Comparison Test: 2015 Porsche Macan S vs 2014 Audi SQ5

Originally published November 17, 2014

When it comes to siblings, two things are assured. Bickering over who gets the toys, especially if they’re close in age, is an absolute given. But, as they get older and even if they don’t get along, they learn to share.

Audi and Porsche are stepchildren in the overall Volkswagen Group, adopted by their much larger parent in 1964 and 2012 respectively. While Audi has fully acclimatized to Volkswagen ownership over the last 50 years, Porsche is still working out how to get along with everyone else in the family.

Porsche’s newest model – the Macan – is the sports-car maker’s interpretation of a formula that seems to be working for almost every other automaker. No matter if it’s mainstream, near-luxury, or premium, every automaker that has a compact SUV is selling them in droves these days.

But it isn’t like Porsche had a platform they could leverage for the task, so they stole a toy from Audi in the form of MLB/MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform), which underpins all Audi sedans and our other tester, the Audi Q5, this one in sporty S trim to face Porsche’s more sporting ethos in every model.

So it’s from common lineage that these two up-tempo compact SUVs do battle.

2014 Audi SQ5 vs 2015 Porsche Macan S. Click image to enlarge

Styling

As you’d probably expect, the SQ5 and Macan S have the exact same wheelbase, while other measurements, such as width (body and track), height, and length are separated by only millimeters. On paper, it’s easy to see the vehicles come from the same platform. But, in pictures, the untrained eye may not be able to tell.

Unlike Chevrolet and GMC, Audi and Porsche design their vehicles separately and make the best use of the constraints dictated by the platform. Aside from the dimensions above and the shape of the overall glass areas on each side, their designs are not alike at all.

The differentiation is incredible as Audi is able to highlight the strong, upright single-frame grill at the front of the SQ5 at the same time Porsche is able to give a much lower, tapered look to the front fascia of the Macan that the automaker has never been able to pull off with the Cayenne.

Again, these are two different brands within the same company making use of the same platform. That needs to be reiterated over and over. Other automakers seem unable able to bake this amount of brand DNA into their multi-model platforms.

2014 Audi SQ5 vs 2015 Porsche Macan S. Click image to enlarge

The Audi’s box-like styling – even though the roofline slopes down toward the rear – radiates a sense of strength. The rounded features of the Macan, namely the rear greenhouse, pinch above the rear wheels to give the SUV some curvaceous haunches, evoke a more sporting nature. Both of the vehicles play into their brand DNA quite well.

The Macan literally looks like one of their sports cars on stilts and, while looking at it from some angles can make it look somewhat unattractive, it’s a very cohesive design. The headlights are iconic and the rear design is simple yet classy.

On the other hand, the SQ5 rear taillights bug me especially; the taillight shape narrows as it gets closer to the middle of the car and it doesn’t seem to fit everything else. That said, the optional 21-inch wheels on the SQ5 look better than the 19-inch Turbo wheels on our Macan S tester.

Inside, both of these performance SUVs have their quirks. The Porsche is a button-fest with one button per function for almost everything in the car. Oddly, in the Audi, there are fewer controls and they are more convoluted to use. Case in point, the reset button for the trip computer in the SQ5 is on the underside of the right steering column stalk – a truly questionable placement. The Macan has an equally odd placement for the heated steering wheel control, located on the backside of the bottom of the steering wheel where you will never see it.

Overall, the inside of the Porsche makes you feel cocooned in a sports car thanks to the higher centre console versus the Audi. The SQ5 has a bit more of an open-air feel.

Considering these are performance SUVs, I’m obliged to give this category to the Macan. It looks better and feels better. As a sporty option, it hits the nail on the head with a tad bit more accuracy.

Infotainment, HMI and Audio

When it comes to audio, the quality of these systems will likely far surpass the bitrate of the music you store on your iDevice. But, both have jukebox functionality – allowing you to store high quality tunes for your journeying enjoyment. I’m no audiophile, so you’ll have to compare the quality of the systems on your own.

However, the usability of the systems is something I can, and will, speak to.

2014 Audi SQ5, 2015 Porsche Macan S dashboards & navigation. Click image to enlarge

For one, the Porsche is incredibly infuriating when you want to charge your phone and simultaneously maintain a Bluetooth connection. In short, it won’t do it. You have to pick one or the other – USB or Bluetooth – because as soon as you plug in your phone say goodbye to your Bluetooth connection.

Navigation in the Audi is far superior to Porsche in terms of input. The Audi MMI is just a little more mature and has worked out the majority of its kinks. Porsche’s system is a little clunkier and doesn’t provide the ease of accessibility like MMI.

Both systems are fairly full featured, though, with the SQ5 missing the touchpad I’ve come to love on other Audi models for ‘writing’ letters with my finger instead of having to type addresses using the on-screen keyboard. The Macan S has a better off-screen button stack for accessing main areas within their own system.

But, it really is the Audi that makes the best use of navigation and other electronic technology in the cabin. Even though the driver’s instrument panel display is more difficult to use in the SQ5, it makes up for it on the centre console where you’ll be spending most of your time clicking all the buttons and turning knobs.

I’m calling this a tie.

2014 Audi SQ5, 2015 Porsche Macan S steering wheels & gauges. Click image to enlarge

Usability

Again, this is a case of only isolated incidents – such as the right steering column stalk in the SQ5 and the heated steering wheel button in the Macan. It really comes down to whether you’d rather push buttons or go through menus, at least from an infotainment perspective.

Elsewhere, both of the utilities are exactly how you’d expect, which is no surprise from the German stepbrothers. All the doors open. All the doors close. There aren’t any surprise storage locations but there are enough to make sure you can bring everything along with you anywhere you want to go.

But, toward the rear, there is a big difference in cargo space capability.

Thanks to the Macan’s sloping rear glass, the trunk is limited to a mere 500 L of cargo space compared to 824 L in the SQ5. If you plan on hauling around significant amounts of luggage or other packages, the Audi is the better bet by a long shot.

And because of that drastic difference in cargo, Audi gets the square.

Features

Safety in this segment should be a given considering the price tags. But, it should be no surprise that the Porsche takes the cake from an active safety standpoint considering it’s a newer model.

It should be mentioned all the active assist functions on the Macan S are optional extras. They include Lane Change Assist, Lane Assist, ParkAssist, Reversing camera and Surround View. Our tester, equipped with the Premium Package, came with the back-up camera and ParkAssist, which both worked quite well.

2014 Audi SQ5, 2015 Porsche Macan S dashboards & consoles. Click image to enlarge

Over in Ingolstadt, the safety features haven’t yet caught up, but they should with the next refresh. However, our test SQ5 was equipped similarly to the Macan S, with a back-up camera and parking sensors. There was an issue with the Audi in that the front sensors wouldn’t activate when pulling up behind my personal car in the driveway. However, when reversing from the same spot, the front parking sensors would suddenly scream at me. For 20 minutes I fiddled through the menus and could not find out why the sensors were acting that way.

The SQ5 does make a slight comeback when it comes to comfort. The Audi is equipped with tri-zone climate control as standard while the Porsche only offers up two zones. The seats in the Audi are a little more comfortable as well, though the Porsche seats are more supportive and form-fitting.

I’m going to give this one to Porsche.

Powertrain

The two utilities use 3.0L V6 engines, but the Porsche opts for two turbos while Audi attaches a supercharger to the top of their powerplant.

And, while the numbers are similar, how that power is delivered is altogether different.

2014 Audi SQ5 vs 2015 Porsche Macan S. Click image to enlarge

The Macan S 3.0L V6 develops 340 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, which is much more than any soccer mom ever needs. Even though that power is being made thanks to turbocharging, delivery is smooth, acceleration is silky, and the torque rush is noticeable but not surprising. If it made just a tad bit more power, it would be a perfect motor, but that’s why Porsche has the Macan Turbo.

Conversely, the Audi SQ5 is pushed along by a 354-hp 3.0L V6 with 347 lb-ft of torque. If the Porsche mill was a scalpel, the Audi engine is a saw, as the power delivery is much more brutal and, in some ways, much more fun.

The difference truly is night and day with these engine and transmission combos. A seven-speed PDK automatic is utilized by Porsche while the SQ5 gets an extra gear in the Tiptronic automatic. The PDK is smoother, especially with the twin-turbo six, and much nicer to drive. But, there’s something visceral about the Audi when you give it the beans. It sounds a hell of a lot better, too.

Yet, with all this performance, both testers returned just over 10 L/100 km in mixed driving, not bad for SUVs with all-wheel drive and over 300 hp.

Point: Audi.

Suspension and Handling

The Macan S and SQ5 have completely different suspension setups. Also, thanks to the two-inch difference in wheel size, ride quality easily goes in favour of the Porsche. But, with that extra sidewall, I expected the Porsche to give a little more than the Audi in the corners. Boy, was I wrong.

The SQ5 provides a stiffer suspension setup but at the cost of handling and body roll. Diving into a corner, you are never fully confident in the Audi’s ability to make it to the other side. Body roll is a bit of an issue as the SQ5 chucks you around a bit.

Underneath it all, the Porsche feels better sorted from a drivability standpoint. Even if it isn’t a brute performer like the Audi, Porsche will remind you that power isn’t everything.In comparison, the Macan S is so incredibly well sorted. It truly is the Boxster/Cayman of SUVs and it shows. The ride is a perfect blend of stiffness for roadholding ability and luxury-sport smoothness. In the same corner, the Porsche eggs you on to push more, constantly reassuring you that accelerating through is the best course of action.

While other sections have been a case of splitting hairs between the testers, this category is a no-brainer and easily goes to the Porsche.

Value

At this point, I really thought Audi might take the Value equation, but then I realized all the newer features available in the Porsche that aren’t available on the Audi at all.

Also, this is the best way to get into a Porsche now, and while we typically avoid debating how much a badge is worth, having a Porsche in the driveway is a bit more impressive than an Audi.

Underneath it all, the Porsche feels better sorted from a drivability standpoint. Even if it isn’t a brute performer like the Audi, Porsche will remind you that power isn’t everything.

2014 Audi SQ5 vs 2015 Porsche Macan S. Click image to enlarge

Our testers come in at just over $3,000 apart. The Macan S with panoramic roof, 19-inch Turbo wheels, infotainment package, and premium package rings in at $65,665 with destination and A/C tax. Audi’s performance entry painted a brilliant Glacier White Metallic, with Aluminum/Black Beaufort Inlays, Bang & Olufsen Sound System, navigation package with parking system, and 21-inch five-double-spoke wheels will cost you $68,795 after freight and AC tax.

So, at least in this instance, you get a more refined, but performance oriented, SUV for a bit less.

The Verdict

When you start tallying it all up, it looks like a clear win for the Porsche. But, not so fast, both the SQ5 and Macan S have their audiences.

Personally, the Porsche is the winner for me, mostly down to its cornering performance and refinement. But, if you want something that’s more usable as a family hauler day-to-day, the Audi is actually going to be more useful.

For those with kids, the smart choice is the Audi because of space. But, those kids would rather be picked up in a Porsche. I know I’d love to be a Porsche kid.

Pricing: 2015 Porsche Macan S
Base Price: $54,300
Options: $10,150 (Infotainment Package – $3,420; Premium Package – $3,380; Panoramic Roof System – $1,910; 19-inch Macan Turbo wheels – $1,440)
A/C Tax: $100
Destination Charge: $1,115
Price as Tested: $65,665

Pricing: 2014 Audi SQ5
Base Price: $59,600
Options: $7,100 (Navigation Package with Parking System – $3,200; Aluminum/Black Beaufort Inlays – $1,100; Bang & Olufsen Sound System – $1,000; 21-inch 5-Double Spoke Designed Wheels – $1,000)
A/C Tax: $100
Destination Charge: $1,995
Price as Tested: $68,795