2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback Review

There are plenty of luxury crossover SUVs you can choose from these days. But there are fewer performance-oriented luxury crossovers with a coupe-like sloping roofline. That's exactly what you get with the new 2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback. Start with a standard Q5 then add more distinctive styling (the Sportback part) and additional performance (the S part) and you've got a much more interesting SUV than you had when you started. And it has a couple of interesting wrinkles on top of that.

The SQ5 Sportback is for those who like the style of the Q5 Sportback but want more panache. That comes in the form of a turbocharged V6 engine with nearly 100 additional horsepower over the Q5 Sportback. You'll also get unique SQ5 Sportback exterior badging, a standard adaptive suspension that adjusts to road conditions on the fly, and the ability to add a few optional features that aren't possible with the Q5 Sportback, such as an air suspension system that can adjust the vehicle's ride height.

A few other automakers have similar models. The Infiniti QX55 doesn't quite have the muscle, but its style bears similarities to the SQ5 Sportback. Then there's the BMW X4 M40i, which has additional power, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe with a first-rate interior. If you want even more athleticism, the Porsche Macan S is one of the sharpest SUVs you can buy. Among this group, the new SQ5 Sportback is easily worth a look.