If you want an SUV that’s superb to drive, comfortable for passengers and easy to park then the Audi Q5 offers all this and more. 

The latest Audi Q5 is a car for the heart and the head. Whichever engine you choose, the Q5 will give you a seriously fun drive.

Technology and Interior

In the driving seat you’re master or mistress of all you survey with the Audi MMI infotainment system, easy to use, so important in helping you, the driver, keep you focus on the road and not on navigating a complex computer system.

The Audi Smartphone Interface will give you seamless access to your smartphone apps, allowing you to stay connected on the go and enjoy stress free driving.

An extended wheelbase gives you increased knee and hear room, making every journey truly comfortable.

Rear view of white Audi Q5

Space

The Audi Q5 offers a superb amount of space for passengers and storage. The front compartment has enough room to easily get comfortable on short or long journeys, the driver and passenger have easy access to all the controls.

The same can be said for the rear seats with passengers able to stretch out and find their perfect seating position, the boot has a capacity of 520 to 1,550 liters.

Driver assist systems

The Audi Q5 is equipped with many driver assist systems which can help support your driving.

One of these features is Audi pre-sense, along with the collision avoidance assist all of which ensure you stay as safe as possible whilst in the vehicle.

Audi pre sense looks in front to prevent accidents with other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians or reduce the possible damage caused by the accident. Collision avoidance assist helps the driver steer the Q5 around an obstacle in a critical situation.

Audi Q5 hybrid front interior
close-up of the front of an Audi Q5 in white
close-up of alloy wheel on Audi Q5
Close up of Audi Q5 air conditioning
close-up of the rear on an Audi Q5.
Rear view of white Audi Q5

What trim levels are on the Audi Q5?

Sport:

Features Include:

  • 18" '5-twin spoke' dynamic alloy wheels
  • LED headlights & tail lights
  • Front sport seats in twin leather
  • Deluxe 3-zone electronic climate control
  • MMI navigation plus with 10.1" touch screen    
  • Audi virtual cockpit plus
  • Reversing Camera

S line:

In addition to Sport:

  • 19" '5-twin-spoke star' gloss turned finish alloy wheels
  • S line sport suspension
  • Front Sport seats in Microfibre Dinamica-leather combination with S embossing
  • 3-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel with grips in perforated leather and S badging
  • Privacy glass on rear and rear-side windows

Black Edition:

In addition to S line:

  • 20" '5-V-spoke star' anthracite black, gloss turned finish Audi Sport alloy wheels
  • Black styling with black rings
  • Black door mirrors                
  • Black roof rails
  • Inlays in Piano black finish
  • 3-spoke flat-bottomed multi-function leather steering wheel

A plug in Hybrid option is also available - The Audi Q5 55 TFSI e.

The Audi Q5 55 TFSI e is the first of Audi's new range of plug-in models. The plug-in hybrid Q5 TFSI e combines the comfort and performance of an Audi with the efficiency of electric power.

There are three driving modes to choose from in the Q5 TFSI e : Hybrid mode, EV and battery hold.

In electric mode only, the new hybrid Q5 has a range of over 37 miles and a top speed of 84mph. This allows it to cover most everyday distances – including motorway journeys – without the backup from the petrol engine. This could be an ideal car for commuters, fleet operators and would be a great company car.

Trim levels for the Q5 Plug-in hybrid:

  • Sport
  • S-line
  • Black Edition
audi q5 front parked

First Drive: Audi Q5

The Q5 sits in the middle of Audi’s SUV range – it’s slightly smaller than the German manufacturer’s imposing Q7 and a bit bigger than its crossover-sized Q3.

What it?

The Q5 has dominated Audi’s SUV sales figures ever since it was introduced in 2008. Clearly not keen to mess with a popular recipe, it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution for the new version.

What's new?

There’s a bit more space for passengers in the cabin and a bit more room in the boot for luggage, while Audi says it’s quieter inside than before and is lighter overall. Importantly for a premium car, the standard kit has also been upgraded, with a smartphone interface, powered bootlid and automatic city braking technology all available from the base SE spec.

What's under the bonnet?

There are three engine options to pick from – but the best seller, and our pick of the bunch, is the 187bhp, 400NM, 2.0-litre TDI, which will account for 60 per cent of sales in the UK. This comes as standard with a clever new Quattro Ultra all-wheel drive system that can switch seamlessly between two and four-wheel drive automatically. This makes the car more efficient without losing out on traction. Fuel economy is 56.5mpg with emissions of 132g/km. It’s the quickest SUV in its class too, hitting 60mph in 7.7 seconds and going on to a top speed of 135mph.

A 2.0-litre TFSI petrol option with 250bhp is also available. It’s capable of returning 40.9mpg and emits 157g/km. While a feisty 3.0-litre V6 TDi completes the line up. It produces 284bhp and a stonking 620Nm of torque.

What's it like to drive?

After the surprisingly agile Q7, the Q5 almost feels like a bit of a disappointment. It’s perfectly good at bumbling about in town and cruises quietly on the motorway, but there’s little to light the fire of keen drivers here.

The all-wheel-drive system and over-eager traction control system combine to have a fun-sapping effect if you try to push the Q5 in a corner, but on the school run or daily commute it’s a comfortable cruiser – though even when cornering at normal speeds you do get a sense of the high centre of gravity.

The one major bug bear is the seven-speed S tronic gearbox, which struggles to get you moving at lower speeds. It can really catch you out at junctions and roundabouts, particularly if you’re squeezing into a gap in traffic, as the clutch hesitates to engage. Once on the move it’s a slick shifter, though.

​How does it look?

The Q5 sits in the middle of Audi’s SUV range – it’s slightly smaller than the German manufacturer’s imposing Q7 and a bit bigger than its crossover-sized Q3.

The styling is sharper than before, with slimmer headlights giving the Q5 a more purposeful face, but overall it’s still quite understated. And in the Navarra Blue of our test car – a £645 option – it looks a little bland.

Audi Q5 rear side review
Audi Q5 side driving
Audi Q5 rear driving

What's it like inside?

Inside it’s extremely comfortable and the build quality is second to none. There are no obvious cheap plastics, while every surface feels like it would hold up to being poked and pulled at by young children. Considering this is Audi’s mid-sized SUV, the first thing that strikes you is just how spacious the interior is. The driving position is nicely judged, so you ride high above the road but sit relatively low in the cabin. With the 10-litre increase in boot space, there’s plenty of practicality on offer, too. The rear seats can be split into three different layouts, meaning you can carry larger items and still have passengers in the rear, while putting all three rear seats down gives an impressive 1,550 litres of space.

What's the spec like?

Our top-spec S line model starts at a little under £40,000, which puts it on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3. However, the Q5’s trump card is its residual values – Audi claims independent research predicts the new Q5 will hold nearly 60 per cent of its value after three years. Equipment across the range is decent, with cruise control, parking assist, semi-autonomous city braking and the Audi Connect safety and service system all included. The main benefit of S line models is the sporty body kit, but with sport suspension automatically included you’re better off going for the Sport trim if comfort is key.

equipment across the range is decent, with cruise control, parking assist, semi-autonomous city braking and the Audi Connect safety and service system all included. The main benefit of S line models is the sporty body kit, but with sport suspension automatically included you’re better off going for the Sport trim if comfort is key. One option box that’s definitely worth ticking for £250 is Audi Virtual Cockpit, which replaces the traditional instrument binnacle with a beautifully designed digital layout. The Audi Q5 will appeal to fairly wealthy families looking for space and practicality as well as plenty of badge appeal. Design-wise it’s one of the more understated options in the segment, so will appeal to those who want to fly under the radar.

Facts At a Glance

  • Model: Audi Q5 S line
  • Base price: £39,405
  • Engine: 2.0-litre diesel
  • Power: 187bhp
  • Torque: 400Nm
  • Max speed: 135mph
  • 0-60mph: 7.7 seconds
  • Economy: 55.4mpg
  • Emissions: 133g/km

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