We like
Handsome styling inside and out; smooth and efficient drivelines; poised handling and a settled ride; competitively priced against key rivals; very quiet and comfortable cabin

Room for improvement
Plug-in hybrid missing from launch line-up; steering is somewhat numb; screen-centric HMI may bother return buyers; occasional ADAS niggles on winding roads; no spare wheel

Overview

 

AUDI Australia has launched its third-generation Q5 and SQ5 SUV range Down Under this week, the range priced from $81,000 plus on-road costs, or $7600 more than the entry point to the outgoing line-up.

 

Rivalling the likes of the BMW X3 (from $86,100), Lexus NX (from $63,400), and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (from $89,000), the Audi Q5 line-up will initially comprise a front-wheel drive Q5 TFSI and the Q5 TDI, the latter in both quattro and quattro sport trim, as well as the V6 TFSI engine-powered performance variant in the SQ5, with a special SQ5 edition one available for a limited time to commemorate the local launch.

 

Audi says the five variants will later be joined by the Audi Q5 and SQ5 Sportback later in 2025 – as well as a future plug-in hybrid (PHEV) alternative.

 

For now, the Audi Q5 line-up is said to be the most advanced and luxurious yet with progressive styling, clever technology, impressive performance, and unparalleled comfort.

 

Entry-grade offerings feature 48-volt mild hybrid electrical assistance adding an additional 18kW/230Nm to their respective power units (petrol and diesel), resulting, Audi says, in is improved efficiency, performance and driving refinement.

 

Further enhancements to the third-generation line-up include the standard fitment of progressive steering and advanced frequency selective dampers across the range.

 

With sportier proportions and an athletic stance, the Q5 features a higher shoulder line than before, a new-look Singleframe grille, larger front air curtains, and standard S line exterior styling offering 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, and high gloss aluminium garnishing.

 

Inside, the Q5 is “designed to be human-centric” featuring a layout familiar to the recently launched Q6, A5 and S5.

 

Audi’s MMI panoramic displays incorporate 11.9-inch digital instrumentation and 14.5-inch infotainment arrays which play host to a bevy of connectivity and entertainment systems.

 

The interior is further adorned with leather-appointed upholstery, powered seat adjustment, LED ambient lighting, illuminated sill covers, and matte brushed aluminium trim.

 

Of course, the standard end of the Q5 range is generously equipped with the latest safety and driver assistance technologies including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, nine airbags, speed sign recognition, and much more.

 

The new range also introduces the Q5 TDI quattro sport (from $94,100), which Audi says features an array of differentiating equipment from the Q5 TDI quattro, including 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, Sport front seats, S line interior, leather-appointed upholstery, a flat top and bottom steering wheel, black headlining, and matte brushed aluminium trim with linear embossing in anthracite.

 

Marking the Australian launch of the new Q5 range is the limited SQ5 edition one (from $106,400) Audi says will be offered for a “short period”.

 

Building upon the specification of the Q5 TDI quattro spot, the edition one features a unique black styling package including gloss-black roof rails, mirror caps, window trims, anthracite grey Audi rings, and dark tailpipe trims.

 

Privacy glass, red brake callipers, and exclusive 20-inch black metallic Audi Sport alloy wheels are further offered as standard.

 

The interior of the SQ5 edition one includes leather-appointed upholstery complemented by S embossing, stainless steel pedals, a flat top and bottom multifunction steering wheel, and darkened headlining.

 

At the top of the range is the SQ5 powered by a familiar 270kW turbocharged V6 petrol engine. Audi quotes a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds for the variant, establishing it as the fastest SQ5 to date.

 

The SQ5 differentiates itself with exclusive 21-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, acoustic front glazing, aluminium-look trims, and “distinctive” S exterior styling with prominent visible tailpipe trims.

 

Inside, highlights include ventilated, heated, and massaging front seats finished in premium diamond-stitched leather, Dinamica upholstery elements throughout the cabin, advanced colour ambient lighting pro, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium sound system, head-up display, and USB interfaces offering “rapid charging capability”.

 

The Q5 and SQ5 range is available in 10 paint colours including three new additions: Tambora Grey, Grenadine Red, and Sakhir Gold, while inside, a range of upholstery options and interior trim packages “provide additional customisation to suit individual tastes”.

 

The Q5 range is backed by a five-year warranty which includes roadside assistance. Servicing plans are available with full details available via the Audi public website.

 

Driving Impressions

 

The Q5 – and sportier SQ5 – offer attractive styling both inside and out, the cabin feeling quite familiar to other recently launched Audi models, albeit with a little more headroom, and a fraction more cargo space.

 

We’re comparing the model of course with its A5 “sedan” sibling and the electrified Q6, both of which share a familial look and feel, connectivity and safety technology highlights, and in the case of the former, engine and transmission options. No surprises there – and nor should there be.

 

What does come as a surprise – and a pleasant one at that – is just how well the Q5 stacks up against its nearest competitors.

 

Being of a newer design, and with a considerable focus on up-to-the-minute connectivity and safety kit, it’s obvious Audi has closed the gap on the latest BMW X3 – and left the Mercedes-Benz GLC (launched in 2022) feeling somewhat of a different era.

 

While cabin and cargo space doesn’t shift dramatically from where it was, it arguably didn’t need to.

 

The Q5 is sensibly packaged and provides solid amenity levels in both the rear seat and up front. Storage cubbies, charging outlets, and drink holders are plentiful, as is the screen-centric HMI which dominates the dashboard.

 

The sheer percentage of screen-estate may not be to every buyer’s taste, but it is quite user-friendly once you get the hang of it. Most of the more frequently accessed controls are just one or two ‘taps’ deep, with hard buttons remaining for ancillary items you’re likely to need in an instant.

 

Away from the look and feel of the cabin it’s the quality of the materials and the quietness within that impresses most. The ergonomics and seating are very hard to fault, and the ADAS technology – for the most part – brilliant (more on that in a moment).

 

You truly feel that you’ve got what you’ve paid for aboard the Q5, the ambience as serene in a jaunt down the street as it is cruising the open road. More than one reviewer at the Q5’s local launch said, “this is a car I could drive from Brisbane to Sydney with very little bother”; and we must say we concur.

 

Of course, that’s not to say the Q5 doesn’t handle confidently. Disguised somewhat by slightly numb steering, the chassis is deceptively car-like and very well poised, offering a refined drive experience that deals with most of the surface imperfections encountered on our brief launch drive.

 

We likewise found the action of the brake-by-wire arrangement to be consistent, with acceptable pedal progression and excellent stopping performance.

 

Though slightly less communicative than a vacuum hydraulic arrangement, the set-up remains as predictable in fast-paced bends as it does on suburban streets – let’s hope the braking action of the incoming PHEV model offers more of the same.

 

Elsewhere, it’s the smooth and efficient drivelines of the Q5 and sportier SQ5 that show there’s plenty of life in internal combustion technology yet.

 

The entry 2.0-litre petrol might need a few more revs on board to keep with the flow of traffic, but is nonetheless willing, and impressively efficient. It is bettered by the torque-rich 2.0-litre diesel that feels effortless in hauling through hills and running on the motorway, while also being an oily rag miser at the pump.

 

Both Q5 engine choices returned a fuel consumption value close to the manufacturer’s claim, the TFSI 150kW (petrol) showing 6.1 litres per 100km at the end of our stint at the ‘wheel (versus a claim of 5.7L/100km), and the TDI quattro 150kW (diesel) a low 5.7L/100km (against a claimed 5.4L/100km).

 

Of course, the most powerful and fastest-ever SQ5 is a force to be reckoned with, and a clear favourite among those present for the vehicle’s Australian launch.

 

Rocketing from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, the turbocharged V6 is unflinching in its response to throttle inputs, piling on speed with little regard for the sign-posted limit.

 

Perhaps counterintuitively, the SQ5 also managed to return a decent fuel consumption figure during our demanding run through the hills, showing an average figure of 8.9L/100km (over a claim of 7.6L/100km) at the end of the drive.

 

If there’s one standout niggle that detracted from an otherwise hard-to-fault Q5 experience it’s that the lane keep assist and speed recognition technologies are far from infallible. On winding and poorly marked roads the lane keep assistance is borderline dangerous, often placing the vehicle too closely to the centre of the road for comfort.

 

We also found the speed sign recognition to be somewhat off the mark, picking up temporary speed zones and – in rare instances – other roadside numbers it displayed as the posted speed limit on the instrument panel. A diligent driver will note the difference, but many will take what the car says as gospel, hindering traffic flow – or scoring themselves a speeding infringement.

 

It’s a small blot of the Q5’s report card, and a shame considering how well the adaptive cruise control, driver monitoring system, and other safety technologies function. While the Audi systems are far better than many we’ve sampled elsewhere, it shows that work can still be done in getting cars right for challenging Australian conditions.

 

Otherwise, we think the Audi Q5 is a handsomely styled and tech-rich offering that shifts the mid-sized premium SUV benchmark for the better. With some rivals being over-complicated and fussy – and others simply not worth the asking price – it’s nice to find an alternative that splits the difference with aplomb.