It {may be|could also be} {obvious|apparent} at this {point|level}, {but|however} {here|right here} {in the|within the} United States, European manufacturers routinely give us the {short|brief|quick} {end|finish} of the stick. Now, I'm not {talking|speaking} about {models|fashions} or {brands|manufacturers} {that don't|that do not} come {here|right here}, {like the|just like the} Mercedes-Benz A-Class or {the entire|all the|the complete|the whole|your complete|your entire} Renault line. No, {instead|as a substitute|as an alternative}, I'm referring to {cars|automobiles|vehicles} {that are|which are|which can be|which might be} {sold|bought|offered} {right|proper} {here|right here} {in the|within the} Land of the Free {in one|in a single} bodystyle, {while|whereas} Europe enjoys {the same|the identical} {vehicle|automobile|car} with a wider {variety of|number of} configurations. {A prime|A chief|A first-rate|A main|A major|A primary} {example|instance} of {this is|that is} the Audi S4/S5 line. In America, {we can|we are able to|we will} have the supercharged twins in two-door coupe, {four|4}-door sedan, and cabriolet {body|physique} {styles|kinds|types}. Meanwhile, our Euroland cousins get {the same|the identical} trio of {body|physique} {styles|kinds|types}, as {well|effectively|nicely|properly} {as the|because the} A5/S5 Sportback, a characterful '{four|4}-door coupe,' and a versatile hauler, the S4 Avant. At first {glance|look}, Audi of America lacks a {vehicle|automobile|car} {that can|that may} compete with the latter's {blend|mix} of {performance|efficiency}, versatility and subdued {looks|appears|appears to be like|seems|seems to be}. 60,000 and an obsession with {quick|fast}, conservative haulers to do?
Well, he {can buy|can purchase|should buy|should purchase} an SQ5. The SQ5 has {a huge|an enormous} {number of|variety of} {things|issues} going for it that make it a viable {alternative|different|various} to {a proper|a correct} {hot|scorching|sizzling} wagon, and foremost {among|amongst} them are its {looks|appears|appears to be like|seems|seems to be} - {this is a|it is a|this can be a} sleeper. Audi has thankfully {decided|determined} {not to|to not} molest the {clean|clear} {looks|appears|appears to be like|seems|seems to be} of {the standard|the usual} Q5 when penning the sportier {model|mannequin}. The SQ5 {gains|beneficial properties|features|good points|positive aspects|positive factors} {a unique|a novel|a singular} set of wheels: 20-inchers are {standard|commonplace|customary|normal}, {but|however} our tester was fitted with a set of 21-inch rollers. Visually, neither make {a huge|an enormous} departure from {the standard|the usual} Q5 {though|although}. Other {standard|commonplace|customary|normal} {features|options} of Audi's S {models|fashions} are {also|additionally} {found|discovered} on the SQ5, {including|together with} a set of quad exhausts, silver mirror caps and mildly {different|completely different|totally different} {front|entrance} grille and foglight surrounds. If {anything|something}, the Q5 TDI diesel I {tested|examined} late {last|final} {year|12 months|yr} {looks|appears|appears to be like|seems|seems to be} sportier than {today|as we speak|at present|at the moment|at this time|immediately|in the present day|right now|right this moment}'s tester. It's {a similar|an analogous|an identical|the same} story of minor {but|however} purposeful {changes|adjustments|modifications} {in the|within the} cabin. Audi has ditched the Q5's {standard|commonplace|customary|normal} steering wheel and slotted in {the excellent|the superb|the wonderful}, flat-bottomed unit {found in|present in} {other|different} S {models|fashions}, which {in this|on this} case is flanked by a set of {high|excessive}-{quality|high quality} "alu-optic" paddles.
500 {option|choice|possibility}). Outside of the S-{specific|particular} {changes|adjustments|modifications}, this {is the same|is identical|is similar} cabin I've {enjoyed|loved} in {other|different} Q5s, with {fresh|contemporary|recent}, {attractive|engaging|enticing} {materials|supplies} and {excellent|glorious|wonderful} {fit|match} and {finish|end}. The SQ5's {interior|inside} updates are {targeted|focused} {specifically|particularly} {at the|on the} driving enthusiast, so it {should|ought to} come as no shock that the cabin {is an excellent|is a superb|is a wonderful} place to spend time. The seats are {wide|broad|extensive|huge|large|vast} and {comfortable|comfy|snug}, {yet|but} {they aren't|they are not|they don't seem to be} even remotely {short|brief|quick} on {support|assist|help}. The 12-{way|approach|manner|means|method} {power|energy} seats {offer|provide|supply} {a wide range|a variety} of adjustability {that is|that's} supplemented by a leg extension (heat on these chairs is {standard|commonplace|customary|normal}, {while|whereas} ventilation is {optional|elective|non-compulsory|non-obligatory|optionally available}). Combined with tilt and telescoping {functions|capabilities|features} for the sport wheel, {there's no|there is no|there is not any|there isn't any} {reason|cause|motive|purpose} that even {the most|essentially the most|probably the most} oddly proportioned driver {won't|will not} {be able to|be capable of|be capable to|have the ability to} arrange their seating {position|place} {just|simply} so. Meanwhile, the ample paddles fall {nicely|properly} {to hand|at hand|handy}, as do {the rest of|the remainder of} the cabin's {various|numerous|varied} buttons and knobs. It {isn't|is not} {a bad|a foul|a nasty} {interior|inside} for {the folks|the oldsters|the parents} in second class, {either|both}, as Audi {offers|affords|gives|presents|provides} {standard|commonplace|customary|normal} reclining seats in {back|again}, which pair {well|effectively|nicely|properly} with the plentiful rear legroom (37.5 inches, {more than|greater than} a BMW X3).
The overarching influencer of the SQ5's drive {experience|expertise} is Audi Drive Select, the German {brand|model}'s {name|identify|title} for its all-encompassing electronics that {manage|handle} throttle mapping, shift {points|factors}, engine sound and steering effort. There are three {global|international|world} settings - Comfort, Auto (Normal) and Dynamic - which run the gamut {of these|of those} adjustable {systems|methods|programs|techniques}. There's {also|additionally} {an individual|a person} mode, {in which|by which|during which|through which|wherein} the driver can {select|choose} his or her preferences for the CUV's {systems|methods|programs|techniques} (e.g. engine and steering in Dynamic, noise in Auto and transmission in Comfort). I {greatly|drastically|enormously|significantly|tremendously|vastly} {prefer|choose|desire|favor|want} this {approach|method|strategy} to {global|international|world} Sport and Comfort modes, {as it|because it} {really|actually} {allows|permits} the driver to tailor {the various|the assorted|the varied} {systems|methods|programs|techniques} to create a {just|simply}-{right|proper} driving {experience|expertise}. So, the SQ5 is a match for the S4 Avant {in terms of|by way of|when it comes to} its exterior styling, {interior|inside} {function|operate|perform} and {custom|customized}-{fit|match} for drivers. That {wouldn't|would not} {mean|imply} {much|a lot} {were|had been|have been} it not {also|additionally} a match for the longroof's {performance|efficiency}. Under the SQ5's hood sits {the same|the identical} 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 {that's|that is} on {duty|obligation|responsibility} {in the|within the} S4 and S5. {In this|On this} guise, {however|nevertheless|nonetheless}, {it's|it is} {more|extra} {powerful|highly effective}, producing 354 horsepower and 347 pound-{feet|ft|toes} of torque versus the sedan and coupe's 333 ponies and 325 lb-ft.
{The extra|The additional} {power|energy} {doesn't|does not|would not} {fully|absolutely|totally} make up for the SQ5's 4,409-pound curb weight (551 pounds {more than|greater than} the S4), {but|however} this {is still|continues to be|remains to be} a riot {in terms of|by way of|when it comes to} outright quickness. {It's not|It is not|It isn't} {only|solely} {the power|the ability|the facility} on {offer|provide|supply} {that's|that is} so seductive, {it's also|it is also} the quickness with which this engine revs. Particularly in first gear, the SQ5 comes with {a sense|a way} of urgency {that is|that's} shocking at first, and {becomes|turns into} exhilarating with subsequent drives. The sharpness of the throttle {is dependent|depends|relies} on how the Audi Drive Select system {is set|is about|is ready}, {yet|but} to its {credit|credit score}, it avoids {dead|lifeless|useless} spots or sluggishness in all three settings. Power is {robust|strong|sturdy} {throughout|all through} the rev {range|vary}, delivering {a particular|a selected|a specific} punch {in the middle of|in the course of|in the midst of} the tach {without|with out} feeling out of breath {as the|because the} 6,800-rpm redline approaches. 60 miles per hour arrives in a {manufacturer|producer}-estimated 5.1 seconds, {but|however} {I thought|I assumed|I believed} it felt {quicker|faster} from behind the wheel. This sensation {may be|could also be} {down to|all the way down to|right down to} the evocative sound {coming out|popping out} of the SQ5's {four|4} exhaust pipes {rather|fairly|moderately|quite|reasonably|relatively|slightly|somewhat} than {actual|precise} {performance|efficiency}.
