The Audi SQ5 ramps up the performance of the German automaker’s popular compact Q5 sport utility vehicle with a much more powerful engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). An air suspension system is standard on the 2026 Audi SQ5 and is adjustable to suit drivers who prefer a comfortable ride or those who’d rather drive on the sportier side.
2026 Audi SQ5 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Audi SQ5
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Audi SQ5
The Audi Q5 and SQ5 went through a transformation period in 2025 as the automaker slowly phased in new versions of the popular crossovers while the older versions were still on sale. For 2026, only the new Q5 and SQ5 are available. The all-new models are easy to identify by their modernized exteriors and large curved digital displays inside.
Design
The 2026 SQ5 wears shapely sheet metal with aggressively sculpted bodysides. An imposing grille leads the way up front, bracketed by thin LED headlights toward the top and large air intakes below. At the rear, taillights that stretch across the entire hatch dominate the view, and Audi’s fancy third brake light projects patterns and “quattro” lettering to the upper part of the rear glass. Prestige models benefit from OLED lighting units. The SQ5 is also available as a Sportback model with a fastback-style roofline that reduces interior cargo space in favor of a sportier look. An optional black optic package replaces exterior brightwork (which Audi dubs liquid chrome silver) with black mirror housings and roof rails, dark-chrome exhaust tips, Audi rings in anthracite, and unique 21-inch wheels.
Powertrain
Audi fits a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 under the 2026 SQ5’s hood, and while it shares the same displacement as the outgoing model, the new engine’s 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque are up 13 hp and 37 lb-ft over the old unit. Quattro AWD is standard, as are multiple drive modes ranging from Comfort and Balanced to Dynamic and Off-Road Plus. A new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission replaces the eight-speed unit of the previous SQ5, but the fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined is actually slightly improved despite being down one gear.
Interior
The 2026 Audi SQ5 Premium comes standard with a black interior featuring leather and Dynamica (a grippy faux-suede material) with contrasting gray stitching in a diamond pattern. The Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels offer Nappa and Milano leather seating surfaces in black or red. The steering wheel’s flattened top and bottom sections lend a sporty look to the cabin. Audi quotes cargo space at 27.6 cubic feet with the rear seat upright or up to 57.1 cubic feet with the seat folded flat.
Technology
Two large digital displays dominate the dashboard of the 2026 Audi SQ5. Directly in front of the driver sits an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit display that replaces traditional gauges with a fully digital screen that can be customized by the driver. That screen is placed alongside a second 14.5-inch display running Audi’s latest Multi-Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system. The optional Technology Package includes a color head-up display that projects information onto the windshield in front of the driver, along with an additional 10.9-inch MMI display for the front passenger.
Safety
Audi’s Active Front Assist is standard equipment for the 2026 SQ5. The package includes front emergency brake assist, evasion assist, cornering assist, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control and park assist with remote functionality are included on some upper trim levels. The 2026 Q5 lineup, which includes the SQ5, earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That’s the top rating the IIHS hands out. The 2026 Q5 lineup, which includes the SQ5, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award.
Pricing and Release Date
Currently on sale, the 2026 SQ5 starts at $66,695 (including destination) for the base Premium trim level. The mid-level Premium Plus carries a base MSRP of $68,595 while the top SQ5 Prestige starts at $72,595. Any color other than white adds $595 to the sticker price, the black optic package runs an additional $1,900, and an optional Carbon Package for some models adds carbon-fiber exterior components for an extra $2,500.
