Handling Upgrade: How to Make an Audi Q5 Handle More Like an SQ5

A couple of basic upgrades to your Audi Q5 can get it to handle more like the sportier SQ5 model.

If you are looking for a sporty, mid-size Audi SUV, the SQ5 is the model for you. However, as good as the SQ5 is, it does carry a 25 percent price premium compared to the regular Audi Q5. Of course, the SQ5 comes with more power and features that help to justify the price. But maybe you don’t want to spend that much. Or you simply don’t feel that you need the extra power. Maybe you just wish your regular Q5 could handle more like the SQ5. Well, the good news is that you can achieve that without breaking the bank.

A recent thread in the Audi World forums was posted on this very subject. Member stash64 started the thread titled: Rear Sway Bar Upgrade. The goal was simple. How do you improve the handling and reduce understeer on the Audi Q5? The goal is not to build an SQ5 killer on the cheap or a mid-size SUV that would set blistering lap times on the Nürburgring. And the goal is certainly not to ruin the ride. Here are the steps you will want to take if you want your Q5 to handle better in the order that you should proceed.

Tire Pressures

Before you start spending any money start with the simple things. Check your tire pressures. Over or underinflated tires can have a real impact on handling as well as fuel consumption. Start with a baseline using the recommended pressures that can be found in your owner’s manual. There is also a label affixed to the driver’s side door jam. But that typically has limited information and does not cover all the size and load scenarios you will find in the manual. Get the pressures right and your Q5 will handle better. If you feel you need to improve the handling even more, you can take the next step.

Tires

It is impossible to overstate just how important tires are for the handling of your Q5 and any other vehicle you own. This is the one place where you should feel comfortable splurging on a top-tier product. And you don’t need racing slicks to have a car handle well. A Q5 is not a racecar. You bought it because it is practical, not because it can pull high lateral g-loads. In the Audi World forum post, a user suggested the Continental DWS06 Plus tire. It is an outstanding choice. I have personally run these tires on everything from 700 HP all-wheel drive sports cars to small roadsters, and mundane sedans. It performs very well in all conditions and can certainly assist with improving the handling of your Q5. There are other solid choices as well. Do your homework and buy yourself the best tires.

Also, check the date codes of your current tires. The week and year of manufacture are stamped on the sidewall. Once a tire gets to be 6 or 7 years old you want to replace it regardless of tread remaining. Not only do old tires have a higher risk of failure. But they also lose their elasticity over time which of course degrades performance.

Sway Bar Upgrade

Now that you got your tires all sorted, if you still desire improved handling then upgrading your sway bars is a good next step. You can upgrade the front, the rear or both. In general, a stiffer rear bar will reduce understeer and give more oversteer tendencies. A stiffer front bar will have the opposite effect and increase understeer tendencies. If you stiffen both front and rear the over/understeer tendencies will depend on the relative difference between the bars. There are a number of aftermarket sway bars out there for you to use. And remember you basically have a Porsche Macan suspension under your Q5 so you can use a sway bar from the Porsche to upgrade your Audi.

Conclusion

There are a million more ways to improve the handling of your Q5. You can change shocks and springs, go with lightweight wheels, and on and on. But that was not the purpose of this article and most Q5 owners are not looking for that anyway. If you want a simple way to moderately upgrade the way your Q5 handles, follow this blueprint. Tire pressures, then tires, then sway bars. And then enjoy.

Images: Audi

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.