The 2025 AUDI SQ5 lands in Australia as a sweet‑spot performance SUV: quick enough to make the school run feel like a victory lap, civil enough to cruise the Hume without rattling the flat white. For 2025, Audi has brought back a petrol V6 to sit alongside the torque‑rich diesel, so buyers get real choice again. The current Australian cars pair quattro and an 8‑speed auto with either a 3.0‑litre TFSI V6 (260 kW/500 Nm) or a 3.0‑litre TDI V6 (251 kW/700 Nm), good for 0-100 km/h in 4.9 and 5.1 seconds respectively. A new‑generation SQ5 with 270 kW is also confirmed for a local introduction later in 2025, but the cars you can buy now still deliver the familiar blend of pace, grip and understated style.
Pros and Cons
Pros: strong V6 performance; polished ride and refinement; beautifully made cabin; useful 2,000 kg braked towing capacity.
Cons: ANCAP score has lapsed; options can add up; Sportback trades a little boot space; diesel servicing costs are not tiny.
How Much Does It Cost?
Official pricing starts from $119,084 before on‑road costs for both the 2025 Audi SQ5 TDI and 2025 Audi SQ5 TFSI. Choose the sleeker Sportback body and add $5,231; the 2025 Audi SQ5 price for either fuel type in Sportback form is $124,315. Audi says the 2025 price trim reflects changes to Australia’s Luxury Car Tax thresholds, and the petrol returned with deliveries flagged from early 2025.
Features and Benefits
Standard 2025 Audi SQ5 features are generous: Matrix LED headlights, 21‑inch Audi Sport alloys, diamond‑stitched fine Nappa trim, heated front seats, tri‑zone climate, the 12.3‑inch Virtual Cockpit, a 10.1‑inch MMI touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and a 19‑speaker 755 W Bang & Olufsen 3D system. The Dynamic Black package adds stealthy exterior highlights, black badging and mirror caps, carbon atlas inlays, red brake calipers and even front‑seat massage for extra theatre. Practical bits include a 520‑litre boot in the SUV (510 L in the Sportback) and a 2,000 kg braked towing capacity, so the go‑fast family hauler brief is properly covered.
Safety
From 1 January 2024, the Q5 and SQ5 lost their ANCAP rating because the 2017 score expired, so there is no current rating. The kit list is still long: AEB with pedestrian detection, lane‑keep assist, blind‑spot monitoring, rear cross‑traffic alert, adaptive cruise with stop/go, exit warning, collision‑avoidance assist, driver‑attention monitoring, tyre‑pressure monitoring and a reversing camera. Eight airbags are fitted. Expect an updated assessment with the incoming generation, but for now the hardware reads well on paper.
Running Costs
Audi backs the SQ5 with a five‑year, unlimited‑kilometre warranty and 12‑month/15,000‑km service intervals. Five‑year Genuine Care plans are available; the SQ5 TDI plan is $3,560 for five years or 75,000 km, with petrol plan pricing yet to be confirmed. Claimed combined economy is 7.0-7.1 L/100 km for the diesel, while the most recent Australian figure for the petrol was 8.7 L/100 km. That mix keeps ownership tidy for a mid‑size SUV with this much punch.
Comparison To Its Competitors
BMW’s X3 M40i brings more extrovert energy and a cheekier exhaust, while Mercedes‑AMG’s GLC 43 is faster on paper and usually pricier once optioned. Porsche’s latest Macan has pivoted to electric, which changes the value case if you cannot charge at home. The 2025 AUDI SQ5 counters with a calmer ride, a quieter cabin and an interior that feels nailed together. If you want hot‑hatch attitude in an SUV, the BMW still tempts. If you want grown‑up speed with long‑trip polish, the 2025 Audi SQ5 driving experience makes an easy case.
2025 Audi SQ5 Review: Walkaround, Engine, Interior and Road Test
Conclusion
The 2025 AUDI SQ5 remains the quiet achiever in the fast mid‑size SUV crowd. It is quick, comfortable and classy, with enough tech to feel current and enough restraint to age well. The return of petrol power is a win for sound and response, while the diesel stays the long‑legged tourer. With a sharpened new model landing later this year, deals on current stock could be attractive. Either way, the 2025 Audi SQ5 performance, the 2025 Audi SQ5 features and the overall 2025 Audi SQ5 driving experience still stack up for Australian buyers.
Rating: 8.5/10
The SQ5 sold in Australia today balances speed with civility, and the cabin quality is first rate. A fresh ANCAP score and confirmed petrol service pricing would lift it again, and the incoming update may do just that.