Audi Q5 2021 In-Depth Review - Sleeker, Smarter and Better Equipped

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Audi's second generation Q5 gets a smarter look, an extra sleeker Sportback body shape, an upgraded cabin and more efficient diesel power to join the existing petrol and petrol plug-in options. There's a big step forward in media connectivity too. As ever, this mid-sized premium Audi executive SUV offers car-like driving dynamics that are great on tarmac and are even pretty effective for light off road use. In short, if you can afford it, you'd like one.

Background

Three models dominate the executive mid-to-large section of the premium-badged SUV sector and this is one of them, Audi's Q5. It's almost faced stiff competition from its two arch-rivals, the BMW X3 and the Mercedes GLC but looks stronger against them thanks to the package of mid-term updates visited upon the revised Q5 model range we're going to look at here.

Some things haven't changed though. As before, this is the kind of compact SUV you buy if you want something that'll look great in the driveway, keep you mobile in a snowy snap and shrink around you when a twisting road opens up ahead. It's a demanding brief that around three quarters of a million global owners feel was delivered on by the earlier versions of this car. But is this latest version good enough to continue to ask questions its rivals may struggle to answer? That's what we're going to find out.

Driving Experience

This isn't the most dynamic-handling premium-badged mid-sized SUV you can buy but it's arguably the one that rides best and is most refined. S tronic auto transmission and quattro 4WD are standard across the range. The key news on the engine front is the arrival of a lighter, cleaner, more powerful 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine for the 40 TDI quattro variants that most Q5 customers choose. Power for this powerplant has increased from 190 to 204PS and this unit now uses the brand's latest, more efficient so-called 'twin dosing' catalytic converter technology. The conventional engine alternatives include a couple of versions of the brand's 2.0-litre TFSI petrol turbo, developing 204PS in the 40 TFSI or 245PS in the 45 TFSI variant. You may not have yet caught up with the fact that the SQ5 sporting model is now a mild hybrid 3.0-litre diesel (with 347PS and 700Nm of torque) and capable of 62mph in 5.1s en route to 155mph.

You also may not be up to date with the fact that the Q5 range now offers a couple of TFSIe Plug-in hybrid options which uses a 3.0-litre V6 petrol turbo unit mated to a rechargeable 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery capable of providing a WLTP-rated electric driving range of up to 26 miles. Most in search of a Q5 PHEV will choose the 50 TFSIe variant, which offers 300PS and makes 62mph from rest in 6.1s en route to 148mph. There's also a more potent 55 TFSIe model with 367PS which improves that figure to 5.3s. Bear in mind that if you choose the Sportback body shape, you get firmer sports suspension; but as with the standard model, you can upgrade that with either adaptive damping or full air suspension on request.

Design and Build

Specific hallmarks distinguish the latest members of the growing Audi Q crossover family from the core range and this updated Q5 now moves more closely into step with them visually. It comes in two forms - standard SUV and trendier Sportback form. If you stick with the standard SUV version, although the width and height of this mid-size SUV remain as before at 1.89 metres and 1.66 metres respectively, you'll find this Audi now 19mm longer at 4.8 metres, primarily due to its new, larger bumpers. To emphasise this car's Q credentials from the front, its octagonal Singleframe grille is shallower and appears wider than before. And the air intakes that flank it have grown in height and are now structured by trapezoidal insets. The headlights have a new daytime running light signature and there's wider availability of Audi's intelligent 'Matrix' beam technology.

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The best Car review channel on YouTube by far. Unrivalled attention to detail and well polished production. 10/10.

sebekkha

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A genuine no nonsense review Brilliant.😊

shug

The most comprehensive reviews bar none and interesting throughout.
At 76mins that's some achievement - bravo!

saintetienne

A credible, detailed and professional presentation. Invaluable for people who are considering purchasing this car. Thank you.

jamesryan

Love this extended reviews. Much better than the "short" versions. Like you said, "if" you can afford it, it will be worth it. Unfortunately, I cannot afford one 😢

andrekleyn

This is the kind of review I like. Very informative and to the detail. Not the mockery that other reviewers do. Thank you for this review

jggiango

Actually this second generation Q5 doesn't share the same platform with the Macan at all. It was the original first generation Q5 that Porsche took and heavily modified for the Macan.
Anyone who's ever owned the previous generation Q5, or SQ5, and then gotten into a Macan, especially the Macan S, GTS, or Turbo will tell you that they are very different experiences.
The 2016 SQ5 I had was built so much better than the second generation Q5s that they started producing in Mexico. The resale values of that last generation reflects how much better they are when compared to the second generation with the same or even more options. They were worth more than the newer models with the same amount of miles. That's why I went to Porsche in 2017 and got my first Macan GTS, and bought another GTS in February 2021. They're seriously that good.

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