B9 Q5/SQ5

[rharris]

Hey Guys. Long time Audi enthusiast here. After test driving a 2022 SQ5 recently, I was unimpressed with the handling. I've read that the Q5 uses the same platform as the Macan, which has the best-of- breed handling. What gives? My wife's CX-5 (Zoom Zoom) is much better.

Performance wise, has anyone dipped into the 11s with one of these yet?

[Hostile]

One is an Audi and one is a Porsche.

There is a thread with dragy times right here on the front page. Why don’t you go look in it?

Or did you really just come in here to try to start shit?

[S4'ed]

The Macan uses the B8 Q5 chassis, not the B9 Q5. The handling differences between a B8 SQ5 and a Macan are due to better Porsche suspension tuning (spring rates, anti-rollbars, shock damping, steering feedback, bushings).
The B8 Q5 & SQ5 handle better than the B9.....according to the road tests/reviews when the B9 was introduced...Audi tuned the B9 for better ride comfort.
This can mostly be fixed with some aftermarket parts and performance tires....except for the numb overassisted B9 steering.

[subaruski]

Lol, ok

My wife's CX-5 (Zoom Zoom) is much better.

[rharris]

Hostile - Don't be so Hos...


S4'ed Thanks for the input and I see you own a Macan.


Subaruski - The CX-5 handling and driver feedback is that good, IMNHO.

[Hostile]

Hostile - Don't be so Hos...

You came in here trolling.

[rcprato]

I didn't think the handling on my 18 SQ5 was up to par after a few weeks of ownership, bought it from a dealer 5 hours away without test driving one. Owning a B8 A4 Avant with S-Line Sport Suspension option I figured it had to be equal if not better handling but it was not.
After changing springs out with height adjustable set up from ABT and having my nephew align car at BMW dealership he works at the handling is much improved but IMO should have been like this from factory.
In hindsight I should have found a B9 SQ5 with air suspension, have that on our 21 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it's nice.
I'm down about 2" from factory ride height with new springs, works well for me and probably what a true Audi OEM steel S-Line sport suspension would sit like my Avant.

[Bezlar]

The Macan uses the B8 Q5 chassis, not the B9 Q5. The handling differences between a B8 SQ5 and a Macan are due to better Porsche suspension tuning (spring rates, anti-rollbars, shock damping, steering feedback, bushings).
The B8 Q5 & SQ5 handle better than the B9.....according to the road tests/reviews when the B9 was introduced...Audi tuned the B9 for better ride comfort.
This can mostly be fixed with some aftermarket parts and performance tires....except for the numb overassisted B9 steering.

You sure the newer macans are on the old platform? I’m hunting down a 22 gts and every thing I see they are sharing same platform. But I could be wrong.


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[Wh4rfR4t]

Recently purchased a B9.5 SQ5 and my issue is the steering feel is way to light even when in dynamic mode. I know on older models you could decrease the amount the electric steering rack assist you via VAG COM, i wonder if is the case for the newer models.

[Hostile]

The B8 Q/SQ5 and Macan (including '21+ facelift) are both on VW's "MLB" (modular and longitudal) platform.

The B9/9.5 Q/SQ5 is on the newer "MLB evo" platform which is also shared with the Q7, Touareg, e-Tron, Urus and 3rd gen Cayenne.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksw...p_MLB_platform

[MoralMiscreant]

As someone who had a B9 RS5 before I bought a B9 SQ5, I wasn't that impressed with the steering and handling of the SQ5. However, adding 034 sway bars, sway bar end links and strut tower bars completely changed the car. It properly feels like a very tall sports car now. They are good cars but, with some pretty simple suspension mods and stage 2 ECU/TCU tunes (and associated parts), they are incredible. So, if you are not looking to mod the car, buy whatever you enjoy and can afford. If you are looking to mod a car into a super practical sports cars, an SQ5 is the perfect starting point.

[PitchS4]

As someone who had a B9 RS5 before I bought a B9 SQ5, I wasn't that impressed with the steering and handling of the SQ5. However, adding 034 sway bars, sway bar end links and strut tower bars completely changed the car. It properly feels like a very tall sports car now. They are good cars but, with some pretty simple suspension mods and stage 2 ECU/TCU tunes (and associated parts), they are incredible. So, if you are not looking to mod the car, buy whatever you enjoy and can afford. If you are looking to mod a car into a super practical sports cars, an SQ5 is the perfect starting point.

Curious if you did the strut brace and sway bars at the same time? I am wondering which is a more worthy upgrade to help with the steering numbness. Strut brace is an obvious starting point from a cost and DIY perspective.

[GoCougs1234]

I think the B9.5 SQ5 w/Sport Package handles great for a 4,600 lb luxury-ish/sporty-ish compact SUV, plus it has great ride quality. Mazdas are generally loud, tinny and brittle in ride - not for me even if they do "handle" better (skeptical).

Handling of a modern vehicle is a monumental engineering task requiring super expensive analysis and design tools and manufacturing methods. Simply throwing springs and way bars at it will mos def make things different but color me unconvinced one is actually making things any better all told. In fact simply stiffening and lowering without corresponding changes in suspension geometry, chassis dynamics and stability/traction control software in pertinent part decreases progression in breakaway, which is not good in a 4,600 lb vehicle which was never a hardcore performance vehicle to begin with.

[asrautox]

Hostile - Don't be so Hos...


S4'ed Thanks for the input and I see you own a Macan.


Subaruski - The CX-5 handling and driver feedback is that good, IMNHO.

We actually traded our CX-5 for an SQ5, so I feel uniquely qualified to respond here. The CX-5 is actually a decent drivers CUV; great reflexes, quick to respond, fun-adjacent.

The SQ5 is a different class of vehicle. It’s more of a GT experience that prioritizes comfort and high-speed stability. It’s also ~800 lbs heavier.

Since owning the SQ, my wife particularly has noted how much more stable the car is on the highway. Where the CX-5 felt darty and fun around town, it became a little flighty and unnerving on the highway. The SQ is solid and straight.

Steering feedback is a bit numb on both, more so in the SQ, but that’s true of most electric racks these days. Limits of the SQ are higher and so is capability.

I do miss the Mazda for its reliability, low maintenance costs, and fun factor, but in literally all other aspects, the SQ5 is the better car.


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[Miranda@Nemesis]

I’ve had both macan (they’re all 95B) and SQ5. I would not say in stock form that they’re ideal for handling…but they’re 4200 SUV’s. The CX5 being better? I doubt that. The only SUV that I’ve driven that feels better than both SQ and Macan was a X3M.


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[MoralMiscreant]

Curious if you did the strut brace and sway bars at the same time? I am wondering which is a more worthy upgrade to help with the steering numbness. Strut brace is an obvious starting point from a cost and DIY perspective.

The strut braces were one of the first upgrades I did and the sway bars were one of the last. If you are concerned with steering numbness, you definitely want to do the strut braces. They are very easy to DIY and as long as you torque them to the correct spec, the steering and general feel of the front of the vehicle are greatly improved.

[rcprato]

The strut braces were one of the first upgrades I did and the sway bars were one of the last. If you are concerned with steering numbness, you definitely want to do the strut braces. They are very easy to DIY and as long as you torque them to the correct spec, the steering and general feel of the front of the vehicle are greatly improved.

My 18 SQ5 has braces on the front strut towers from factory, are you saying an aftermarket front strut brace can make that much difference over the stock one?

[MoralMiscreant]

My 18 SQ5 has braces on the front strut towers from factory, are you saying an aftermarket front strut brace can make that much difference over the stock one?

Audis come with front strut braces from the factory but they are thinly walled hollow aluminum. The 034 ones are solid aluminum and very beefy. You will notice the difference the first time you back out of your driveway.