Loaded 2017 Q7 or loaded 18 SQ5...

[elijahallen]

Hey guys, the time has come to look for a new/used SUV. I currently have a 2016 Q5 TDI and come from a long line of audi's as you can see in my signature. I have an RS3 for my fun car but don't want my SUV to be completely boring and am really struggling to decide between the SQ5 and the Q7. The Q7 is such a solid, comfortable, and reliable SUV but the SQ5 has a little more fun factor. Have any of you owned both and have any points for either that would swing me one way or the other? Thanks for any input.

[obeykube]

Hey guys, the time has come to look for a new/used SUV. I currently have a 2016 Q5 TDI and come from a long line of audi's as you can see in my signature. I have an RS3 for my fun car but don't want my SUV to be completely boring and am really struggling to decide between the SQ5 and the Q7. The Q7 is such a solid, comfortable, and reliable SUV but the SQ5 has a little more fun factor. Have any of you owned both and have any points for either that would swing me one way or the other? Thanks for any input.

IMO the short story is exactly what you mentioned, the SQ5 is much more of a joy to drive if you like sporty and fun. Q7 gives you that luxury floaty feel. I think the Q7 is hard to justify if you don't need the interior room or the towing, since both have roof racks/rails.

[rj124104]

I never find myself wanting to drive the Q7 like a sports car (despite being dual pulley) just because it is so comfortable - so it never has the boring factor for me. You need to weigh in on what's more important, luxury or an SUV that wants to be a sports car. The SQ5 will always fall short of a sports car which has made me disappointed (though I knew this buying it). I had an S4 before the SQ5 and the SQ5 constantly reminds me it's not a car. I much prefer the Q7 for casual driving having both... comfort almost always wins for me and equipped with the luxury package the cabin feel of the Q7 compared to the SQ5 makes driving it more of a pleasure. The SQ5 is a great daily but with family and all the comfort of the Q7, it just makes for a better experience and straight-line with a tune it has plenty of go. I live in a pretty rural area with lots of curving back roads which the SQ5 is more capable of than the Q7 but I always find myself wanting to push the SQ5 further than it really wants to be and leaves me disappointed because it still can't carve a corner. Don't get me wrong, it handles and drives great for an SUV, but for me (and maybe you) you'll always be driving your car when you want to drive like that. It's much easier to drive the Q7 and say okay I'm in family mode relaxing vs. I'm in an SQ5 which is more cramped and less comfortable and feels kind of like I'm a poser sports car if that makes sense. I took the SQ5 on a family trip a couple of years ago vs. the Q7 and we had far less luggage room, interior room, the cup holders are almost useless (wife's biggest complaint), the ride is stiffer, and being I wanted it to be sporty I have the quilted seats instead of ventilated which I hadn't realized how much that matters on long travels.

It basically boils down to this for me - if I didn't NEED SUVs for trips and family, I'd always be in a car. Which is the better SUV for the purpose of why I'm buying an SUV? The Q7. I prefer vehicles that do their primary job the best, for SUVs that's hauling stuff, vacations, family and being comfortable. If you just want a utility vehicle that's sporty, has extra space over a car, and don't have kids to haul or plan to drive on vacations then the SQ5 is a great SUV option.

[Zolli]

I haven’t had the pleasure of driving an SQ5, but I do own a Q7 TDI Prestige with the luxury and towing package etc and an S4 that I’ve modified.

Like RJ said above, the Q7 is a fabulous vehicle for family, trips (I second the value of the ventilated and heated seats), towing, and high comfort. It’s presently de-tuned due to dieselgate, so the turbo lag is noticeable, but once the extended warranty expires, Malone Tuning can fix that for me. It tows its full load capacity without straining and maintains its good gas mileage for a heavy car. It’s surprisingly quick and nimble for such a large vehicle, but it’s definitely not a sports car. Stopping distances are long, so I upgraded the brakes rotors and pads to help. I love the Q7 and I find that I’m constantly impressed with it. I’d say it’s one of the best vehicles I’ve owned.

I mention my S4 because the only real anecdote I have regarding the SQ5 is when I was driving down the interstate exceptionally well and safely, heeding EVERY single traffic law, that another driver in an SQ5 came up and started showboating, wanting to race. I didn’t race him, and I’m glad I didn’t: I was impressed with the SQ5’s quickness, but it is not nimble, at least not compared to my S4. The SQ5 driver while changing lanes overshot and nearly crashed into the barrier, and another time nearly swiped another car. Maybe he was a terrible driver, maybe the SQ5 didn’t respond like he needed. Who knows. But it was eye-opening that the low center of gravity is worth it, when it comes to sporty speed and handling.

So in a nutshell, I’ve accepted the separation between my vehicles for their distinct purposes, and they do them really well. I imagine the SQ5 is for those that don’t have multiple vehicles to allow for a greater performance within each purpose, and that’s cool that the SQ5 can provide that. But if I don’t need to combine them, I wouldn’t.

[elijahallen]

I never find myself wanting to drive the Q7 like a sports car (despite being dual pulley) just because it is so comfortable - so it never has the boring factor for me. You need to weigh in on what's more important, luxury or an SUV that wants to be a sports car. The SQ5 will always fall short of a sports car which has made me disappointed (though I knew this buying it). I had an S4 before the SQ5 and the SQ5 constantly reminds me it's not a car. I much prefer the Q7 for casual driving having both... comfort almost always wins for me and equipped with the luxury package the cabin feel of the Q7 compared to the SQ5 makes driving it more of a pleasure. The SQ5 is a great daily but with family and all the comfort of the Q7, it just makes for a better experience and straight-line with a tune it has plenty of go. I live in a pretty rural area with lots of curving back roads which the SQ5 is more capable of than the Q7 but I always find myself wanting to push the SQ5 further than it really wants to be and leaves me disappointed because it still can't carve a corner. Don't get me wrong, it handles and drives great for an SUV, but for me (and maybe you) you'll always be driving your car when you want to drive like that. It's much easier to drive the Q7 and say okay I'm in family mode relaxing vs. I'm in an SQ5 which is more cramped and less comfortable and feels kind of like I'm a poser sports car if that makes sense. I took the SQ5 on a family trip a couple of years ago vs. the Q7 and we had far less luggage room, interior room, the cup holders are almost useless (wife's biggest complaint), the ride is stiffer, and being I wanted it to be sporty I have the quilted seats instead of ventilated which I hadn't realized how much that matters on long travels.

It basically boils down to this for me - if I didn't NEED SUVs for trips and family, I'd always be in a car. Which is the better SUV for the purpose of why I'm buying an SUV? The Q7. I prefer vehicles that do their primary job the best, for SUVs that's hauling stuff, vacations, family and being comfortable. If you just want a utility vehicle that's sporty, has extra space over a car, and don't have kids to haul or plan to drive on vacations then the SQ5 is a great SUV option.

Thanks, this is just what I needed to hear. I do love the comfort of the Q7, I just need to remember my RS3 is in the garage if I want to play.

[elijahallen]

I haven’t had the pleasure of driving an SQ5, but I do own a Q7 TDI Prestige with the luxury and towing package etc and an S4 that I’ve modified.

Like RJ said above, the Q7 is a fabulous vehicle for family, trips (I second the value of the ventilated and heated seats), towing, and high comfort. It’s presently de-tuned due to dieselgate, so the turbo lag is noticeable, but once the extended warranty expires, Malone Tuning can fix that for me. It tows its full load capacity without straining and maintains its good gas mileage for a heavy car. It’s surprisingly quick and nimble for such a large vehicle, but it’s definitely not a sports car. Stopping distances are long, so I upgraded the brakes rotors and pads to help. I love the Q7 and I find that I’m constantly impressed with it. I’d say it’s one of the best vehicles I’ve owned.


I mention my S4 because the only real anecdote I have regarding the SQ5 is when I was driving down the interstate exceptionally well and safely, heeding EVERY single traffic law, that another driver in an SQ5 came up and started showboating, wanting to race. I didn’t race him, and I’m glad I didn’t: I was impressed with the SQ5’s quickness, but it is not nimble, at least not compared to my S4. The SQ5 driver while changing lanes overshot and nearly crashed into the barrier, and another time nearly swiped another car. Maybe he was a terrible driver, maybe the SQ5 didn’t respond like he needed. Who knows. But it was eye-opening that the low center of gravity is worth it, when it comes to sporty speed and handling.

So in a nutshell, I’ve accepted the separation between my vehicles for their distinct purposes, and they do them really well. I imagine the SQ5 is for those that don’t have multiple vehicles to allow for a greater performance within each purpose, and that’s cool that the SQ5 can provide that. But if I don’t need to combine them, I wouldn’t.

Good points, I made the mistake a few years ago of selling my S4 and my Q5 to buy a 2016 SQ5 for a dual purpose vehicle. Although it did everything very well for what it was I found myself really missing the S4. Thats when I sold it and bought the RS3. My Q5 TDI has been great but its feeling dated so thats the main reason I'm looking to go to the Q7 or SQ5. Definitely leaning toward Q7 at this point.

[Zolli]

Thanks, this is just what I needed to hear. I do love the comfort of the Q7, I just need to remember my RS3 is in the garage if I want to play.

ESPECIALLY if it has an Iroz built motor! That thing must fly

[blackfunk]

Get an RSNav and most of that outdated feeling can be addressed for under a grand.