Is the 2025 Audi SQ5 a good car?

The 2025 Audi SQ5 earns a 7.17/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel, Form and function, and Technology.

Based on the redesigned 2025 Audi Q5, it’s aimed at you if you want a compact luxury crossover SUV that feels sporty, luxurious, and fun to drive. The standard and Sportback body styles give you some flexibility, and the Sportback’s roofline is described as preserving passenger and cargo space better than you might expect. The main trade-offs are poor fuel economy and a lack of hands-free driving tech.

For shoppers who want a performance-oriented luxury SUV with strong tech and a more engaging driving character than many rivals, it looks like a compelling choice. Good and great deals account for 36.1% of listings, which gives you some room to shop carefully.

Is the 2025 Audi SQ5 reliable?

The 2025 Audi SQ5 is presented as a redesigned model with a new vehicle architecture, more power, added practicality, and next-generation technology. It’s also described as sure-footed in wet conditions and generally delightful to drive once the roads dried out.

Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive are all standard, which supports the impression of a well-engineered powertrain. The cabin and technology also come across as polished and user-friendly in normal use.

Audi also says the SQ5 includes complimentary roadside assistance for the duration and mileage limits set by the warranty, and scheduled service is being added for 2026. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the driver-assistance tech may be frustrating if you expect it to work flawlessly every day.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Audi SQ5?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.7% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, and pay close attention to how the driver-assistance systems behave on a test drive. Because the SQ5’s tech is a major part of the appeal, make sure the cabin electronics, cameras, and driver aids all work the way you expect.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Premium trim gives you the core luxury and tech experience, but the Premium Plus and Prestige add meaningful upgrades. The Premium and Premium Plus use a lower-grade leather with diamond-stitched Dinamica artificial suede inserts, while the Prestige gets Fine Nappa leather and more appearance customization. The base setup also lacks some of the higher-end display and convenience features found higher up the range.
• Powertrain: You get a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive. Audi says it reaches 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, and the official EPA fuel economy rating is 22 mpg combined.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and safe exit assist. Premium Plus adds Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering assist and a surround-view camera system.
• Infotainment: The Premium and Premium Plus trims include an 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus display and a 14.5-inch OLED MMI touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a navigation system and Audi Assistant. Prestige adds a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen.
• Fuel efficiency: The official EPA rating is 22 mpg combined, and testing returned 20.4 mpg.

Which 2025 Audi SQ5 trim should I buy?

The 2025 Audi SQ5 is offered in 3 trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The Premium gives you the core SQ5 experience, but it skips the extra convenience and luxury upgrades found higher up. You also miss out on the more advanced driver-assistance and camera features that arrive on the Premium Plus.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Premium Plus is the best value if you want the most important upgrades without going all the way to the top. It adds Adaptive Cruise Assist, a surround-view camera system, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a configurable head-up display.
• Premium/top trim: The Prestige is the one to choose if you want the most upscale cabin and the most visual flair. It adds the front passenger touchscreen, Dynamic Interaction Lighting, and the nicest interior materials.

The safety-package step-up to Premium Plus is the key trim note to keep in mind.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Audi SQ5?

This looks like a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting huge bargains everywhere.

• Deal availability: 36.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 244 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 96.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $58,361.08, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2025 Audi SQ5 safe?

It earns a 4/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety features include automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and safe exit assist. Premium Plus adds Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering assist and a surround-view camera system, and Audi also says its Active Front Assist umbrella includes front cross-traffic assist, intersection turn assist, and evasive steering assist.

Audi does not offer low-speed, hands-free traffic jam assist for the SQ5, and it also lacks hands-free driving technology. The bigger concern is that the system can issue unnecessary warnings and even brake unexpectedly, which is the kind of behavior that can undermine trust quickly.

Should I buy a 2025 Audi SQ5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 36.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.7% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• The redesigned SQ5 brings more power, added practicality, and next-generation technology.

The bottom line: If you want the newest SQ5 with the strongest mix of performance, comfort, and technology, the 2025 is the one to target. If you’re more price-sensitive, you may want to keep an eye on older model years, since the 2025’s appeal is strongest when you value the redesign and can live with its fuel economy and driver-assistance shortcomings.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.