(Time for a new forum area?)
New model SQ5 test drive
I approached it from the front and immediately noticed the huge holes in the grill. I literally could fist bump the radiator. I'd definitely suggest a rad guard be fitted. This car didn't have the "S Q5" badge on the grill. I suspect later cars will as per launch pictures. It says "S Q5" on the B pillar and the rear but everywhere else it's just a red rhombus and S. It looks internally and externally like an S-line. I was surprised that the wheels arches aren't colour coded.
I walked to the rear and the boot is very familiar to the current car … in fact it's clear a S/Q5 all round. Under the boot floor there is no option for a spare wheel due to the MHEV battery now taking up a third of that space. You can stow the luggage cover under the floor. The sub now runs side to side instead of being round.
I jumped in the rear and was surprised that the headroom wasn't more spacious. It did have a panoroof. I'm 6ft and am wondering if the Sportback will be tighter than the current model. That's for another day though. Rear leg room didn't seem any larger despite being a little longer car.
In the front all badges were the same rhombus and S ... .like an S-line. I didn't notice any S Q5 digitally on the dash but I may have missed it.
The steering wheel looks and feels better than I thought ... .or maybe I'm just getting used to the flat top. It felt fine in hand. The switches are now the haptic ones used across the range and of course in piano black plastic. I'm not a fan. It's the same for the Drive Mode switch etc.
The screens are nice. Android Auto icons seemed huge! However, and this could be a big thing for some like my wife : Virtual cockpit has gone. It's divided into thirds and you can have the nav on the right hand third but you can't have full dash maps anymore! The controls are a bit different but it works well enough through the menus.
The AirCon and seat heating are now on the bottom edge of the central dash. I had no issues operating them (I do have the advantage of being left handed) but you do of course have to look at where you are touching. The same is true for the large door button panel. Maybe you acclimatise to the positions but they didn't feel very distinct and were the same haptic piano black plastic. Grabbing and closing the door is either over the panel or reach further for the horizontal part. A bit of an odd design.
The leather seats (perforated) felt softer than the B9.5 leather seats and about the same as the current Dinamica seats. I thought the central console might be a pain for my knee as it's higher but it wasn't. Pedal position/driving position felt the same as current.
Driving it gave me the impression of a grown up car. It didn't feel very hooligan but maybe that's because I ride motorbikes on road and track and am a little hardened to speed. It got off the line well but above 60/70 I expected more. I was still pulling strong but not just what I'd expected. The sound (louder in Dynamic mode) is nice enough and there were a few pops and bangs but it's again pretty grown up. I'm sure many will want a louder experience.
The ride is very good as you'd expect on air. Dynamic isn't crashy at all and rides in a very compliant way. Comfort doesn't seem massively softer but it does hide inperfections better. Both adjust to the conditions and neither gives much lean in the bends.
What did impress me was booting it hard on the exit of bends/small roundabouts etc. I don't know what torque vectoring or whatever is at play but it pushes you round and the nose pulls in tight. I wasn't on the ragged edge of course so could do with exploring it more but it's the big positive I walk away with.
It's a nice car but I'm wondering if I can justify the price by which I don't mean list price, I mean real world price. I have time to ponder as would definitely want to see the Sportback first.
20250322_131820 (Large).jpg
20250322_121024 (Large).jpg
20250322_123057_1 (Large).jpg
20250322_121812 (Large).jpg
20250322_121604 (Large).jpg
20250322_121840 (Large).jpg
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by scottyuk
Bookmarks