With the discontinuation of the BMW X4, the Audi SQ5 Sportback's primary rival is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe. The Audi is significantly less expensive than the Mercedes, yet it offers comparable performance, slightly more cargo space, and that new complimentary scheduled maintenance plan. Not only that, but the SQ5 Sportback is also slightly more fuel-efficient than the GLC 43 Coupe. You could also consider the aging Porsche Macan, but to match the Audi's power and performance, you need a Macan S, which carries a base price in the same neighborhood as a fully loaded SQ5 Sportback with all the extras.

Halfway through 2025, Audi introduced a redesigned Q5 lineup, which included the SQ5 Sportback. Improvements to the SQ5 included more power from its turbocharged V6 engine, a high-tech interior with multiple digital displays, new safety features and enhanced utility. Now, for the 2026 model year, the SQ5 Sportback receives additional and surprisingly significant improvements. The MMI infotainment system features new graphics, an improved user experience, and deeper smartphone integration. Audi has also returned the navigation map view to its Virtual Cockpit digital driver display, and it swapped touch-sensing steering wheel controls for the company's familiar thumbwheel for scrolling through menus. A new integrated dashcam is also available for 2026, along with more standard equipment across the lineup.