Super vs turbo

[rottley]

Good morning
My wife has a 2016 g5 3.0 premium plus and I have a 2018 sq5 w/air suspension.
When driving her car the suspension feels perfect for me where the sq5 seems a little too soft or at times a little to firm(depending on the settings). Anyone else prefer the non-air uspension?

Also the pickup and responsiveness from 0-30 mph seems better than in my sq5(i know the sq5 is faster 0-60).
I wonder if the suspension takes away some of the road feel or is it the suspercharge effect with no spool up needed?

I could live with the sq5 styling combined with the engine and suspension of the q5 3.0.

I do love my car though

Dr.O

[SQive]

Oh yeah!
Supercharger all day long for instant torque.
The only thing more instant is electric.
Until they start using those 48-volt electric turbo configurations, there will always be some lag.

[MSq5]

I've owned quite a few turbo cars over the years - Saab, Volvo, Mazda. My 3.0 TFSI Q5 is the only supercharged one. Turbo lag is noticeable, even in the turbocars with small turbos. Your SQ has a dual scroll turbo, which ought to help out down low, but there will still be some lag, especially at low rpm.

Yes, the supercharger boost is instant and linear. While your SQ may be quicker 0-60 mph, your wife's car can be made quite a bit quicker for very little money. She can go from 277 hp or thereabouts, to about 420 hp, with just one pulley swap and a stage 2 ECU reflash. I have about the most modest stage 2 pulley ratio (179 mm crank pulley) and can hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and 12.7 quarter mile. That is a good bit quicker than your SQ5, if it is stock. Supercharged 3.0T cars can get way quicker with higher pulley ratios and better cooling.

Good turbo tunes will come out for your SQ5, but it will still have the low rpm lag that is inherent in turbo cars. You will eventually have upgraded turbo options, that with tuning, will be much quicker. But with bigger turbos comes even more bottom end lag. Comes with the territory.

[buggravy]

I'm fortunate enough to have both in the garage right now. Totally agree on the motor. Regardless of what numbers show on paper, even in stock tune the B8 motor just feels faster, and for me is just inherently more exciting to drive. I part ways with you on the air suspension though. Even in dynamic mode, with stock 21s, the B9 on air feels way less harsh and jarring than my B8 did when I had stock 21s on it. But at the same time it feels almost and sharp and on rails as my highly modded B8. The air suspension (combined with the sport diff) are a magical combo in my experience, and are really where the B9 shines.

[rottley]

My wifes q5 rides on nineteens and my sq5 has twentys(wheels)
That may be some of the difference i feel in ride quality.

Still waiting for APR’s ecu and tcu for the turbo sq5s

[stapan]

Other factors that must be considered:
- does the Q5 have adaptive damping suspension option?
- tire pressures can make a big difference
- what brand and model tires? Also makes a huge difference