2018 Audi Q5 SUV

The Q5 offers three trim levels, the most basic of which starts at $41,500 and the top trim at $50,800. Even the base trim comes loaded with advanced tech features that should satisfy most buyers. A standard 2 liter 4-cylinder engine powers the Q5 with 252 ponies and 273 pound-feet of torque. For those looking for more power, the sporty version of Q5. SQ5 has a 3 liter V6 that delivers 354 horsepower. 

The 2018 Audi Q5 comes in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission is standard across all trims, along with Audi’s Quattro AWD with ultra tech. The ‘ultra tech’ refers to the drivetrain’s ability to decouple and shift to FWD when power in all wheels is not needed. This is done for a better fuel economy.

Trims	Premium	Premium Plus	Prestige
Price	$ 41,500	$ 45,500	$ 50,800
Features	Audi smartphone interface including Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto 18" 5-double-spoke-dynamic design wheels with 235/60 R18 103H all-season tires Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense city Rear view camera with 7.0" center color display	Everything on Premium Audi side assist and Audi pre sense rear with Rear cross traffic assist & Vehicle exit assist Full LED headlights Audi advanced key—keyless start, stop and entry with hands-free tailgate release Heated front seats with driver memory	Everything on Premium Plus Audi virtual cockpit and head-up display with navigation and assistance systems information Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, 19 speakers, 16-channel amplifier and 755 watts. MMI navigation plus with MMI all-in-touch with handwriting-recognition technology Parking system plus with top view camera system

The entry-level Premium trim has a very limited access to optional upgrades. The Premium Plus trim adds a few more features and buyers have many options to upgrade and customize it. Finally, the top level Prestige trim adds more features and has access to some exclusive optional upgrades.

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If the latest Q5 has caught your attention, consider buying the Premium Plus trim. It would add up luxury features to your vehicle such as a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, and heated leather front seats along with safety techs such as rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, etc. without getting too high on the price scale.

“Audi certainly offers a nice turbo 2.0-liter, which is fortunate because it’s the only engine available in the regular Q5 (the high-performance SQ5 will be powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6). It makes more horsepower than the fours in its German cousins. Okay, it’s only 12 more than the BMW and 11 more than the Mercedes, but a win is a win” – Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Audi Q5 comes standard with a turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Audi's Quattro AWD is also standard. Although the Q5 still uses a four-cylinder engine, it is comparably more powerful than its predecessors. The gearshifts depend on your driving mode and it remains smooth and responsive optimizing the particular drive mode. 

The new engine produces 252 HP and 273 pound-feet of torque as compared to the 220 HP and 258 pound-feet of torque produced by previous Q5 engines. This engine already does duty in several other cars from Audi like the A4. As we have already seen in those cars, the engine is quite potent and delivers power in a very linear manner and being refined at it as well. There is a bit of turbo lag at lower RPMs but it picks up the pace quite easily and gets going pretty smooth. 

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
MSRP	$ 41,500	$ 47,800	$ 42,065	$ 41,500
Engine	2.0l Turbocharged Inline 4	2.0l Turbocharged Inline 4	2.0l Turbocharged Inline 4	2.0l Turbocharged Inline 4
Power	252 hp @ 5000 rpm	252 hp @ 5000 rpm	247 hp @ 5500 rpm	250 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	273 ft-lbs. @ 1600 rpm	273 ft-lbs. @ 1600 rpm	269 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm	258 ft-lbs. @ 1500 rpm
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	8.0	7.3	7.4

This puts Q5 ahead of close competitors such as Jaguar F-Pace and Volvo XC-90. The Porsche Macan also uses a four-cylinder engine that gives out a similar power output as the Q5, but Macan comes at a higher cost. If you prefer to have more power, the SQ5 (Q5’s sportier cousin) might impress you with its 3-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 354 hp.

Acceleration

Despite its size and a 4 cylinder engine, the 2018 Audi Q5 is quicker than you’d anticipate. The engine gets noisy under hard acceleration but does well as a daily driver. With a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, the Q5 is quicker than most competitors. If you still prefer more power or an engine that maintains its peace even under hard acceleration, go for the SQ5. The SQ5’s turbocharged V6 reduces the 0 – 60 mph time to 5.1 seconds.

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
0-60 MPH	5.8 sec	6.3 sec	6.4 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter mile	13.5 sec @ 94.6 mph	13.4 sec @ 99.1 mph	13.8 sec @ 99.6 mph	14.8 sec @ 94.5 mph
Engine	2.0l	2.0l	2.0l	2.0l

The Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace, both have slower base models than Q5. But the Macan S is as fast as SQ5. As we move up the trims, it is easier to see that the Q5 is marginally slower than its competitors. 

Handling and Steering

Audi’s Quattro AWD ultra tech system is standard on all trims. Audi’s drivetrain along with their highly praised Drive Select makes driving dynamics tailored for the driver. The four drive modes included in Drive Select are Comfort, Dynamic, Sport, and Individual. Comfort setting decreases the sharpness for a better ride quality, and dynamic increases Q5’s agility and response time.

Handling the 2018 Audi Q5 is almost as fun as handling a sporty sedan. It has a small turning radius and a precise grip, even on curving mountain roads. The stability control, however, tends to intervene too early in case of a little wild ride. This restricts the driver from fully exploring Q5’s potential.

“The Q5 has a great balance of performance and drivability. Its seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic shifts quick and smoothly, and it feels well-tuned for the engine. And because of its relative compact size, it's easy to squeeze into small parking spots” – Edmunds

Braking

Despite its big size, the Q5 is just as quick at coming to a halt as it is in accelerating. It takes about 112 feet to come to a full stop from a speed of 60 mph. Although the 2018 Audi Q5 is heavier than some of the key competitors, it does well in losing its inertia even when panic braking from high speeds.

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Brake pads-front(in)	13.3	13.6	12.8	13.6
Brake pads Rear(in)	13.0	13.0	12.8	12.6
Curb weight(lbs.)	4,045	3902	3880	3959
60-0 MPH	112 ft.	119 ft.	121 ft.	125 ft.

In everyday conditions, the brake pedal is moderately firm and provides confidence to the driver. The Q5 has dependable brakes which make sure you can speed up your Audi and still have good control.

Towing Capacity

The average towing capacity in this class lies somewhere around 3,500 pounds. The Q5 can pull as much as 4,400 pounds, that’s more than its own curb weight. The competitors like Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace have stronger engines that provide class-leading towing capacities.

	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Towing Capacity (lbs.)	4,400	4,409	5,290	3,500
Engine	2 Liter TFSI I-4	2 Liter Turbocharged I-4	2 Liter Turbocharged I-4	2 Liter Turbocharged I-4
Drivetrain	Quattro AWD with ultra-tech	AWD	AWD	AWD

The Q5 has one of the most fuel-efficient engines in the competition. The fuel economy for 2018 Audi Q5 has increased from the Q5s of yesteryear. One of the reasons this year’s Audi has a better fuel economy is the addition of Quattro AWD with ultra tech. The ‘ultra tech’ refers to the drivetrain’s ability to decouple the rear wheels and provide all power to the front wheels when an AWD is not needed. This improves the fuel economy as not wasting power on all wheels when maximum traction is not needed.

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Mpg city	23	20	22	22
Mpg highway	27	25	27	28
Mpg combined	25	22	24	24

One of the competitor that does better than Q5 is the BMW X3. BMW’s base engine provides 21/28 mpg in city/highway. If you opt for the SQ5, the economy falls down to 19/24 mpg in city/highway. 

“The seats feature excellent shape and bolstering. We weren't fatigued after several hours of driving. Heated and ventilated options available on higher trims. The rear seats slide and recline” – Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The interiors of the new Q5 went through significant changes. The cabin is spacious and comfortable. The upper dash is soft plastic with a rich grain. Audi really paid attention to details, which makes Q5 one of the most luxurious SUVs in the market. The interiors are pretty similar to all other new Audi's and that's a good thing. It very neatly laid out with ergonomically placed physical buttons. Fit and finish are really good with soft-touch materials at most places. 

Comfort and luxury have been Audi’s forte for years, and Q5 follows the tradition. Q5 sports an 8-way power adjustable driver seat with 4-way lumbar support. For taller drivers, there are manual thigh extensions to maximize comfort. You can even add wood trims on the dashboard and a sunroof for some extra zing to the interiors. 

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Hip/Shoulder/ Leg) (in.)	41.7/-/57.7/41.0	39.4/-/-/33.1	37.8/-/57.7/40.3	38.0/-/58.2/41.5
Second (Head/Hip/Shoulder/ Leg) (In.)	39.3/-/56.5/37.8	36.3/-/-/32.3	37.5/-/55.8/37.2	38/-/56.3/38

The rear seats get an extra 0.4 inches of legroom. While this is enough for most people, the taller passengers may face a problem when the front seats are slid all the way to the back. The back of the front seats is made of hard plastic, and although there are knee cutouts, it still might feel a bit cramped.

Interior Features

The 2018 Audi Q5 is available in regular black, rock grey, atlas beige, and nougat brown colors. These colors can be paired with wood trim available in walnut, aluminum, and ash wood colors. The ash wood color wood trim comes at an additional cost. The back camera is standard in all trims. The premium plus and prestige trims add parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. The Prestige adds a 360-degree camera and an electronic parking brake with an automatic function. The Prestige trim also adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass.

Infotainment

The 2018 Audi Q5 comes standard with 180 watts 10 speaker sound system. As you move up, you get 755 watts 19 speaker Bang and Olufsen speakers in the Prestige trim and as an optional upgrade in Premium Plus.

The standard display in Premium and Premium Plus trims is a 7-inch screen which can be upgraded to an 8.3-inch display screen, which is standard in the Prestige trim. The screen in non-touchscreen and you have to use buttons and knobs to control it. In the upper trims, you get MMI All-in-Touch system which can recognize written commands and destinations for navigation.

The new Audi Q5 comes standard with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 5-inch driver information display, voice command, HD Radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and a push-button ignition. One drawback is that Apple CarPlay is much easy to use on a touchscreen, however, in the Audi you have to use the physical knob and touchpad to navigate through the app.

Available features include a 7-inch driver information display, a panoramic sunroof, satellite radio, navigation, the MMI All-In-Touch touchpad with handwriting recognition, a 19-speaker sound system, a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, an 8.3-inch infotainment display, a head-up display, Audi Connect Plus – which includes a Wi-Fi hotspot – and Audi Connect Prime, which includes Google Earth, voice recognition, myAudi Destinations, predictive traffic and weather, internet radio, and applications like Twitter.

Cargo

The cargo space for the 2018 Audi Q5 is just above the class average. With the rear seats up, Q5 provides 26.8 cubic feet of storage space, which expands to 60.4 with seats folded down. This is enough to satisfy most buyers, and the 40/20/40 split rear seats easily fold to enhance cargo space versatility.

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Volume (ft.cube) (w/Rear seats fold)	60.4	53.0	64.0	63.3
Loading Capacity(lbs.)	13,44	14,88	900	650
Towing Capacity(lbs.)	4,400	4,409	5,291	4,409

The space behind the rear seats is filled with hooks and nets to hold smaller items, with a track based anchor system to handle bigger items. To provide maximum ease for storage to the buyer, a power liftgate is standard in all trims, along with one button rear seat folding. A hands-free power liftgate is also available as an optional upgrade that opens the liftgate with a wave of your foot under the rear bumper.

 

The Q5 gets a complete makeover for the year 2018. Most of the changes are noticeable inside the cabin, while the exterior only gets slight refinements. The most noticeable change is the addition of two sharp creases on the bonnet. Such creases were not possible with the earlier tech, but now they are here to display a more powerful look. The overall design is much sharper than the previous rounded off design. The design is more evolutionary than revolutionary but still remains a handsome car. 

Model	Audi Q5	Porsche Macan	Jaguar F-Pace	Volvo XC-60
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4,045	3,902	3880	3950
Length (in)	183.6	184.9	186.3	184.8
Width(in)	74.5	75.7	81.5	74.9
Height(in)	65.3	63.9	65.0	65.3
Ground clearance(in)	8.2	7.8	8.4	8.5
Wheel base(in)	111.0	110.5	113.2	112.8
Track width(in) F/R	63.6/63.3	65.2/65.0	64.6/65.1	65.1/.65.2

In the front, Q5 boasts a single frame grille with a protruding feel to it which reminds of the Q7. The headlights bleed perfectly into the grille. Almost all the sections feature some sort of character lines. From the side, the Q5 has a slant to the back, but it doesn’t impede headroom or cargo space. The side profile remains unchanged other than a few sharp creases along the length of the car. The whole look is more angular and aggressive.

The rear of the Q5 is impressive, to say the least. The clamshell design of the tail lights adds to the cohesive design. In the bottom, you get two horizontal exhaust outlets on the silver rear diffuser. Those are fake, by the way. But they look quite real and add to a rich feel.

Exterior Features

The standard headlights on the lower trims have xenon lights. The fog lights are embedded in the headlamps, so there are no lights in the bottom. Instead, there are functional openings to relieve frontal pressure to increase aerodynamics. The tail lights have Audi Progressive lights.

There are 3 wheel options. Premium and Premium Plus trims get 18-inch 5 spoke alloy wheels or 19-inch 5 wing design alloys. The Prestige trim gets 20- inch alloys with 5 spokes in sets of 3.

The side mirrors are powered and heated in all trims. The Prestige and Premium Plus trims also get auto dimming and power folding.

The 2018 Audi Q5 fares excellently in tests conducted by IIHS and NHTSA. Some notable standard features include rearview camera, Audi Pre Sense Basic, and Audi Pre Sense City. When the Audi Pre Sense Basic detects an imminent crash, it prepares the brake system, tightens the seat belts, and closes the windows and available panoramic sunroof. The Audi Pre Sense City includes features like forward collision warning, pedestrian warning, and pre-collision braking at up to 52 mph.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Safety Ratings
Small Overlap Front Test	Good
Side Impact Test	Good
Head Restraints and Seats	Good
Roof Strength Test	Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test	Good

 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Ratings
Overall Front	5 out of 5
Front Driver Side	5 out of 5
Front Passenger Side	5 out of 5
Overall Side Star Rating	5 out of 5
Rollover	4 out of 5

 

 

Volvo XC-60 vs Audi Q5

Just like the Q5, the Volvo XC-60 is also all-new for 2018. When comparing the base models of these compact SUVs, you’ll notice that the Q5 is considerably faster than the Volvo in going from 0 – 60. In fact, if you want to go as fast as Q5’s base trim with a Volvo, you would have to shift to the 316 hp generating Volvo XC-60 T6. The T6 would be just as fast as the base Q5 in 0 -60, but would be faster at the quarter mile mark.

The base trims of both these SUVs are almost equal in price. They both offer standard AWD and leather upholstery along with some other luxury features. But when you move up the trims, the Volvo seems like a better deal as it provides more available options, a T6 engine, and many other features that are not available in Q5. In the highest trim, the Volvo offers more value for money and takes an edge over Q5.

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5

The Q5 has a higher starting price for its class, but the Macan makes it look like a bargain by crossing Q5’s price by $6,000. But this high cost is a result of powerful engines that bring out Porsche’s sports car roots. If you are ready to part with some money, you can upgrade the Macan to host a V6 engine that makes 440 horsepower. Although the Q5 is not a tardy vehicle, the Porsche is a class apart.

Although Porsche focused strongly on providing power to the Macan, they compromised with the latest techs that are becoming a part of the basic roster. Macan lacks many standard features and smartphone integration capabilities that the Q5 provides.

Choosing between these cars is a question of personal choice. If you are willing to part with some cash for higher performance, Macan is waiting for you. But if the latest techs are your thing, Q5 is the obvious choice.

Jaguar F-Pace vs Audi Q5

The Jaguar F-Pace is a great looking car that delivers a powerful ride with a sports-car-like handling. The suspensions could use some work, though. The ride around the town can feel bumpy at times. This is where the Q5 takes the lead. It is practical, comfortable, and feels the most luxurious compared to other competitors.

The Jaguar also isn't as tech-rich as the Audi and while Jaguar's infotainment system has come a long way, Audi's MMI system is still the best in the market. Choosing between these cars depends on whether you want a sporty vehicle or a luxurious tech-rich vehicle. Both these cars fit their bill very well for what they are meant to be.

The Q5 is the most sold car in Audi’s arsenal. And the stats are just going to keep better with the new and redesigned 2018 Q5. From an aggressive exterior to a quiet interior, Audi seems to take care of it all. The new and improved standard 4 cylinder engine provides with more power than the earlier Q5 engines. The engine is powerful enough for everyday drives, but if you crave for more power, you always have the option of SQ5.

The Audi Q5 is not just about looks. It is loaded with standard and optional features than enhance its comfort level, safety, and connectivity. And with the virtual cockpit with google earth maps, Audi makes sure you never have to take your eyes off the road.

To summarize, Audi is a luxurious, spacious, and fuel efficient SUV. Sure, there are competitors like Mercedes GLC which provide more power, but none match the complete package that the Q5 so proudly displays