Comparing the 2018 Audi SQ5 to the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and Porsche Macan S

[Sticky]

The Audi SQ5 gets a big update in getting the single turbo top mount twin scroll turbo 3.0 liter V6 out of the B9 Audi S5 and S4. Rated at 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque it certainly has a lot of potential.

For some reason though, it is not impressing in stock form. The SQ5 is the slowest of this trio to 60 miles per hour. Being in the heaviest chassis at 4429 pounds doesn't help things.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 gets to 60 in 4.3 seconds. Much quicker than the 5.1 for the Audi. The Macan S splits the difference with a 4.7 second sprint.

Acceleration is one thing but how about how they drive? The Macan S is said to have the best steering feel. The Audi is said to have the worst steering feel by Car and Driver. Also the worst brakes. Also the worst handing. What is going on here Audi?

The Audi finishes last in this comparison. It understeers, it's slower, it's heavy, and it isn't as much fun to drive.

Surprisingly, the fun to drive Macan S finishes second. It has the best steering, brakes, feedback, and chassis feel of the group. It also offers a dual clutch transmission. It seems to be punished for its cost more than anything else.

Car and Driver chooses the GLC43 as the best. It is the lightest and quickest of the group. It also offers more usability than the Macan which is important but that does not make it more fun to drive.

The BoostAddict choice would be the Macan S.

2018 Audi SQ5	2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43	2017 Porsche Macan S
VEHICLE
PRICE AS TESTED	$65,800	$71,055	$64,905
BASE PRICE	$55,275	$55,895	$55,450
DIMENSIONS
LENGTH	183.9 in	183.5 in	184.3 in
WIDTH	74.5 in	76.0 in	76.1 in
HEIGHT	65.3 in	64.1 in	63.9 in
WHEELBASE	111.2 in	113.1 in	110.5 in
FRONT TRACK	63.9 in	64.5 in	65.2 in
REAR TRACK	63.6 in	65.2 in	65.0 in
INTERIOR VOLUME	F: 55 cu ft R: 47 cu ft	F: 51 cu ft R: 47 cu ft	F: 52 cu ft R: 44 cu ft
CARGO BEHIND	F: 60 cu ft R: 27 cu ft	F: 57 cu ft R: 19 cu ft	F: 53 cu ft R: 18 cu ft
POWERTRAIN
ENGINE	turbocharged DOHC 24-valve Miller-capable V-6 183 cu in (2995 cc)	twin-turbocharged DOHC 24-valve V-6 183 cu in (2996 cc)	twin-turbocharged DOHC 24-valve V-6 183 cu in (2997 cc)
POWER HP @ RPM	354 @ 6400	362 @ 6000	340 @ 6500
TORQUE LB-FT @ RPM	369 @ 1370	384 @ 2500	339 @ 1450
REDLINE / FUEL CUTOFF	6500/6500 rpm	6500/6500 rpm	6800/6800 rpm
LB PER HP	12.5	11.7	12.8
DRIVELINE
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic	9-speed automatic	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
DRIVEN WHEELS	all	all	all
GEAR RATIO:1/ MPH PER 1000 RPM/ MAX MPH	1 4.71/5.6/36 2 3.14/8.3/54 3 2.11/12.4/81 4 1.67/15.7/102 5 1.29/20.3/127 6 1.00/26.2/127 7 0.84/31.1/127 8 0.67/39.0/127	1 5.35/4.2/27 2 3.24/7.0/4 3 2.25/10.0/65 4 1.64 /13.8/90 5 1.21/18.7/122 6 1.00/22.6/132 7 0.86/26.3/132 8 0.72/31.4/132 9 0.60/37.6/132	1 3.69/5.2/35 2 2.15/8.9/61 3 1.41/13.6/92 4 1.03/18.6/126 5 0.79/24.3/156 6 0.63/30.5/156 7 0.52/36.9/156
FINAL-DRIVE RATIO:1	3.20	3.69	4.40
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION	F: multilink, air springs, anti-roll bar R: multilink, air springs, anti-roll bar	F: multilink, air springs, anti-roll bar R: multilink, air springs, anti-roll bar	F: multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar R: multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES	F: 13.8-inch vented disc R: 13.0-inch vented dis	F: 14.2-inch vented, cross-drilled disc R: 12.6-inch vented disc	F: 13.8-inch vented disc R: 13.0-inch vented disc
STABILITY CONTROL	partially defeatable, competition mode, launch control	partially defeatable, competition mode	partially defeatable, launch control
TIRES	Pirelli P Zero PZ4 255/40R-21 102Y	Continental ContiSportContact 5P F: 255/40ZR-21 102Y R: 285/35ZR-21 105Y	Michelin Latitude Sport 3 F: 265/45R-20 104 R: 295/40R-20 106Y
C/D TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION
0–30 MPH	1.7 sec	1.6 sec	1.6 sec
0–60 MPH	5.1 sec	4.3 sec	4.7 sec
0–100 MPH	13.0 sec	11.6 sec	12.4 sec
0–120 MPH	20.2 sec	17.8 sec	19.1 sec
¼-MILE @ MPH	13.7 sec @ 102	13.1 sec @ 105	13.3 sec @ 103
ROLLING START, 5–60 MPH	6.1 sec	5.5 sec	6.4 sec
TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH	3.4 sec	3.3 sec	3.3 sec
TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH	4.0 sec	3.9 sec	4.1 sec
TOP SPEED	127 mph (gov ltd)	132 mph (gov ltd)	156 mph (drag ltd, mfr's claim)
CHASSIS
BRAKING 70–0 MPH	148 ft	154 ft	155 ft
ROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD	0.93 g	0.93 g	0.91 g
610-FT SLALOM	43.9 mph*	45.4 mph*	44.8 mph*
WEIGHT
CURB	4429 lb	4237 lb	4347 lb
%FRONT/%REAR	54.3/45.7	55.0/45.0	56.9/43.1
CG HEIGHT	24.0 inches	25.5 inches	24.5 inches
FUEL
TANK	18.5 gal	17.4 gal	19.8 gal
RATING	91 octane	91 octane	91 octane
EPA COMBINED/CITY/HWY	21/19/24 mpg	20/18/24 mpg	19/17/23 mpg
C/D 700-MILE TRIP	19 mpg	18 mpg	17 mpg
PRACTICAL STOWAGE
NO. OF 9 X 14 X 22-INBOXES, SEATS UP/FOLDED	6/20	7/19	6/16
LENGTH OF PIPE	125.5 in	124.0 in	122.0 in
LARGEST FLAT PANEL, LENGTH X WIDTH	68.0 x 40.3 in	66.8 x 42.8 in	66.0 x 40.5 in
SOUND LEVEL
IDLE	37 dBA	40 dBA	43 dBA
FULL THROTTLE	76 dBA	80 dBA	75 dBA
70-MPH CRUISE	66 dBA	69 dBA	67 dBA
*stability-control-inhibited
Tested by JOSH JACQUOT and DAVID BEARD in Chelsea, MI

Final Results
	Max Pts. Available	2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43	2017 Porsche Macan S	2018 Audi SQ5
RANK		1	2	3
VEHICLE
DRIVER COMFORT	10	8	7	9
ERGONOMICS	10	7	6	7
REAR-SEAT COMFORT	5	4	3	2
REAR-SEAT SPACE*	5	5	4	5
CARGO SPACE*	5	4	2	5
FEATURES/AMENITIES*	10	10	5	8
FIT AND FINISH	10	9	8	8
INTERIOR STYLING	10	8	7	8
EXTERIOR STYLING	10	8	9	7
REBATES/EXTRAS*	5	0	0	0
AS-TESTED PRICE*	20	18	20	20
SUBTOTAL	100	81	71	79
POWERTRAIN
1/4-MILE ACCELERATION*	20	20	19	17
FLEXIBILITY*	5	5	3	5
FUEL ECONOMY*	10	9	8	10
ENGINE NVH	10	9	8	7
TRANSMISSION	10	9	9	7
SUBTOTAL	55	52	47	46
CHASSIS
PERFORMANCE*	20	20	19	20
STEERING FEEL	10	8	9	7
BRAKE FEEL	10	8	9	6
HANDLING	10	8	9	7
RIDE	10	8	8	8
SUBTOTAL	60	52	54	48
EXPERIENCE
FUN TO DRIVE	25	19	22	15
GRAND TOTAL	240	204	194	188
* These objective scores are calculated from the vehicle's dimensions, capacities, rebates and extras, and/or test results.

[leveraged sellout]

Wait, the Macan was the cheapest one? Hands down the one to get. They sound good, look gorgeous, and it's definitely the best driver's car there by a mile. Also might be the best offroad, if you're going to do any of that.

Couldn't pay to wake up every day to the other two, the Porsche I'd at least enjoy for a while. Local guy has one with the sports exhaust, it's quite rumbly and loud. I like it, especially with the dark lights and the mesh wheels.

Audi seems to be fully invested in making pretty good cars that are numb and lifeless behind the wheel. Except for the outgoing S8...somehow that seems to be a better driver's car than the B7 or M760. But I'm guessing they'll fix that oversight with the next one.

[Sticky]

Wait, the Macan was the cheapest one? Hands down the one to get. They sound good, look gorgeous, and it's definitely the best driver's car there by a mile. Also might be the best offroad, if you're going to do any of that.

Weird coincidence I found out my dad just bought a Macan S. Says he didn't tell me as I would have forced him to get the Turbo...

[RobNyc]

They should throw the Macan GTS, BMW X4 M40i (N55) in the mix and the new BMW X3 M40i (B58 engine new chassis)

[Sticky]

They should throw the Macan GTS, BMW X4 M40i (N55) in the mix and the new BMW X3 M40i (B58 engine new chassis)

Agree. This is probably all they had from manufacturers to go on.

The M40i is an interesting proposition.

[Stevenh]

Also might be the best offroad, if you're going to do any of that.

It actually doesn't even have a low gear... Do either of the others? Mine has never seen more than an unpaved road and probably won't.

[Sticky]

It actually doesn't even have a low gear... Do either of the others? Mine has never seen more than an unpaved road and probably won't.

Have you tuned it yet? I'm going to tune my dads when he isn't looking.

[Stevenh]

Have you tuned it yet? I'm going to tune my dads when he isn't looking.

Sure haven't and its likely I won't. The car is slow today, but still fun to drive. I may change my mind, but I don't think I care to risk my warranty for a potentially enormous repair bill and have a car that is still pretty slow at the end of the day. My driving STARTS at 5,280 ft and the fun roads are at 8,000 ft plus. MAYBE the tune gets me back to sea level stock HP to start, but I'm a bit worried about what will happen if the turbos try to reach tuned boost targets at 10,000 ft+. However, I was able to randomly participate in an auto-x over the weekend and have been bitten by the 'I need a toy' bug pretty hard. Been looking at picking up a garage mate for the Macan all week so we'll see where that takes me.

[Sticky]

Sure haven't and its likely I won't. The car is slow today, but still fun to drive. I may change my mind, but I don't think I care to risk my warranty for a potentially enormous repair bill and have a car that is still pretty slow at the end of the day. My driving STARTS at 5,280 ft and the fun roads are at 8,000 ft plus. MAYBE the tune gets me back to sea level stock HP to start, but I'm a bit worried about what will happen if the turbos try to reach tuned boost targets at 10,000 ft+. However, I was able to randomly participate in an auto-x over the weekend and have been bitten by the 'I need a toy' bug pretty hard. Been looking at picking up a garage mate for the Macan all week so we'll see where that takes me.

Well, I wouldn't be able to leave that much torque on the table. I'll see what it's like for myself. I can always set it back to stock but should be fun to try out.

[Stevenh]

Well, I wouldn't be able to leave that much torque on the table. I'll see what it's like for myself. I can always set it back to stock but should be fun to try out.

Yah, its tough knowing that its there... but PDK's aren't cheap to repair. My main complaints about the car are both cured by the tune (I think) :

A: Its a turd from a stop. Literally feels like it has 150hp until 3,500 RPM off the line if you don't use launch control.

B: Boost limited to roughly 11psi in first and second. When you shift to third it will get to 15psi and feels like its pulling harder than 2nd. I've asked Cobb about 5 times if they've been able to tune this out with no response.

Who knows... its easy enough to do, but I'm pretty sure this may end up being an 18-24 month car for me that I'm already 9 months into so I might just wait it out.

[Sticky]

Who knows... its easy enough to do, but I'm pretty sure this may end up being an 18-24 month car for me that I'm already 9 months into so I might just wait it out.

I see your point. Although a tune might address all the issues you just mentioned.

I need some seat time to comment.

I'm still pretty angry at Porsche over here.

[ND75R]

it's heavy, and it isn't as much to drive.

Also this formatting is a bit off to the left of the columns:

2018 Audi SQ5 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 2017 Porsche Macan S

[Sticky]

Also this formatting is a bit off to the left of the columns:

Fixed except for the formatting which I'm not going to mess with as it will break the whole thing probably.