Powerful and practical – meet our Audi SQ5

It sounds like the perfect recipe for sales success: Take one popular SUV, insert a punchy petrol engine and you’ve got a surefire hit on your hand, right?

Well, not exactly. This is the Audi SQ5, based on the manufacturer’s big selling mid-range off-roader, but now with an added shot of turbo-charged petrol punch. While it might sound like the perfect combination, it’s come in for a bit of criticism, so we’ve taken ownership of one for a few months to get to the bottom of it.

Some of the moans come from the fact Audi have swapped the powerful diesel engine in the old SQ5 for this petrol-only option in the new model.

Under the bonnet is a frankly ridiculous 349bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged engine, mated to Audi’s quick-shifting eight-speed auto – it’s good for 155mph with 60mph ticked off along the way in just 5.4 seconds.

There’s something not quite right about filling up an off-roader from a green pump – and the fuel economy certainly seems to agree. So far, over 1,500 miles, I’ve achieved around 23mpg, which is somewhat punishing my wallet.

Once you get your head around the fact it’s an SUV with lots of horsepower, you’re rewarded with a fun machine that’s perfect for family life. The sort of thing that suits dads who don’t want to grow old – yes, it’s got comfortable seats, a huge boot and plenty of fixing points for a car seat, but ditch the kids and it’s still great fun to drive.

Plus, there’s those handsome looks. The new Q5 was already a masterpiece of German engineering and the SQ5 tops it off, and it’s all the better in this glorious Azores Green metallic paint (£645). A deep, gaping grille and squat stance make it stand out, but the fake quad exhaust pipes are a bit of a disappointment.

Vital additions include the head-up display (£900), adaptive air suspension (£1,000), panoramic glass roof (£1,400) and the parking assistance pack (£1,350). Not so vital extras, but rather nice to have all the same, include red brake calipers (£300), five spoke alloy wheels (£1,500) and electric steering wheel adjustment (£400). The latter important when lots of people borrow your car like they do here, but quite why any normal car buyer would want to pay £400 for it is beyond me.

I picked up the SQ5 from Audi Portsmouth from sales executive Wayne Yeates. He said he’d been working at the dealership for three years and had never delivered a car in the same colour.

So far the SQ5 fits into my life perfectly. I’ve already filled the boot with rubbish for the tip a few times, taken some long trips in comfort, and battled the snowmageddon that crippled the country in March. The increased trips to the petrol station have come as an unwelcome addition to my weekly routine, though.

Whether the SQ5 is the perfect combination of power and practicality remains to be seen – but I’m sure I’ll enjoy working it out over the next six months.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Audi SQ5
Price: £64,405 (as tested)
Engine: 3.0-litre TFSI
Power: 349bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Max speed: 155mph
0-60mph: 5.4s
MPG (combined): 34
Emissions: 195g/km
Mileage to date: 1,459