If you’re looking for a practical mid-size SUV with an upmarket feel and a smooth drive, the Audi Q5 could be the answer. It’s a brilliant all-rounder and there are versions that cater for a range of tastes and budgets.
The current version of the Audi Q5 has been on sale in the UK since 2016 and was updated in 2021 with new design details and upgraded tech. As well as the standard Q5, there’s a sleeker Sportback version that has a more sloping roofline. You can choose from petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power and all models have an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. There are eight trim levels to select from, plus the high-performance SQ5.
All Audi Q5 models come generously equipped with features including leather upholstery, heated front seats, climate control, cruise control, parking sensors and an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto. Many models also have sat nav and a digital driver’s display. Audi’s infotainment system is especially user-friendly, with clear graphics and simple menus to scroll through.
There’s a selection of petrol and diesel engines available in the Audi Q5, plus the option of plug-in hybrid power. Depending on the model, petrol Q5s can give average fuel economy of 30mpg to 40mpg and diesels can return between 44mpg and 56mpg. Those numbers compare pretty well with the Q5’s rivals. Annual car tax charges are reasonable, although you pay extra for models that cost more than £40,000 when new (and that must be paid every year until the car is six years old). The Q5 isn’t the most affordable car of its type, but considering its quality and generous features, it’s quite good value.
The Audi Q5’s main rivals are the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Volvo XC60. You might also want to consider the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Skoda Kodiaq or the Toyota RAV4. The Q5 compares well with all of these in just about every area. Its appeal lies in the fact that it ticks so many boxes and feels like a true premium product.
The Audi Q5 is as practical as you’d expect a mid-size SUV to be and it works really well as a family car. There’s enough space for four six-foot-tall adults to travel together in comfort, which means children should have loads of room to stretch out in the back. The middle back seat is a bit narrow, but that’s true of just about every other SUV. There are two sets of Isofix mounts for child seats in the back. These are easy to find and the Q5’s height means you can put a child into the car seat without bending down.
The boot has 550 litres of space – about average for this kind of car and more than enough for the needs of most families. All your stuff for a week-long holiday should slot in easily, or a couple of Labradors should be perfectly happy in there. The back seat folds down in three sections, freeing up a usefully large 1,550 litres of space. It’s also worth noting that the Q5 can tow 1,750kg to 2,400kg (depending on the model), which is quite a lot for this type of car.
Audi currently sells six different SUVs. The range starts with the small Q2 and ends with the luxurious Q8. The number in the cars’ names indicates their relative size, so the Q5 sits in the middle of the range between the electric Q4 E-tron and the seven-seat Q7.
Safety experts Euro NCAP awarded a full five-star safety rating to the Audi Q5, giving it high marks for protecting both adult and child occupants in a crash. Advanced driver-safety features fitted as standard include automatic emergency braking and a speed limiter. Many more features are included in the optional Tour Pack and Driver Assistance Pack, which are worth searching for when looking at used Q5s. Those extra features include traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
You can choose from two Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid models that combine a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. These are the 50 TFSI e and the more powerful 55 TFSI e. The official figures show the 50 TFSI e can give average fuel economy of 188mpg and the 55 TFSI e can give 176mpg. Both can drive about 26 miles on a fully charged battery and emit less than 40g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2), which puts them in low car tax bands.
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