Comparison Test: 2015 Audi SQ5 vs. 2015 Porsche Macan S
Story by John LeBlanc
If town criers were still prominent, they might crow about the sea of change that’s happening in today’s automotive showrooms — perhaps making a proclamation along the lines of, “The luxury sports sedan is dead! Long live the luxury sports crossover!”
Intended to be both cars and SUVs, luxurious and fun to drive, this relatively new type of vehicle is beholden to performing a quadrant of duties. To illustrate the state of the multi-tasking, luxury sports crossover class, we brought together a pair of compact examples — the Audi SQ5 and the Porsche Macan S — and asked: Which is the better Jack of all trades?
FIRST PLACE: 2015 Audi SQ5
Although the all-wheel-drive, four-door, five-passenger Q5 crossover has been on sale since 2009, the SQ5 — the sportiest variant you can buy — only arrived last year. For buyers who want it all, the Audi seems to have been worth the wait.
Compared to the pricier Porsche, the SQ5 is a relative bargain, while nailing down the “luxury” part of the equation. As the top model in a lineup that starts with the turbocharged four-cylinder Q5 2.0 TFSI ($44,695), the base SQ5 ($60,095) comes standard with such goodies as 20-inch wheels, heated leather and Alcantara front Sport seats, Audi’s Drive Select system, panoramic sunroof, bi-xenon headlamps and much more. Our Technik tester ($65,595) was equipped with HomeLink, Audi side assist, adaptive headlights with cornering function and heated rear seats.
The designers at Audi did a better job making this crossover’s interior more functional and practical than what you’ll find in the Porsche. Eschewing the sea of buttons found in the Macan S, the SQ5’s ergonomics are easier to use on the fly. With 824 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, the SQ5 plays the role of practical hauler better than the hatchback-like Macan S, which fits only 501 litres.
And despite being lighter by almost 140 kilograms, the Macan S is really no quicker than the SQ5 in a straight line. Although the Porsche and Audi share a similar 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, the SQ5 uses supercharging instead of turbocharging, which results in 14 more horsepower and 8 more lb.-ft. of torque than the Macan S. With a 5.3-second zero to 100 km/h time, the Audi is in a virtual dead heat with the Porsche.
Compared to a Q5, the S version’s sportier suspension keeps the crossover’s body motions well in check. Against the more nimble Porsche, however, the Audi feels less confident when tossed around like a sports sedan. Like all Q5s, the S model’s steering is quick and accurate, but it holds back on communicating with the driver about what’s going on at road level.
With similar straight-line performance, however, and considerably more room and luxury features for the money, the 2015 Audi SQ5 is simply the better overall luxury sports crossover value.
SECOND PLACE: 2015 Porsche Macan S
More than a decade after the debut of the Cayenne, the first-ever Porsche utility vehicle, the German automaker introduced the smaller Macan for 2015. The all-wheel-drive, four-door, five-passenger crossover looks less like a rock-hopping SUV and more like a sports sedan with a backpack.
Mechanically based on its Audi SQ5 corporate cousin, the Macan comes in two flavours — the spicy 340-horsepower S and spicier 400-horsepower Turbo — sporting twin-turbocharged V6 engines (3.0 and 3.6 litres, respectively), seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and an AWD system borrowed from the Cayenne.
Not surprisingly, all Macans also come with typical Porsche premium pricing. Whereas Macan S prices start at $58,315 (including freight and pre-delivery inspection fees), you would spend closer to $80k to match our well-equipped SQ5 Technik tester.
That said, our 2015 Porsche Macan S tester ($62,030) came relatively option-free — for a Porsche, that is — adding $7,730 for air suspension (with self-leveling and height adjustment), reversing camera (including ParkAssist front and rear), 19-inch Macan Turbo wheels and Sport Chrono Package.
Although it shares the same wheelbase as the Audi, the Porsche is longer, wider and lower, for a more sedan-like driving experience. The lighter Porsche is more nimble, too, with sharp turn-in and excellent straight-ahead directional stability.
The Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (or PDK) dual-clutch autobox is also more responsive than Audi’s Tiptronic eight-speed single-clutch transmission. Shift-for-yourself types may whine, but the Macan’s gear changes are crisp whether you use the paddle-shifters or your right foot to decide. Plus, the $1,480 Sport Chrono Package’s launch control feature shaves 0.2 seconds from the crossover’s regular 5.4-second zero to 100 km/h time.
If you are looking for what is arguably the best-handling luxury sports crossover in its class, the 2015 Porsche Macan S fits that bill; it drives more like a large hot hatch than an SUV. Dollar-for-dollar, though, the Audi SQ5 is a luxury sports crossover that’s worth crowing about.