Q5 S line vs SQ5 differences

[flyboys]

Hello, new to Audi's and have been looking to get a used Q5 and would like the model with the most power.

I have been told from some dealerships that the 3.0 Q5 S-Line is the same as the SQ5. 2013 -2015 years.

But have read other places that the S-line is not the SQ5.

Can anyone help set this straight?

Thanks.

[15WhiteA3]

From my research since I just bought a Q5 with a 3.0T motor, they are different. The SQ5 has a different tune to it, slightly different grills, different mirror caps and some other difference in the interior. Same way a A4 and S4 are the same body but the S version is the sportier, quicker version.

[JasonJ]

SQ5 has different brakes, transmission, suspension...to name a few minor things!

Jason
New York

[mlux24]

SQ5 has quad exhaust tips.

You can google the Audi order guides to see what options/packages were offered across both. 2014 is the first model year offered on the SQ5 in the USA.

[jomama229]

SQ5 has different brakes, transmission, suspension...to name a few minor things!

Jason
New York

i wouldn't quite call it different transmissions, just different final drive ratios.

[JD S4]

seats, shift knob, steering wheel

[Dr.Chris]

The dampeners are different in the suspension, even though they have the same springs in the US.

[KillerQuattro]

Your question is specifically about the most power. To address that question directly, a factory Q5 3.0tfsi has 272 horsepower, and the SQ5 has 354 HP. However, with a stage 1 tune, a Q5 will have very close to the same output level as a stage 1 tuned SQ5.. Keep in mind the Q5 S/C cooling will need upgrades beyond Stage 1, where that is not necessarily the case with the SQ5. The SQ5 has a larger cooling capacity overall.

I tend to mod almost all of my cars to include braking upgrades, coil-overs, exhaust, and aesthetic things like the front grill, lighting and wheels. So for me, I could not justify spending the extra cash of an SQ5, when you can make a Q5 S-line perform about the same. I would definitely still need to address the suspension if I had purchased an SQ5.

I have the sport interior package in my Q5 S-line, so I am plenty comfortable in my seats as well.

As mentioned above, there are all sorts of little things in the car that may sway your decision, like steering wheel, diamond stitched seats, quad tip exhaust, etc.

Good luck! Either option, well-equipped, will be a very fun and reliable vehicle I can assure you. Even with the stock tune, the drive-train combo of a Supercharged v6 + the 8-speed ZF trans is a match made in heaven.

[VroomVroom]

One key here: B8.5 v B9. OP was pretty clear that we're talking the former.

So - transmissions are identical. To the best of my knowledge, the final drive ratios are identical as well. My '16 SQ turns the same revs @ 75mph as did my '13 Q.

The SQ has different brakes and dampers, a few interior appointments already mentioned, and 'S' front clip and rear valance treatments. Largely cosmetic/aesthetic, but in terms of power - in stock trim the HP difference is > 70. If you plan to visit the aftermarket for tuning, that difference can be extinguished for ~ $1k.

[KillerQuattro]

Fyi on the final drive ratio.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

[flyboys]

Woah, best forum response I think Ive ever had. Fast, no bs, like it. Thank you all.

So there is a difference. Thought so. Man sales people will say anything sometimes.

Anyway. I am turning this into a Camera Vehicle with a crane on top. More power is definitely important but it also cant ride too harsh. Does the different SQ5 suspension ride any harder? More performance usually means stiffer less ride quality.
Thank you all again.

[flyboys]

Your question is specifically about the most power. To address that question directly, a factory Q5 3.0tfsi has 272 horsepower, and the SQ5 has 354 HP. However, with a stage 1 tune, a Q5 will have very close to the same output level as a stage 1 tuned SQ5.. Keep in mind the Q5 S/C cooling will need upgrades beyond Stage 1, where that is not necessarily the case with the SQ5. The SQ5 has a larger cooling capacity overall.

I tend to mod almost all of my cars to include braking upgrades, coil-overs, exhaust, and aesthetic things like the front grill, lighting and wheels. So for me, I could not justify spending the extra cash of an SQ5, when you can make a Q5 S-line perform about the same. I would definitely still need to address the suspension if I had purchased an SQ5.

I have the sport interior package in my Q5 S-line, so I am plenty comfortable in my seats as well.

As mentioned above, there are all sorts of little things in the car that may sway your decision, like steering wheel, diamond stitched seats, quad tip exhaust, etc.

Good luck! Either option, well-equipped, will be a very fun and reliable vehicle I can assure you. Even with the stock tune, the drive-train combo of a Supercharged v6 + the 8-speed ZF trans is a match made in heaven.

Where do you go for the stage tuning? New to euro cars as well. Know where to buy american stuff not euro. Thank you for the great info too.

All the interiors Ive looked at on the Q's looked perfect for what I am doing with it. More concerned with performance, braking and ride quality.

[KillerQuattro]

For Stage 1 power, I think they are likely all very close to each other in performance.. So that leaves you with cost and availability to make your decision mostly. At-home flashing is nice, so you dont have to go to a shop everytime you want to upgrade or take it into Audi for service. A tune seen by Audi may warrant a TD1 flag that limits or completely eliminates your remaining factory warranty.

EPL is great for at-home flashing with a laptop and their cable, and they have some of the fastest cars around. Also offering a ZF TCU tune which is probably pretty sweet in combo with their tune.
APR is tried and true, but they are proud of their tune, so they charge approriately. ($$$)
Unitronic is a solid choice.
034 is probably a good choice too, but havent heard a ton about how they compare to others on this platform.

Q5 S-line (3.0t) has really strong brakes. I wouldnt worry about upsizing to the SQ5 on the braking alone. Many SQ5 owners have still upgraded to a full BBK..

Ride quality is likely better with the adaptive suspension option. That is a feature my Q5 did not come with, so I cannot comment on how those ride.. I went with KW coilovers to solve the ride height issue. The factory ride was really nice, but the height and body roll was an issue for me. To address body roll without compromising ride height, you just need a rear sway bar and it'll tighten everything up nicely.

[Salty Mope]

As a few others have already mentioned, the biggest differences are front brakes (330mm Q5 vs 380mm SQ5), stock hp (272 Q5 vs 354 SQ5), and the improved cooling on the SQ5. Then you get into quad exhaust tips vs dual, larger stock wheels, and various minor cosmetic differences.

I have a 2014 3.0T S-Line and I love it. In my research before purchasing, I found that the SQ5 commanded roughly $7-10k more than the 3.0T Q5 on average in the used car market. My thinking was to get the cheaper 3.0T Q5 S-Line, and then spend the $7-10k savings as you see fit by selecting upgrades which are most important to you (Brembo BBK for about $3k, Stage 2 ecu tune for ~$1200-1800, exhaust, wheels, cooling, etc.)

As far as where to go for the tune, that's largely personal preference as it seems the performance across stage 1 and stage 2 tunes is fairly equal from one company to the next. This is a decision I'm still trying to make but I'm leaning towards EPL, especially with their current sale and their TCU tune which is only available to customers who are also running an EPL ECU tune. You can go with somebody like APR who has been around forever and you pay a little extra for that brand recognition and reputation, or you can go with somebody like EPL who has a large, loyal following as a result of their variety of great tunes, frequent updates, ability to flash from home, and highly responsive customer service. GIAC and Integrated Engineering are a couple other options.

[VroomVroom]

Fyi on the final drive ratio.

I remember that chart being discussed quite a bit, with the focus that it was incorrect. A forum search yielded the thought that in reality the SQ has a lower numeric ratio @ 3.076...making me wonder if the numbers were simply transposed.

Unfortunately my lunch hour google search didn't yield anything more specific. That said, a couple of online calculators demonstrated that, given identical 8th-gear ratios, the vehicle speed @ 2k RPM would be much lower (80mph down to 70mph) if the final drive ratios listed in the chart were accurate. By all means enter your own numbers for comparison. I can't say with 100% certainty I cruise exactly @ 80mph/2k RPM, but I'm definitely going much faster than 70mph.

[Edit]
FWIW.... http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/...0Q5_2015-1.pdf

Page 41 at least hints that the ratios are identical across 3.0T models, with a shorter ratio for 2.0T & hybrid and a longer ratio for TDI.

[Pittdawg]

As a few others have already mentioned, the biggest differences are front brakes (330mm Q5 vs 380mm SQ5), stock hp (272 Q5 vs 354 SQ5), and the improved cooling on the SQ5. Then you get into quad exhaust tips vs dual, larger stock wheels, and various minor cosmetic differences.

Pretty sure the 3.0T has the same 345mm fronts as my TDI; they are quite effective and I don't see the need to upgrade them unless you are routinely tracking the car...

[Silver_Bullet]

I have a 2014 3.0T S-Line and I love it. In my research before purchasing, I found that the SQ5 commanded roughly $7-10k more than the 3.0T Q5 on average in the used car market. My thinking was to get the cheaper 3.0T Q5 S-Line, and then spend the $7-10k savings as you see fit by selecting upgrades which are most important to you (Brembo BBK for about $3k, Stage 2 ecu tune for ~$1200-1800, exhaust, wheels, cooling, etc.).

It's funny but the performance guys often buy the SQ5 and then change all the things that makes the SQ5 different from the 3.0T Q5! They change the suspension, change the brakes, change the exhaust, change the wheels, change the tune, upgrade the intercooler. What's left is the badges and stitches!

In your case save the money and get the 3.0 Q5. The wheels and suspension will be softer and more absorbent of bumps, better for your camera platform. The brakes are great with Brembos. Add a stage 1 tune (60-90 HP over SQ5) and maybe a TCU (transmission) tune and you are good to go. If you're going to be doing a lot of extended pulls and runs in the heat add the intercooler for safety margin. If you are doing a lot of maneuvers add a sway bar to flatten the body motion (034 or Eurocode).

EPL has a nice tune and the only public TCU tune at this point, all tune from home. APR is the engineering powerhouse in this tuning world and has spent the most resources designing products and testing for the platform, so they are the benchmark for power and reliability.

[Salty Mope]

Pretty sure the 3.0T has the same 345mm fronts as my TDI; they are quite effective and I don't see the need to upgrade them unless you are routinely tracking the car...

You are correct, sir. 2.0 has 320, 3.0 has 345, and SQ5 has 380. I researched this thoroughly because I just swapped out front and rear pads+rotors less than 2 months ago, but clearly my short term memory is dead and gone

[MSq5]

Your question is specifically about the most power. To address that question directly, a factory Q5 3.0tfsi has 272 horsepower, and the SQ5 has 354 HP. However, with a stage 1 tune, a Q5 will have very close to the same output level as a stage 1 tuned SQ5.. Keep in mind the Q5 S/C cooling will need upgrades beyond Stage 1, where that is not necessarily the case with the SQ5. The SQ5 has a larger cooling capacity overall.

I tend to mod almost all of my cars to include braking upgrades, coil-overs, exhaust, and aesthetic things like the front grill, lighting and wheels. So for me, I could not justify spending the extra cash of an SQ5, when you can make a Q5 S-line perform about the same. I would definitely still need to address the suspension if I had purchased an SQ5.

I have the sport interior package in my Q5 S-line, so I am plenty comfortable in my seats as well.

As mentioned above, there are all sorts of little things in the car that may sway your decision, like steering wheel, diamond stitched seats, quad tip exhaust, etc.

Good luck! Either option, well-equipped, will be a very fun and reliable vehicle I can assure you. Even with the stock tune, the drive-train combo of a Supercharged v6 + the 8-speed ZF trans is a match made in heaven.

The above is a good summary regarding power, assuming you are discussing the B8R 3.0 TFSI supercharged engine and not the newer B9, which is turbocharged and has limited upgrades at this time.

I have a '17 S-Line Q5 with the 3.0 TFSI engine. The engine is the same, but detuned to 272. Stage 1 and Stage 2 tunes pretty much equalize the two engines. At Stage 2 with single pulley 179mm crank pulley I estimate crank hp at around 420-430, about the same as any Stage 2 SQ5 with the same pulley ration.

There is a difference in supercharger cooling. The SQ has more cooling capacity and will run slightly lower IATs at the same high load conditions. Frankly, at my tune level, I probably do need to upgrade cooling, but so would someone with similar mods on an SQ5.

Both use the same ZF8 transmission. There are now transmission ECU upgrades that really increase shift firmness and also permit the transmission to shift at higher rpm. Both cars have factory 6,300 rpm shift redline. But, with a tune and corresponding transmission tune, you can safely raise shift points to 6,900 or maybe 7,000 before getting into cooling problems.

I selected a S-Line Q5 because of the engine. The brakes on the S-Line are 4 pot Brembos in front and are just about as good as the slightly larger rotor 4 pot Brembos on the SQ. The SQ has improved suspension, but that is of less importance to me in a car that will never be used in competition on a road course. I am more concerned with straight line acceleration and highway driving passing power.

FWIW, my S-Line came with the 20" summer tire package, so the larger wheels are available on Q5 models as well, just not standard.

[flyboys]

For Stage 1 power, I think they are likely all very close to each other in performance.. So that leaves you with cost and availability to make your decision mostly. At-home flashing is nice, so you dont have to go to a shop everytime you want to upgrade or take it into Audi for service. A tune seen by Audi may warrant a TD1 flag that limits or completely eliminates your remaining factory warranty.

EPL is great for at-home flashing with a laptop and their cable, and they have some of the fastest cars around. Also offering a ZF TCU tune which is probably pretty sweet in combo with their tune.
APR is tried and true, but they are proud of their tune, so they charge approriately. ($$$)
Unitronic is a solid choice.
034 is probably a good choice too, but havent heard a ton about how they compare to others on this platform.

Q5 S-line (3.0t) has really strong brakes. I wouldnt worry about upsizing to the SQ5 on the braking alone. Many SQ5 owners have still upgraded to a full BBK..

Ride quality is likely better with the adaptive suspension option. That is a feature my Q5 did not come with, so I cannot comment on how those ride.. I went with KW coilovers to solve the ride height issue. The factory ride was really nice, but the height and body roll was an issue for me. To address body roll without compromising ride height, you just need a rear sway bar and it'll tighten everything up nicely.

Killer, really great info. Appreciate you taking the time.

Stage one is just the flash?

Which one has the adaptive suspension? I assume the SQ5? Can you explain what Audi does for it? Know Cadillac has something similar.

I do have to worry about body roll as Ill have about 400lbs on top of the roof and will be hauling ass most times.

You mentioned body height. I assume that you lowered yours? Ill need the clearance so it'll have to stay stock. Plus the weight might lower it a bit. So do you recommend KW coils for the weight?

Thanks for the sway bar info. Do you recommend a brand and size?

Thank you again.

[flyboys]

As a few others have already mentioned, the biggest differences are front brakes (330mm Q5 vs 380mm SQ5), stock hp (272 Q5 vs 354 SQ5), and the improved cooling on the SQ5. Then you get into quad exhaust tips vs dual, larger stock wheels, and various minor cosmetic differences.

I have a 2014 3.0T S-Line and I love it. In my research before purchasing, I found that the SQ5 commanded roughly $7-10k more than the 3.0T Q5 on average in the used car market. My thinking was to get the cheaper 3.0T Q5 S-Line, and then spend the $7-10k savings as you see fit by selecting upgrades which are most important to you (Brembo BBK for about $3k, Stage 2 ecu tune for ~$1200-1800, exhaust, wheels, cooling, etc.)

As far as where to go for the tune, that's largely personal preference as it seems the performance across stage 1 and stage 2 tunes is fairly equal from one company to the next. This is a decision I'm still trying to make but I'm leaning towards EPL, especially with their current sale and their TCU tune which is only available to customers who are also running an EPL ECU tune. You can go with somebody like APR who has been around forever and you pay a little extra for that brand recognition and reputation, or you can go with somebody like EPL who has a large, loyal following as a result of their variety of great tunes, frequent updates, ability to flash from home, and highly responsive customer service. GIAC and Integrated Engineering are a couple other options.

Salty, thank you!

It looks like my budget is leaning towards the 3.0 S line as well. Haven't seen a used SQ5 under $27K. About $7K more then my budget for this.
But would have to go for the bigger brakes, a tune, cold air, sway bar and bigger radiator because Ill be using it hard most times. So could get close.

Thank you again. Greatly appreciated.

[flyboys]

I remember that chart being discussed quite a bit, with the focus that it was incorrect. A forum search yielded the thought that in reality the SQ has a lower numeric ratio @ 3.076...making me wonder if the numbers were simply transposed.

Unfortunately my lunch hour google search didn't yield anything more specific. That said, a couple of online calculators demonstrated that, given identical 8th-gear ratios, the vehicle speed @ 2k RPM would be much lower (80mph down to 70mph) if the final drive ratios listed in the chart were accurate. By all means enter your own numbers for comparison. I can't say with 100% certainty I cruise exactly @ 80mph/2k RPM, but I'm definitely going much faster than 70mph.

[Edit]
FWIW.... http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/...0Q5_2015-1.pdf

Page 41 at least hints that the ratios are identical across 3.0T models, with a shorter ratio for 2.0T & hybrid and a longer ratio for TDI.

Thank you!

[flyboys]

Pretty sure the 3.0T has the same 345mm fronts as my TDI; they are quite effective and I don't see the need to upgrade them unless you are routinely tracking the car...

Wont be as hard as actual racing but I do have a few race team clients we'll be shooting for. So will be on track but not full tilt.

Thank you for your help!
Jim

[flyboys]

It's funny but the performance guys often buy the SQ5 and then change all the things that makes the SQ5 different from the 3.0T Q5! They change the suspension, change the brakes, change the exhaust, change the wheels, change the tune, upgrade the intercooler. What's left is the badges and stitches!

In your case save the money and get the 3.0 Q5. The wheels and suspension will be softer and more absorbent of bumps, better for your camera platform. The brakes are great with Brembos. Add a stage 1 tune (60-90 HP over SQ5) and maybe a TCU (transmission) tune and you are good to go. If you're going to be doing a lot of extended pulls and runs in the heat add the intercooler for safety margin. If you are doing a lot of maneuvers add a sway bar to flatten the body motion (034 or Eurocode).

EPL has a nice tune and the only public TCU tune at this point, all tune from home. APR is the engineering powerhouse in this tuning world and has spent the most resources designing products and testing for the platform, so they are the benchmark for power and reliability.

Silver Bullet, thank you! Great info as well.

I assume the Q5 doesnt come with Brembo's but would have to be added correct?

Thanks for the Sway bar info too.

[flyboys]

The above is a good summary regarding power, assuming you are discussing the B8R 3.0 TFSI supercharged engine and not the newer B9, which is turbocharged and has limited upgrades at this time.

I have a '17 S-Line Q5 with the 3.0 TFSI engine. The engine is the same, but detuned to 272. Stage 1 and Stage 2 tunes pretty much equalize the two engines. At Stage 2 with single pulley 179mm crank pulley I estimate crank hp at around 420-430, about the same as any Stage 2 SQ5 with the same pulley ration.

There is a difference in supercharger cooling. The SQ has more cooling capacity and will run slightly lower IATs at the same high load conditions. Frankly, at my tune level, I probably do need to upgrade cooling, but so would someone with similar mods on an SQ5.

Both use the same ZF8 transmission. There are now transmission ECU upgrades that really increase shift firmness and also permit the transmission to shift at higher rpm. Both cars have factory 6,300 rpm shift redline. But, with a tune and corresponding transmission tune, you can safely raise shift points to 6,900 or maybe 7,000 before getting into cooling problems.

I selected a S-Line Q5 because of the engine. The brakes on the S-Line are 4 pot Brembos in front and are just about as good as the slightly larger rotor 4 pot Brembos on the SQ. The SQ has improved suspension, but that is of less importance to me in a car that will never be used in competition on a road course. I am more concerned with straight line acceleration and highway driving passing power.

FWIW, my S-Line came with the 20" summer tire package, so the larger wheels are available on Q5 models as well, just not standard.

Thank you MSq5!

What are the differences in the suspensions? Curious if that would help or hurt me at all with what I am doing?

Thank you again. Great info.

[flyboys]

I looked up the active suspension and see that it uses airbags and other bits and can change ride heights.

Does anyone know if that would help or hurt me using it vs the regular suspension? I can see it possibly helping to raise with weight and shooting off road. But airbags can be a bit squishy with weight and not handle as well.
Im sure Audi has it figured out but have never driven one to see the difference.

[Silver_Bullet]

Silver Bullet, thank you! Great info as well.

I assume the Q5 doesnt come with Brembo's but would have to be added correct?

Thanks for the Sway bar info too.

The Brembos are stock on the 3.0 Q5, with 345mm rotors. Great brakes but actually your application sounds pretty intense. I'd probably go for the BBK if your budget can handle it just to be safe with the added weight and high speeds.

The APR CPS 3.0 is a nice upgraded intercooler kit for the supercharger that a lot of people are running.

With the added weight on top I'd probably go for the Eurocode Sway bars - it's a set, both front and rear, and it probably will work great with a stock suspension. This may be better than relying on just an upgraded rear bar to fight all that top weight.

Sounds like a fun project!

[stapan]

One factor that I'm surprised people don't consider is insurance costs.

A modified Q5 3.0T can be made equal or better than an SQ5 in all areas (and is essentially identical to a modified SQ5) but still cost a lot less up front AND less to insure every year.

Furthermore you can get adaptive damping suspension on the Q, which is truly fantastic (especially with aftermarket springs) - it isn't available on the SQ for some reason (and would be very challenging/expensive to retrofit - never seen it done).

Don't underestimate the Q brakes either. They are 4 piston Brembos and many of the S4 guys upgrade to Q5 brakes - that should speak volumes.

[Silver_Bullet]

Don't underestimate the Q brakes either. They are 4 piston Brembos and many of the S4 guys upgrade to Q5 brakes - that should speak volumes.

Stapan is right, they are great. If you are carrying a camera up top, are you really locking up the brakes a lot? Seems like that would be a little crazy, you're not running a canyon. You could easily stay with stock and see how it goes. If you end up overheating them in your application then you could do an upgrade.

[flyboys]

The Brembos are stock on the 3.0 Q5, with 345mm rotors. Great brakes but actually your application sounds pretty intense. I'd probably go for the BBK if your budget can handle it just to be safe with the added weight and high speeds.

The APR CPS 3.0 is a nice upgraded intercooler kit for the supercharger that a lot of people are running.

With the added weight on top I'd probably go for the Eurocode Sway bars - it's a set, both front and rear, and it probably will work great with a stock suspension. This may be better than relying on just an upgraded rear bar to fight all that top weight.

Sounds like a fun project!

Thank you again. Yeah its gonna be fun.

[flyboys]

One factor that I'm surprised people don't consider is insurance costs.

A modified Q5 3.0T can be made equal or better than an SQ5 in all areas (and is essentially identical to a modified SQ5) but still cost a lot less up front AND less to insure every year.

Furthermore you can get adaptive damping suspension on the Q, which is truly fantastic (especially with aftermarket springs) - it isn't available on the SQ for some reason (and would be very challenging/expensive to retrofit - never seen it done).

Don't underestimate the Q brakes either. They are 4 piston Brembos and many of the S4 guys upgrade to Q5 brakes - that should speak volumes.

Ya know I didnt think of the difference to insure the SQ over the Q. Very good point.
I thought the adaptive suspension came stock with the SQ5 and not the Q?

Thanks

[falconcry]

So I just picked up a 2016 SQ5. Originally, I was in the market for a 3.0t Q5, not an SQ... but this one just popped up locally at a good deal. I had specific "must haves" like black on black, black optics, 3.0, certain mileage, warranty, price etc. There weren't many Q5s across the country that met my criteria, and especially not locally. So while I wasn't originally looking for an SQ, I'm glad I broadened my search because I'm really happy with the purchase.

I'm telling you my story to make 2 points: 1) price difference is probably more of a factor for new vs. used, and 2) not limiting your search to just Q5s may allow you to stumble upon a great deal on an SQ5 you wouldn't have found otherwise.

For me, things like black optics, tech package, mileage, price etc. were more important than Q vs SQ, and I would have been just as happy to end up with a Q.

[flyboys]

So I just picked up a 2016 SQ5. Originally, I was in the market for a 3.0t Q5, not an SQ... but this one just popped up locally at a good deal. I had specific "must haves" like black on black, black optics, 3.0, certain mileage, warranty, price etc. There weren't many Q5s across the country that met my criteria, and especially not locally. So while I wasn't originally looking for an SQ, I'm glad I broadened my search because I'm really happy with the purchase.

I'm telling you my story to make 2 points: 1) price difference is probably more of a factor for new vs. used, and 2) not limiting your search to just Q5s may allow you to stumble upon a great deal on an SQ5 you wouldn't have found otherwise.

For me, things like black optics, tech package, mileage, price etc. were more important than Q vs SQ, and I would have been just as happy to end up with a Q.

Good to see you got what you were looking for especially locally.
No I've been looking at Q's and Sq's. Its really the best deal for either right now. Outside color doesnt matter for me as it will be wrapped flat black to cut down on reflections.

Thanks

[stapan]

Here is another important thing to consider. The Q5 and SQ5 were available with a rare option called Panoramic Roof Delete (meaning, a solid metal roof instead of the glass).

It is not easy to find, but for your use case, sounds like it would be the way to go for better structural rigidity.

[KillerQuattro]

For what its worth, here's what I would do.

Q5 3.0t S-line, or SQ5 it doesnt really matter. Based on the fact you aren't limiting this vehicle by mileage or cost even, you are good to buy either one.. and choose based on availability, color preference, and cleanliness/maintenance records, or perhaps options.

However, I think this discussion is leaning more towards what will you want to do to either a Q5 3.0t or the SQ5 to handle what you will be putting it through.

Power:
Stage 1 from any reputable tuner. It is just a flash. No hardware needed for a nice bump in power. More gains will be seen on the Q5 since it is de-tuned from the factory. Some tuners are much more available in your area, so you should call around to see what is around. Or EPL you can flash at home with your own laptop. Very convenient.

Depending on what you buy, you will want some suspensions upgrades to address the body roll exacerbated by 400 lbs of camera gear on top. So...

Suspension options: (I think lowering by 1.5-2" will make dealing with the camera gear much easier.)
Rear sway bar, dont forget the new end-links links. This will help a ton with body roll no matter if you choose to leave stock ride height, or lower. Great mod. 034 or Eurocode are good choices.
KW HAS kit for ride height adjustment lower. Uses stock shocks/dampeners. Cost effective and adjustable similar to coil-overs. $
H&R/Bilstein which has a great ride height and amazing ride quality from what I've heard. Also somewhat cost effective. No ride height adjust ability, just lower overall and definitely a solid choice. $$
KW Street comfort Coil-overs. Comfy and adjustable in both ride height and dampening. This kit sits low and does not get to close to stock ride height without and additional part. $$$

Brakes: Not much here unless you are sold that you need an upgrade, go with some better pads and maybe some stainless lines. OEM and aftermarket SQ5 brakes are much more expensive than the Q5 so keep that in mind.

For all the other stuff, it comes down to you and your personal wants and needs. Adaptive suspension is a great option, but if you want to lower it, you need to consider that system has its upgrade limits based on the additional dampening adjustability from the factory.

I would shop around and definitely drive both options and really understand the platform better.. What the adaptive suspension actually feels like in different modes.. etc.

Good luck!

[SQive]

My first SQ5 I special ordered without the pano roof. It was great, but I know of absolutely no one else that has or had one. I believe they have unicorn status.

[VroomVroom]

We're covering an awful lot of ground here, and at least with the suspension topic the whole "active" approach means different things between generations. Just to make sure: there is no air or ride height adjustability on the B8.5 (2013-2017) platform. If so-equipped on Q5 models, you can adjust the damping quality (firm...soft) via ADS. It's the B9 models that can be had with an air suspension that varies ride height.

Insurance. I moved from a three-year old 2013 Q5 into a new 2016 SQ5 and my insurance rates went up $6 every six months on the comprehensive coverage.

Ultimately, as much as I loved my Q5, I should've waited for the SQ. For me it was about buying the vehicle I really wanted, and minimizing the mod list and expense. That's "adult" me talking. As recent as 10 years ago I was a mod freak and lacked any type of forward vision in terms of return on investment. My point: drive 'em both. Supply shouldn't be an issue and with a bit of flexibility the market will offer plenty of examples of each type. See what works for you and checks off the appropriate items from your five senses.

[Silver_Bullet]

Q5 3.0t S-line, or SQ5 it doesnt really matter. Based on the fact you aren't limiting this vehicle by mileage or cost even, you are good to buy either one.. and choose based on availability, color preference, and cleanliness/maintenance records, or perhaps options.

One thing I would say is that the stock 3.0 Q5 suspension is a marvel of shock absorbing and comfort. The SQ5 is definitely harsher, and the SQ5 20/21 inch wheels are more of a problem than solution for you by adding even more harshness. When people say how great their after market suspensions are they generally are referring to handling ability, and most of these tuned units would have no problem shaking a big camera right off the roof!

The tradeoff for that comfy ride is a bit of body roll, brake dive and squat, a general feeling of mushiness at times. I think the Eurocode sways might solve a lot of these issues without introducing too much nastiness on a stock suspension. This would be my starting point.

If you can find the adaptive suspension on the 3.0 Q5, even better (not an option on the SQ5). Then you can soften it up off road or firm it up on the track.

[flyboys]

Here is another important thing to consider. The Q5 and SQ5 were available with a rare option called Panoramic Roof Delete (meaning, a solid metal roof instead of the glass).

It is not easy to find, but for your use case, sounds like it would be the way to go for better structural rigidity.

Yeah haven't see that delete on any Q5 or S's Ive looked at. It would be much easier to mount but the sun roof will help see where the arm is. If Im noticing any distortion will probably fill in the roof with structural panels.

Good idea though. Thanks

[flyboys]

For what its worth, here's what I would do.

Q5 3.0t S-line, or SQ5 it doesnt really matter. Based on the fact you aren't limiting this vehicle by mileage or cost even, you are good to buy either one.. and choose based on availability, color preference, and cleanliness/maintenance records, or perhaps options.

However, I think this discussion is leaning more towards what will you want to do to either a Q5 3.0t or the SQ5 to handle what you will be putting it through.

Power:
Stage 1 from any reputable tuner. It is just a flash. No hardware needed for a nice bump in power. More gains will be seen on the Q5 since it is de-tuned from the factory. Some tuners are much more available in your area, so you should call around to see what is around. Or EPL you can flash at home with your own laptop. Very convenient.

Depending on what you buy, you will want some suspensions upgrades to address the body roll exacerbated by 400 lbs of camera gear on top. So...

Suspension options: (I think lowering by 1.5-2" will make dealing with the camera gear much easier.)
Rear sway bar, dont forget the new end-links links. This will help a ton with body roll no matter if you choose to leave stock ride height, or lower. Great mod. 034 or Eurocode are good choices.
KW HAS kit for ride height adjustment lower. Uses stock shocks/dampeners. Cost effective and adjustable similar to coil-overs. $
H&R/Bilstein which has a great ride height and amazing ride quality from what I've heard. Also somewhat cost effective. No ride height adjust ability, just lower overall and definitely a solid choice. $$
KW Street comfort Coil-overs. Comfy and adjustable in both ride height and dampening. This kit sits low and does not get to close to stock ride height without and additional part. $$$

Brakes: Not much here unless you are sold that you need an upgrade, go with some better pads and maybe some stainless lines. OEM and aftermarket SQ5 brakes are much more expensive than the Q5 so keep that in mind.

For all the other stuff, it comes down to you and your personal wants and needs. Adaptive suspension is a great option, but if you want to lower it, you need to consider that system has its upgrade limits based on the additional dampening adjustability from the factory.

I would shop around and definitely drive both options and really understand the platform better.. What the adaptive suspension actually feels like in different modes.. etc.

Good luck!

Thank you Killer. All great info.