Pros Daring exterior design, well-equipped cabin, available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Cons Goofy push-button shifter, no volume knob, no high-performance model offered.
Pros Smooth ride quality Plenty of standard tech and safety features for the money Roomy interior and comfortable front seats Long warranty
Cons Sluggish acceleration from the regular 2.5-liter engine Touch-style center stack controls can be distracting to use Hybrid can't match rivals on fuel economy
Pros Premium cabin Roomy seating and cargo space Many standard safety features Composed ride and handling
Cons Distracting touch-sensitive buttons with optional infotainment system
The SQ5 receives a styling refresh for 2021.Updated infotainment system.Wireless smartphone integration and integrated toll-road payment system debut.
Pros Impressively comfortable ride for a sport-tuned SUV Generous space for passengers Luxurious but restrained interior design Nimble handling
Cons Lack of touchscreen limits usefulness of smartphone integration
Like the regular Q5, the high-performance SQ5 receives a host of exterior updates for 2021 to freshen its look. New exterior lighting elements, a tweaked grille and bumpers, and new wheel designs differentiate it from last year's model. The top-spec Prestige gets OLED taillights as standard, and two new colors join the palette: Ultra Blue and District Green.
Pros Handsomely-equipped cabin, comfortable ride, decent fuel economy for a performance SUV.
Cons Not overly spacious, turbo V-6 doesn't match rivals' horsepower, handling not as sharp as it could be.
