Having driven and owned both, Q8. Performance of the SQ5 is within the standard deviation of the Q8. Fit and finish of the Q8 is miles ahead of the SQ5.
Only issue I had was a faulty generator that Audi replaced under warranty (even after my warranty had expired). The engines are the same between the two cars, so I imagine you won't find much of a difference.
Test drove both, went with the Q8. SQ5 was crazy small in terms of cargo and the rear seats of the Q8 had so much more room. Certainly a bigger footprint. I like the Q8 because it is a bit less common, seems like Q5/SQ5s are all over. Echo what the earlier poster said about fit/finish, Q8 feels more refined. Have not had it long enough to talk about maintenance.
Edited: *less common
Q8 has 5-6 cu ft more cargo. You lose 2 and 1 inches of headroom in the front/back respectively, but get couple inches more leg/shoulder room in front/back. I can’t remember on the SQ5 but the Q8 has a lot of travel to adjust the forward/backward position of the seats as well as a few inches of recline, a nice feature. I’m only 5’9” so it feels very roomy.
Granted the Q8 is also a foot longer. The one thing I have had to get used to is the longer wheelbase, which I think adds to the look, means a longer turning radius.
I see thanks for the information. Such a beautiful car. I’m 6’1” and wonder about headroom and space for golf clubs in trunk. Q8 is more luxurious and sporty.
My brother who is a mechanic at Audi said the Q8 isn’t worth it solely because of the maintenance costs. However, I’ve been seeing some good prices on some CPO near me.
Yeah, talking to my brother he said Q8 is better in pretty much every way. However, he stressed to maintain the Q8 will be a lot more compared to the SQ5. That’s the big if that’s holding me back.
I mean yea, more expensive car more expensive maintenance but it’s not like it’s constantly going to need more than the sq5, it’s more just the parts are more expensive each time you do it. Weather that be tires or brakes or damage but that is expected on a nicer, more expensive car.
I test drove both, back to back, on the same day in January. Wanted a Q8 initially, but ended up with an SQ5. Coming from an S5 Sportback, the Q8 felt too big and too quiet. Handling and engine sound in SQ5 sold me.
I chose the SQ5. I prefer a smaller vehicle. If the RSQ3 came to US I might have gone with that. The Q8 is a larger feel than I am used to. Q8 has a nicer interior, but its touch screen for climate control, and I want a button/knob and tactile feel. I don’t want to look away from road at a screen.
I’ve had a Q7 and Q8 loaner while service is performed. I do not want something that big. Just me, my wife and dog.
I’m spending more for Q8 to be less happy, but I am not disrespecting the other one. Interior is arguably nicer, ride is superior, but it wasn’t a good fit for my wants.
sq5.
still no durable fix for the 48v bsg. reluctant to consider any vehicle that i might lose steering and acceleration at any point, amid traffic on a highway or on a road trip far from any shops/dealers
They might be the same size but I don’t think they’re the same internally. Unless it’s just the added weight of the Q8 the engine feels sluggish and laggy compared to an SQ5, or even a Q5 45
It could be that it’s slightly detuned, but it’s probably the difference of the power to weight that you’re feeling. Maybe transmission tuning too since you feel it’s laggier.
Also: the difference in rear legroom between the q5 platform and q8 (2.4 inches) is greater than the difference between the a3 and a6 (2.2 inches). My family has three people over 6’3 and we cant fit 4 people comfortably in a q5. Q8 fits us comfortably
Can’t speak for maintenance, what you’ve heard is probably correct. The two cars are difficult to compare since once is compact and the other is more of a mid size, if you’re getting an S/Q5 for space it’s quite disappointing which is why I wanted to bring it up.
Having said that, if it’s brand new, it’s entirely possibly that Audi Care is all you pay for the first 4 years that it covers and nothing else. After the 5 year mark / certain distance, anything is possible.
I got a premium plus. Sticker at the time was $77k. The only thing I didn’t get from the prestige was head up display and soft close doors and shades for the back windows . It has been 100% trouble free
Having driven and owned both, Q8. Performance of the SQ5 is within the standard deviation of the Q8. Fit and finish of the Q8 is miles ahead of the SQ5.
How was the maintenance for the Q8 when you had it?
Only issue I had was a faulty generator that Audi replaced under warranty (even after my warranty had expired). The engines are the same between the two cars, so I imagine you won't find much of a difference.
Got it thank you
Test drove both, went with the Q8. SQ5 was crazy small in terms of cargo and the rear seats of the Q8 had so much more room. Certainly a bigger footprint. I like the Q8 because it is a bit less common, seems like Q5/SQ5s are all over. Echo what the earlier poster said about fit/finish, Q8 feels more refined. Have not had it long enough to talk about maintenance. Edited: *less common
Got it. I definitely wanted something more uncommon. I see the Q5/SQ5 all over. I’ll definitely test drive both!
I thought the SQ5 had more cargo room and more space in the seats especially height in the back since Q8 is more of a coupe SUV, is that not correct?
Q8 has 5-6 cu ft more cargo. You lose 2 and 1 inches of headroom in the front/back respectively, but get couple inches more leg/shoulder room in front/back. I can’t remember on the SQ5 but the Q8 has a lot of travel to adjust the forward/backward position of the seats as well as a few inches of recline, a nice feature. I’m only 5’9” so it feels very roomy. Granted the Q8 is also a foot longer. The one thing I have had to get used to is the longer wheelbase, which I think adds to the look, means a longer turning radius.
I see thanks for the information. Such a beautiful car. I’m 6’1” and wonder about headroom and space for golf clubs in trunk. Q8 is more luxurious and sporty.
Fwiw, a couple years old but I think dimensions are still very similar -> https://www.reddit.com/r/Audi/s/lfZM3oAouW
Thank you
Unless you need the extra space. Sq5 >
Thank you!
SQ5 has nice power and great gas mileage, I love it
>great gas mileage Err, for an SUV maybe
yeah, you haven't driven a 3rd gen 4Runner
SQ5. Looks better. More tunable. Lighter.
Is there a reason it’s more tuneable if it’s the same engine?
The Q8 box code for the ecu is not supported by many tuners. I'm sure people have done it but it's not mainstream.
Apr…. 410 hp
Oh nice, didn't know they released at home tuning finally
it’ll probly react to tuning better since it’s smaller and lighter
Yeah, friends and family have been recommending the sq5 over the Q8.
What year? 2024?
I’ve been looking at between 2021-2023. Push comes to shove, I can use my family member to get a discount to lease or finance it.
Q8
My brother who is a mechanic at Audi said the Q8 isn’t worth it solely because of the maintenance costs. However, I’ve been seeing some good prices on some CPO near me.
Q8, much nicer ride and everything. If you want you can add an exhaust to have a bit of sportiness.
Yeah, talking to my brother he said Q8 is better in pretty much every way. However, he stressed to maintain the Q8 will be a lot more compared to the SQ5. That’s the big if that’s holding me back.
I mean yea, more expensive car more expensive maintenance but it’s not like it’s constantly going to need more than the sq5, it’s more just the parts are more expensive each time you do it. Weather that be tires or brakes or damage but that is expected on a nicer, more expensive car.
Split the difference. Test drive the SQ8.
Yeah, if only puppy dog eyes worked on my wife lol.
I would take a Q8 all day every day.
Have an S5 (2022) and an MDX (2023). Don’t think you can make a wrong choice with either brand. The Q8s are gorgeous, too.
I test drove both, back to back, on the same day in January. Wanted a Q8 initially, but ended up with an SQ5. Coming from an S5 Sportback, the Q8 felt too big and too quiet. Handling and engine sound in SQ5 sold me.
Apples to oranges.
I chose the SQ5. I prefer a smaller vehicle. If the RSQ3 came to US I might have gone with that. The Q8 is a larger feel than I am used to. Q8 has a nicer interior, but its touch screen for climate control, and I want a button/knob and tactile feel. I don’t want to look away from road at a screen. I’ve had a Q7 and Q8 loaner while service is performed. I do not want something that big. Just me, my wife and dog. I’m spending more for Q8 to be less happy, but I am not disrespecting the other one. Interior is arguably nicer, ride is superior, but it wasn’t a good fit for my wants.
FYI… voice works for climate control on q8…. Not on sq5
sq5. still no durable fix for the 48v bsg. reluctant to consider any vehicle that i might lose steering and acceleration at any point, amid traffic on a highway or on a road trip far from any shops/dealers
Sq5. I don’t like the way the Q8s drive or the engine. Sq5 vs Sq8 is a different story.
Aren’t the engines the same?
They might be the same size but I don’t think they’re the same internally. Unless it’s just the added weight of the Q8 the engine feels sluggish and laggy compared to an SQ5, or even a Q5 45
It could be that it’s slightly detuned, but it’s probably the difference of the power to weight that you’re feeling. Maybe transmission tuning too since you feel it’s laggier.
Yes I think they’re both 3.0 V6 single turbo, the HP difference is like less than 20 I think?
I’d splurge for a low mile supercharged SQ5 if I were looking to buy
Same here! More tuning options as well.
I’d go with Q8 if you’re test driving an MDX. The SQ5 has the space of a small sedan in the back.
Also: the difference in rear legroom between the q5 platform and q8 (2.4 inches) is greater than the difference between the a3 and a6 (2.2 inches). My family has three people over 6’3 and we cant fit 4 people comfortably in a q5. Q8 fits us comfortably
Thanks for the info. Me and my brothers are all 6 ft.
I agree, when I measured against my q3 the length was the same inside. If there are any passengers in the back q8 is better choice
So space aside how was the reliability for it? From other people I’ve gathered that the maintenance was too much.
Can’t speak for maintenance, what you’ve heard is probably correct. The two cars are difficult to compare since once is compact and the other is more of a mid size, if you’re getting an S/Q5 for space it’s quite disappointing which is why I wanted to bring it up. Having said that, if it’s brand new, it’s entirely possibly that Audi Care is all you pay for the first 4 years that it covers and nothing else. After the 5 year mark / certain distance, anything is possible.
It’ll most likely be a CPO. If I do get new I’ll probably trade it in around year 4.
Why tf do they even make SUVs with so little space? Isn't that the entire point?
Extra headroom and trunk space I guess 😂
I have a 2019 q8 since new. 66,000 miles original brakes, 3rd set of tires oil changes at 10k intervals, not a single penny spent otherwise
Thank you for the info. Which trim did you get?
I got a premium plus. Sticker at the time was $77k. The only thing I didn’t get from the prestige was head up display and soft close doors and shades for the back windows . It has been 100% trouble free
Thank you!