x6 50i DHP vs Audi SQ5 and Performance SUVs in general

[greydout]

Drove an SQ5 today and while I like the 3.0T engine, and the looks of the car, I was underwhelmed by its feel in turns.

I've been shopping for about a month and I am wondering if my expectations for an SUV are simply unrealistic. I currently have a 2014 S4, and I'd like something that can resemble that sort of performance. I understand that weight is weight and physics is physics, but a man can dream right?

My wife has given me the green light on the 335i GT, and I am feeling compelled to pick it up. It is amazingly roomy, higher seating position than a typical 3 series, but lower and a lot lighter than an X5/X6.

It has been incredibly difficult to judge these cars, since none of the cars I'd consider are available to drive. I'm yet to visit a dealer with an 335 GT/X5/X6 equipped with a DHP.


Thoughts? Am I just being unrealistic?

[X5RIZ]

Came from a modded 2014 S4 and now driving a X5 35 M sport...came down to this and the SQ5 as well

Really enjoying it but two different worlds...I had an S5 before it then had a kid so went to he S4

Now 2 kids

Plan on mods down the road but it's still an SUV

If I didn't have 2 kids under 3 I would've kept the S4

Feels good to have ground clearance and not worry about potholes as much

[greydout]

Originally Posted by X5RIZ

Came from a modded 2014 S4 and now driving a X5 35 M sport...came down to this and the SQ5 as well

Really enjoying it but two different worlds...I had an S5 before it then had a kid so went to he S4

Now 2 kids

Plan on mods down the road but it's still an SUV

If I didn't have 2 kids under 3 I would've kept the S4

Feels good to have ground clearance and not worry about potholes as much

Ah, thanks. What do you mean by "two different worlds" between the SQ5 and the X5?

[X5RIZ]

Meant between the S4 and X5 not the SQ5
A modded S4 is a really fun car that few people realize but now it just doesn't work for me and I really like the idea of an SUV and chose the X5 over the SQ5

[greydout]

Originally Posted by X5RIZ

Meant between the S4 and X5 not the SQ5
A modded S4 is a really fun car that few people realize but now it just doesn't work for me and I really like the idea of an SUV and chose the X5 over the SQ5

Got it, but can you speak to performance differences between the two?

[Barbja]

Of the three, the X6 with MSport and DHP will handle better in high speed cornering. Between the X5 with DHP and the SQ5, I'm not so sure. I've owned an X5 and two X6s all with DHP and the X5 just drives so darned 'big'. You'd really have to try it out and drive it, well, dangerously.

As for power, the SQ5 sits somewhere between the 35i and 50i, tending more towards the 50i spectrum. I really felt that it propelled the thing around way better than my 35i X6 does, but that 50i engine is beastly. It is probably more beastly in the fuel usage department too.

Personally, I would have chosen the SQ5 if you could drop the interior of my X6 inside of it. When you move from one car to the other, you can certainly tell which one costs $20k more. I'm really big on the usability and look and feel of the electronics sets (the nav, cameras, voice control, phone integration, etc) and the SQ5 pales in comparison to the Xs. I couldn't get over that for a little more driving fun so, even though i wanted something smaller, I chose the X6 again.

However: there's only me and my son, who is 14 and rides in the front, I didn't come from an Audi in the first place, so I was already spoiled, and I do a whole heck of a lot of my driving at low speed. If there were 3 more in my family, I would tend more to the X5 (two more? No). If my commute included a lot of highway instead of a lot of 35mph and stoplights, I would tend more to the SQ5. So, YMMV.

[X5Jouster]

i found a bmw in the local market at a Dealer with all the options i liked.... including msport and DHP/rear air susp....50i as well.

it was inside the showrooom floor behind three cars and a double door....they had it it in the parking lot to test drive in 30 minutes, because i said i am only buying a BMW if i can find this car, this engine, these options, to test drive.



i like you, coming from a 2014 audi S6, being in a wreck, needed to get up into an SUV with same like handling.

greydout

[Kzang]

To me driving characteristics is still night and day between BMW and Audi and the interior of the Audi Q5 and 7 is underwhelming to say the least. Too many plasticky trims especially on the front passenger side reminds me of a Toyota to me.

[MJX5]

My wife and I test drove the SQ5 a month ago and she love it for its get up and go speed. But for me, the first thing I noticed was the rear view window adjustment knob on the driver side was plastic like, which then made me look around the rest of the inside... I came away feeling it was cheap interior. Yes a price difference from the X5 I ended up ordering both cars are fun to drive. I ordered the M Performance exhaust and the $1100 tune. I am guessing it is going to be about the same in 0-60... 5.6 seconds. I love the high tech interior of the X5 screens cameras and useability of it all once you train yourself. Almost unlimited expansion.

[Babs]

Good point MJX5. I test drive an SQ5 a few months ago as well. Power was awesome but the interior was inferior to the X5 and it was smaller inside as well. For the MPPK and M Performance exhaust will they both be installed before delivery to you or will you break the car in first?

[WilliCO]

Originally Posted by greydout

Thoughts? Am I just being unrealistic?

Be sure and drive a Cayenne too. Those are really on their own level in the sporty SUV segment. Starting with the 958 in 2011, I personally think they have the best interior too, at least as combines sport and luxury.

The F15/F16 interior is crazy nice, but it seems to look like a luxury vehicle and not a sporty one to my eyes. Same thing happened with the F10 5 series.

[Barbja]

And the Macan since its the SQ5 equivalent. A pretty tricked out (not fully) Macan costs about the same as a tricked out X5/X6. A pretty tricked out Cayenne will totally eclipse an X!

However, if you're looking for cutting-edge electronics to go along with your superior driving experience, Porsche is not where you should be looking. Unless you've come directly from the 1990s of course.

[WilliCO]

I'd probably pay to trade some of the cool tech in my F10 for some improvement in the driving experience.

[greydout]

Originally Posted by X5Jouster

i found a bmw in the local market at a Dealer with all the options i liked.... including msport and DHP/rear air susp....50i as well.

it was inside the showrooom floor behind three cars and a double door....they had it it in the parking lot to test drive in 30 minutes, because i said i am only buying a BMW if i can find this car, this engine, these options, to test drive.



i like you, coming from a 2014 audi S6, being in a wreck, needed to get up into an SUV with same like handling.

greydout

So how does it handle in comparison to the s6? Be honest lol.

[X5Jouster]

i cried when i lost my s6....but honestly knowing its an SUV to a sedan(very heavy sedan)

i did not change my driving habits at all....still very happy....ive lost nothing when it comes to driving pleasure and ability.... the x5 50i with the suspension options is a dream come true... now with tune, spacers and exhaust...all im missing is Michelin Pilot super Sport

[greydout]

Originally Posted by X5Jouster

i cried when i lost my s6....but honestly knowing its an SUV to a sedan(very heavy sedan)

i did not change my driving habits at all....still very happy....ive lost nothing when it comes to driving pleasure and ability.... the x5 50i with the suspension options is a dream come true... now with tune, spacers and exhaust...all im missing is Michelin Pilot super Sport

Thats good to hear. Honestly, I've been leaning towards a 335GT to be honest. With just a tune, acceleration is in the 50i, and at 4,000 lbs, I imagine it's going to handle better than an X5 or x6 even with DHP. All without giving up any cabin space, and seating position is in between an F30 and F15. I lose some trunk space, but the 335 GT still formidable here. Then there's the $400/m savings...

Pros
Better handling
$400-500/month savings w/ comparable options

Cons
No Nappa leather option
Lower clearance
Less trunk space

Is this logic crazy?

[MJX5]

Originally Posted by Babs

Good point MJX5. I test drive an SQ5 a few months ago as well. Power was awesome but the interior was inferior to the X5 and it was smaller inside as well. For the MPPK and M Performance exhaust will they both be installed before delivery to you or will you break the car in first?

Installed by dealer on the day it arrives at dealership

[greydout]

Originally Posted by X5Jouster

i cried when i lost my s6....but honestly knowing its an SUV to a sedan(very heavy sedan)

i did not change my driving habits at all....still very happy....ive lost nothing when it comes to driving pleasure and ability.... the x5 50i with the suspension options is a dream come true... now with tune, spacers and exhaust...all im missing is Michelin Pilot super Sport

Bump X5Jouster

[X5Jouster]

Originally Posted by greydout

Thats good to hear. Honestly, I've been leaning towards a 335GT to be honest. With just a tune, acceleration is in the 50i, and at 4,000 lbs, I imagine it's going to handle better than an X5 or x6 even with DHP. All without giving up any cabin space, and seating position is in between an F30 and F15. I lose some trunk space, but the 335 GT still formidable here. Then there's the $400/m savings...

Pros
Better handling
$400-500/month savings w/ comparable options

Cons
No Nappa leather option
Lower clearance
Less trunk space

Is this logic crazy?

so no, your logic is not crazy BUT!!!!

before you say the handling in the 335i is better... on paper yes. lower COG, Lower weight, not sure about (POWER TO WEIGHT THOUGH)

please please please find a x5 with the suspension options even if its 35i or 50i, then find the 335iGT with or withought suspension options..

just look at bmw online at all the inventory in your market... if its listed somewhere a a dealer....just call ahead say your going in to buy either today, and they will have both in the parking lot waiting...if they dont, they dont need your business....at least ive never had pushback on doing that.... i always get a chance to test drive before i buy the vehicle, anyone else?

the s6 handling for a sedan was GREAT! the handling in my X5 for an SUV in PHENOMENAL!!

Phenomenal >>> Great

[touchdown83]

I looked at the SQ5 before getting X5.

I went from an A6 3.0T, as we have another kid on the way. I REALLY loved that car, but was TOLD that I wanted something big enough for the family. So I was in the market for luxury SUV, but insisted that I would find one without giving up too much of the sport drive.

I really liked everything about the SQ5, except for one big thing.... the interior electronics/clusters. The Audi SUV's are light years behind the sedans in every aspect. The MMI is terrible on SUV's. So bad, in fact, that I went away from Audi (which I LOVE) to a BMW.

However, the new models are coming out in January. If I could have afforded to wait, I would have. The "special edition" line has a pretty sweet instrument cluster, but the MMI is still the same crap. My 2014 A6 was amazing. I guess had I not already had the A6, and knew what I would be missing, I probably wouldn't have minded as much. But, if they are revamping for the 2016 model, it will be pretty sweet. Just look at the 2016 A6 that's already out, I think they are rolling that out to the SUV's.

[touchdown83]

Originally Posted by Kzang

To me driving characteristics is still night and day between BMW and Audi and the interior of the Audi Q5 and 7 is underwhelming to say the least. Too many plasticky trims especially on the front passenger side reminds me of a Toyota to me.

BINGO!

the freaking 2015 Audi Q7 has a KEY for crying out loud.