Buying a SQ5 this week....air suspension?

**jeffvb9** · 07-13-2021 10:04 PM

Choosing between 2021 prestige district green brand new but doesn't have air suspension.
Other car is 2021 premium plus in electric blue (can't remember actual color) with S Sport package.
Both have black optics.
Trying to figure out if air is worth it? Prestige comes with a lot of cool features.
Thoughts??

**TheMysticWizard** · 07-13-2021 10:11 PM

Do either of them have the sport differential? In 2018 it was paired with Air Suspension and Red Calipers.

I'd take the one with the sport differential, it makes a difference if you plan on pushing the car.

**B6_Dolphin** · 07-13-2021 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by TheMysticWizard

Do either of them have the sport differential? In 2018 it was paired with Air Suspension and Red Calibers.

For MY2021, the "S Sport Package" includes Red Brake Calipers, Sport Adaptive Air Suspension, and Sport Rear Differential.

**TheMysticWizard** · 07-13-2021 10:45 PM

Ok, so it's all the same then.

Look for the "S Sport Package"

**spindlewood** · 07-13-2021 10:52 PM

If you can, hold out for a Prestige with the S Sport Package. The few extra bucks and perhaps weeks will keep away regret.
The sport package as others have said adds a lot of performance tweaks - air suspension (comfort and lower ride at higher speeds) and sport differential (handling in turns).

The Prestige creature comforts are nice, especially the heads up display, but also the ACC, and B&O sound. Stuff I appreciate every day.

If you must choose - then if you don't push it and every day convince/ features are a higher priority then go Prestige. If performance is a higher priority, go sport differential.

**Bezlar** · 07-14-2021 04:32 AM

Air suspension is much easier to lower if that matters to you. If not I would imagine the fixed would less problematic in the long run.

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**GreenGolf** · 07-14-2021 05:34 AM

S Sport Package was the most important option to me. Air suspension is great, and the sport diff really makes a difference when pushing in turns. Also electric blue is an amazing color.

**F10TT** · 07-14-2021 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by GreenGolf

S Sport Package was the most important option to me. Air suspension is great, and the sport diff really makes a difference when pushing in turns. Also electric blue is an amazing color.

Same here. The steel suspension car was a completely different car and I hated it. We just picked up a Mach-E and I'm reminded how spoiled we've been with the air suspension on our daily drivers.

**Hostile** · 07-14-2021 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by spindlewood

The Prestige creature comforts are nice, especially the heads up display, but also the ACC, and B&O sound. Stuff I appreciate every day.

For 2021 the Premium Plus comes with ACC (including all the driver assistance systems) and the B&O system is optional.

The only things unique to the Prestige trim are the interior ambient lighting, HUD, thicker front windows, heated rear seat and the fancier matrix LED headlights and OLED tail lights.

**midtenn** · 07-14-2021 07:14 AM

When I was looking for my SQ5 the S Sport package was the overall must have for me. I commute around 95 miles per day and I wanted the ability to adjust the suspension to my liking each day. When my 2020 showed up it was a prestige and it had way more than I was looking for, but you know, it has been absolutely the best decision I have made, so good that I will probably end up keeping this one for quite a while. Air suspension is totally worth it, especially if you plan on lowering it to change up that look just a little more.

**rcprato** · 07-14-2021 07:37 AM

I can tell you from experience that I bought a 2018 SQ5 without air suspension and since buying a year ago August it never had the ride I was looking for but I did not regret my decision.

A couple of weeks ago I installed a new set of adjustable height springs from a company called ABT in Germany and now the SQ5 rides and handles how in my opinion it should have come from the factory for an "S" model.

The standard SQ5 suspension sits way too high, 4" of space between tire and fender putting a lot of air under the car going 65mph+. I adjusted the springs to about 1 3/4" inches tire/fender gap and now rides firm but not harsh and the handling is so much better in every aspect.

The SQ5 now rides very comparable to my 09 Audi A4 with the S-Line package and Sport Suspension option, SQ5 should have had a similar set up from factory.

**jeffvb9** · 07-14-2021 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Hostile

For 2021 the Premium Plus comes with ACC (including all the driver assistance systems) and the B&O system is optional.

The only things unique to the Prestige trim are the interior ambient lighting, HUD, thicker front windows, heated rear seat and the fancier matrix LED headlights and OLED tail lights.

Very true!

So now I basically have to decide between a 2021 premium plus in Ultra metallic blue and a 2021 Prestige in District green. Both have the same options, certified, and are about $5K difference in price. Not sure I need what you listed above for $5K.

**Hostile** · 07-14-2021 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by jeffvb9

Very true!

So now I basically have to decide between a 2021 premium plus in Ultra metallic blue and a 2021 Prestige in District green. Both have the same options, certified, and are about $5K difference in price. Not sure I need what you listed above for $5K.

Yea, for me the Premium Plus was absolutely worth the cost over the Premium for all the safety systems and driver aids included but the cost of the Prestige above that was definitely not worth it.

I would have liked the ambient lighting though.

**Hostile** · 07-14-2021 08:16 AM

Oh, the Prestige also has the heated/cooled front cupholders.

I would like to see if anyone has actually retro-fitted those. They should be entirely electric so it's possibly they could just swap right in.

**jwclair** · 07-14-2021 08:31 AM

New member here, I just picked up my 2021 SQ5 (Ultra Blue w/ Rotor Gray int) Premium Plus, Sport Package, Sport Exhaust Tips, Black Optics w/ Black rings and Badges Kit. Bought it off the floor and happily it does not have navigation as I don't use that anyway, prefer Android Auto. Coming from a 2019 S4. I never drove an SQ5 without the Sport Package and it's air suspension, BUT I would not have this car without it. It's one of the best riding/driving cars I ever experienced, period! It's not as quick as the S4, but it's plenty quick for me.20210710_090430.jpg

**mtwallace85** · 07-14-2021 09:12 AM

My vote goes to an SQ5 with the S Sport package. The prestige has some cool features, but the air suspension and sports rear differential make the SQ5 what it is.

**adamazing** · 07-14-2021 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by F10TT

Same here. The steel suspension car was a completely different car and I hated it.

Exactly this. Test drove a couple models with Sport Package first before one with traditional suspension and it was completely different. Louder, harsher, more audible clunks, and less dialed in on turns. It immediately made Sport Package a 'must have' feature for me.

**adamazing** · 07-14-2021 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by jwclair

New member here, I just picked up my 2021 SQ5 (Ultra Blue w/ Rotor Gray int) Premium Plus, Sport Package, Sport Exhaust Tips, Black Optics w/ Black rings and Badges Kit. Bought it off the floor and happily it does not have navigation as I don't use that anyway, prefer Android Auto.

Wait, they're still making Prem+ models without Nav?? I figured this far into the gen, Audi would be making more 'fully loaded' builds standard.

**vwgli** · 07-14-2021 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Hostile

Yea, for me the Premium Plus was absolutely worth the cost over the Premium for all the safety systems and driver aids included but the cost of the Prestige above that was definitely not worth it.

I would have liked the ambient lighting though.

Same!

**vwgli** · 07-14-2021 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by jwclair

New member here, I just picked up my 2021 SQ5 (Ultra Blue w/ Rotor Gray int) Premium Plus, Sport Package, Sport Exhaust Tips, Black Optics w/ Black rings and Badges Kit. Bought it off the floor and happily it does not have navigation as I don't use that anyway, prefer Android Auto. Coming from a 2019 S4. I never drove an SQ5 without the Sport Package and it's air suspension, BUT I would not have this car without it. It's one of the best riding/driving cars I ever experienced, period! It's not as quick as the S4, but it's plenty quick for me.20210710_090430.jpg

Sweet ride! Waiting for a nearly identical ultra blue SQ5 build (delayed at the factory for a chip 😔).

**Hostile** · 07-14-2021 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by adamazing

Wait, they're still making Prem+ models without Nav?? I figured this far into the gen, Audi would be making more 'fully loaded' builds standard.

Meh, factory nav is dumb when you have Carplay/AA and access to Waze/Google Maps/Apple Maps.

If some maroon wants to pay $1500 for it go for it but I'd rather not be charged for it as standard.

**jwclair** · 07-14-2021 06:02 PM

Navigation is an option on Premium Plus, it is also on the '22 order sheet. I saw a few on dealer inventories equipped without as Premium Plus. I had Audi Navigation on my last 2 Audis. On my S4 I accidently let the data package lapse when the credit card expired and I had no traffic reporting. I plugged the phone in and determined Google Maps through Android Auto was better and I liked how Spotify worked through it as well. With unlimited phone data, car internet to me is a waste of $. The Audi phone app was a pain to send destinations to the car as well. Navigation as an option is a win for me. I still have the B&O sound system. Wish I could make the non functional nav buttons on the MMI disappear.

**spindlewood** · 07-15-2021 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Hostile

For 2021 the Premium Plus comes with ACC (including all the driver assistance systems) and the B&O system is optional.

The only things unique to the Prestige trim are the interior ambient lighting, HUD, thicker front windows, heated rear seat and the fancier matrix LED headlights and OLED tail lights.

Thanks for correcting my error - I'm glad they added Adaptive cruise control (& Traffic Jam assist & active lane assist) to the Premium Plus. The Premium Plus doesn't come with default Navigation package, but this one sounds like it has it anyway. I agree that using Android Auto is better in most cases - but I like having both. There are times (even yesterday) that I am out of cell range and Google won't give directions where the Audi system still will. I'd hate to give up the Heads Up display. I've come to rely on it.

**rcprato** · 07-23-2021 06:23 AM

OP, what did you end up with ?

**jeffvb9** · 08-01-2021 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by rcprato

OP, what did you end up with ?

Went with the Premium Plus with S sport package, BO sound, and a bunch of other options. Glad I did. Flew to Cleveland to pick it up and drive it 13 hours back to KC.

Ordered lowering links and black badges.....

20210718_201445_2.jpg

**bagged_wagon** · 08-04-2021 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by adamazing

Exactly this. Test drove a couple models with Sport Package first before one with traditional suspension and it was completely different. Louder, harsher, more audible clunks, and less dialed in on turns. It immediately made Sport Package a 'must have' feature for me.

So Sport models have red calipers?