Power Base
The Sunrise Medical Quickie Q500 M Powerchair is the "all-rounder" of Sunrise Medical’s Q-series powerchairs, ideal for those that want a single powerchair for use throughout the day in a mixture of indoor and outdoor environments. It offers improved power and range over the smaller, more indoor-focused Q300 M Mini, and is more compact than the Q700 M that is designed for primarily outdoor use.
The Q500 M base builds on the success of the Salsa M2, and a notable improvement we have noticed is the new anti-pitch technology that provides a much smoother braking experience than its predecessor. The base is slim enough to get around limited spaces indoors such as lifts, narrow doorways and tight corners, and able to turn on the spot thanks to the ultra-manoeuvrable mid-wheel drive.
Outside, it is no slouch, with powerful high-torque 4-pole motors providing the traction you need at speeds of up to 8 mph. Patented Quickie all-wheel independent suspension absorbs the bumps, even over rougher ground, and allows you to climb kerbs of up to 10 cm. 60 Ah batteries come as standard, but can be upgraded to extra-large 80 Ah batteries for an outstanding range of up to 25 miles.
Seating
The Sedeo Pro seating system features as standard on the Q500 M, which is a highly adjustable system that can be configured to your needs with a broad selection of support and positioning options. That allows the seat to be tailored to your requirements, giving you a bespoke seat with a perfect fit for unrivalled comfort and support. This modular system allows the Sedeo Pro seat to be adjusted further should your needs change, ensuring you have the right seat for you throughout the lifespan of the chair.
Suitable for a wide range of people, the Sedeo Pro seating system features an enhanced weight capacity of 25 stone, seat widths of 15 – 22 inches and depths of 16 – 22 inches to fit all shapes and sizes. Cushion and backrest options include the full Sedeo range, including our pick – the Deep Contour back that features flexible sides that "hug" you in place, forming to your shape. If your requirements are more clinical, the full JAY range of cushions and backrests and Whitmyer headrests can be fitted, as well as other positioning options such as lateral supports, and third-party components can be fitted if required.
The full range of powered seating options you would expect to see on a high-end prescriptive powerchair can be provided, including a powered seat lifter to help maintain eye-level in social situations, even when driving at walking pace, and powered tilt of up to 50° for pressure relief. Lie-flat powered recline is also available - including with an anti-shear option, and can be combined with powered elevating and articulating centre-mount or individual, swing-away legrests to achieve a relaxed, sleeping position. The addition of powered positioning components are well worth it if you intend to spend long periods of time in your Q500 M, and we are able to demonstrate them all for you.
The Q500 M with Sedeo Pro seating is fully crash-tested, making it suitable for occupied transport in a suitably adapted vehicle; it is also pre-prepared for a DAHL docking station should you wish to drive a car from your powerchair.
Controls
The Q500 M comes as standard with the reliable VR2 control system - ideal for those wanting a simple to use, basic control system, it can be used to control up to two powered seating options. For those after a more advanced system, or who need more than two powered positioning add-ons for their powerchair, R-Net controls are available. This can come with a large, high-definition LCD screen and allows you to master your environment – seamless Infrared and Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect to household appliances, home entertainment systems and computers or smartphones.
For those who need special controls such a head or chin controls, or additional switches, the Link-It mounting system allows an endless combination to be attached, and the clean design doesn’t compromise the appearance of your powerchair.
Appearance
While the Q500 M provides outstanding functionality, Sunrise have ensured that the appearance of the powerchair is not neglected – after all, if you’re going to spend all day in your powerchair, you want it to look good. This ethos can be seen throughout the sleek, minimalistic design – from the matt-black chassis to the hidden wiring and components, and the sharply-tailored upholstery. Your choice of seven colour inlays (green, black, blue, orange, red, silver and white) allows you to customise the appearance of your Q500, and can be easily replaced should you wish to try another style.
Our Verdict
The Q500 M really is an outstanding powerchair that does it all – great indoors or out, giving you the comfort and positioning you need – plus able to adapt to changing needs; all while looking great. Sunrise Medical have perfected the mid-wheel drive base on the Q500 M, and its versatility has made this the most popular model of the Q-series. It has recently been upgraded with improved suspension and larger drive wheels, meaning it has virtually the same performance as the larger Q700 M. The refresh also added the option for lie-flat recline, and the C-Me feature on the seat riser that lets you drive at walking pace when elevated.
Its nearest competitors are Invacare’s TDX SP2 NB and Quantum’s Q6 Edge 3, and we feel the attention to detail and comfort of the Sedeo Pro seating puts it a level above its rivals. We would also suggests considering Permobil's M3 Corpus, which offers similar performance to the Q500M with the addition of some more specialised seating functions.
If you are wanting a high-performance powerchair for a mix of indoor and outdoor use, with configurable seating that you can spend all day in, the Q500 M is our pick of the bunch.