2026 Audi SQ5 Premium in Flushing
The SQ5 Premium is the entry point into Audi's compact performance SUV, starting at $66,970 all in — the $65,400 manufacturer's suggested retail price plus the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee (an optional dealer charge, not a New York State or DMV fee), before state and local taxes, title, and registration. That total includes the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee on top of a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $65,400; it excludes state and local taxes, title, registration, and any optional equipment. And it isn't a stripped-down car to get there. Every mechanical piece of the SQ5 comes standard here: the 362-hp turbocharged V6, the 7-speed dual-clutch, quattro all-wheel drive, and the Sport adaptive air suspension that other Q5 trims don't get without paying up. The cabin gets the full S treatment too, diamond-stitched sport seats, the flat-bottom steering wheel, illuminated door sill inlays, standard 20-inch wheels, and the 11.9-inch virtual cockpit plus alongside a 14.5-inch MMI screen. Audi Queens keeps the Premium in stock in Flushing for buyers who want SQ5 performance without paying for features they won't use.
Everything that makes it an SQ5, standard
Audi didn't hold back the performance hardware to sell it back to buyers a trim later. The Premium ships with the identical twin-scroll turbo V6, the same 406 lb-ft of torque, the same 7-speed S tronic, and the same standard quattro that the Premium Plus and Prestige carry. The suspension follows suit: Sport adaptive air suspension, which continuously adjusts damping and can vary ride height, comes on every SQ5 regardless of trim. That's a deliberate difference from the regular Q5, where adaptive air suspension is reserved for the top trim. On the SQ5, Audi decided the driving experience shouldn't be a paywall.
Styling tracks the same logic. Standard 20-inch 5-double-spoke-twist wheels, S-specific front and rear bumpers, and liquid chrome silver exterior accents mark the car as an SQ5 from the curb, not just from the spec sheet. Inside, diamond-stitched front sport seats in leather and Dinamica, an illuminated S-logo sill inlay at each door, stainless steel pedal caps, and a flat-top-and-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles carry the theme through. LED headlights are standard, and the panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with light on a clear Flushing morning.
The technology floor is higher than it looks
Because the Premium sits below two other trims, it's easy to assume the tech is basic. It isn't. The 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus curves into a 14.5-inch MMI touch display in one continuous panel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and Audi connect CARE adds remote vehicle services and security features out of the box. What the Premium doesn't get: the Bang & Olufsen sound upgrade, the surround-view camera, the dashcam, and lane-centering on the adaptive cruise, all of which move to the Premium Plus. If any of those matter more than the $1,900 gap between trims, the Premium Plus guide is worth reading before you decide.
What Premium buyers value here
Reviewers who chose the entry SQ5 tend to describe it the same way: full performance, no extras they didn't want. One buyer, working with JT on a new SQ5, called the service "A+... from top to bottom" and said he'd recommend seeking JT out by name (JC). Another, whose search ended on a Quantum Grey SQ5 with the air suspension and Black optic package, said simply "Patricia was the best from start to finish" (Brandon W.). That kind of straightforward process is what a buyer who already knows they want SQ5 performance, and nothing extra, is usually looking for.
Frequently asked questions: 2026 Audi SQ5 Premium in Flushing
The bottom line
The SQ5 Premium is proof that Audi's entry trim isn't an asterisk. Every horsepower, every pound-foot, and the same air suspension carry over from the top of the range, which makes this the trim to start from if the appeal is the drive, not the cabin extras. Check live SQ5 inventory for current Premium stock, or book a visit to drive it back to back with the trims above it.
Total prices shown include the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 New York documentation fee; they exclude state and local taxes, title, registration, and any optional equipment, and the dealer sets the actual selling price. Equipment, packages, and availability can change with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Audi Queens. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Audi Queens.