The Audi Q5 is offered in 4 different trim levels with the base trim priced at $40900. The Q5 also comes with 2 engine options. The Q5 that we have with us today has a two-liter engine that makes 220 horses and 258 lb.-ft of torque. You can also have an Audi Q5 fitted with a 3-liter engine for that extra bit of power. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission across and power is distributed to all the four by the Audi’s Quattro all wheel system.
The Audi Q5 is offered in 3 different trim levels with the base 2.0T Premium trim starting at $40,900. The 2.0T Premium Plus is priced at $43,150. The next trim levels come with a larger and more powerful 3.0L engine.
| Trim |
Premium |
Premium Plus |
Prestige |
| MSRP |
$40,900 |
$43,150 |
$53,200 |
| Key Features |
- LED taillights and rear fog lights
- Power-adjustable heated exterior
- side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals
- Audi concert radio with ten speakers and single CD player with MP3 playback capability
- BLUETOOTH wireless technology preparation for compatible mobile phones Rain/light sensor for automatic windshield wipers and headlights
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- Audi advanced key—keyless start, S
- top and entry Auto-dimming rear view mirror with digital compass
- Stainless steel door sill inlays Three-zone automatic climate control
- Audi concert radio with ten speakers and single CD player with MP3 playback capability
- BLUETOOTH wireless technology preparation for compatible mobile phones
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- Aluminum Satellite interior inlays
- Adaptive xenon plus headlights with
- LED daytime running lights and static cornering lights
- BLUETOOTH streaming audio for compatible devices
- Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 14 speakers and 505 watts
- SiriusXM Traffic with four-year subscription HD Radio Technology
|
We Recommend
If you want a luxury car that can occasionally on off-roads adventures jungle safaris, we would suggest you pick up the basic 2.0T Premium trim level. These trim levels pamper you with luxury and also gives you the power and abilities to go off-roading. If you want a hardcore luxury SUV and are ready to shell out some extra bucks, get the top of the line 3.0T Prestige trim level.
"Regardless of which engine you choose, the Q5 delivers refined and rapid acceleration. This is especially true of the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which is gutsier than you might expect - especially if you're used to six cylinders under the hood." - Edmunds
Engine and Performance
The Audi Q5 comes with two engine options i.e. is a 2-liter TFSI engine and a 3-liter TFSI engine. The Q5 that we have with us is propelled by a 2-liter, 4 cylinders, TFSI engine that makes about 220 horses and delivers 258 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is coupled to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission and power is sent to all the 4 wheels by the Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. The Audi Q5 has the lowest power figures in the competition. The Mercedes Benz GLC has the best power figures at 241 HP. Both, the BMW X4 and the Volvo XC60 fall short of the Mercedes by 1 HP and make 240 HP. The Mercedes also boasts the best in competition torque figures of 273 lb.-ft.
| Models |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| MSRP |
$40,900 |
$40,950 |
$39,150 |
$45,550 |
| Engine |
2.0L TFSI Inline 4-Cylinder |
2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder |
2.0L inline-4 turbo w/Direct Injection |
2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder |
| Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
9-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower |
220 hp |
240 hp |
241 hp |
240 hp |
| Torque |
258 lb-ft |
258 lb-ft |
273 lb-ft |
258 lb-ft |
Acceleration
In spite of featuring the least powerful engine, the Audi Q5 has the best acceleration timings in the competition. The Q5 can shoot from rest to 60 MPH in about 5.9 seconds and can cover the quarter-mile distance in about 13.5 seconds. The acceleration figures of the Q5 are pretty impressive for a car of this size. The only car that comes close to the Audi Q5 is the BMW X4. The BMW does a 0-60 MPH in about 6 seconds and covers the quarter-mile distance in about 13.6 seconds falling short to the Audi Q5 only by 1/10th of a second. The BMW is followed by the Mercedes while the Volvo, on the other hand, happens to be the slowest car of the lot.
| Models |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| 0-60 MPH |
5.9 sec |
7.3 sec |
6.3 sec |
6.0 sec |
| Quarter mile |
13.5 sec |
15.5 sec |
14.0 sec |
13.6 sec |
| Engine |
2.0L |
2.0L |
2.0L |
2.0L |
| Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year) |
8.0 |
6.8 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
Ride and Handling
This is the area where the Audi Q5 impressed us the most. Driving dynamics of the Q5 are simply amazing and it almost feels like you’re driving a powerful hatchback. The steering feels sharp and offers ample amount of feedback. The dampers are nicely tweaked and provide great agility during high-speed cornering and help in keeping the ride stable and solid. Moreover, the car is always ready to dive into corners and just gives you the right amount of confidence while driving. The ride quality on the Audi Q5 is plush and is something you would just expect from a premium SUV. The suspensions of the Q5 try their best absorb all the bumps and potholes but you still get a bump or two through your spine as you drive. Audi’s focus on making this ride agile has cost them in terms of ride quality but the positive side of this is the fact that you don’t get thrown around during spirited driving and stay firm on your seats. The Q5 is a tall car yet the levels of body roll are quite low.
Braking
Braking abilities of the car only give you the confidence to exploit the potential of your engine to the fullest. Audi has equipped the Q5 with 12.6 inches diameter discs at the front while at the rear you get 11.8 inches diameter discs. Slam on the brakes at 60 MPH and the Q5 will come to a standstill at a distance of 117 feet. The braking stats of the Q5 are decent enough given the fact that this car weighs 4200 lbs. The Mercedes Benz gets the largest set of brakes in the competition and as a result, has the best braking stats. The Merc comes to a halt from 60 MPH at a distance of 115 feet when the brakes are slammed. The Audi on the other has the smallest set of brakes in the competition yet it manages to get the second rank in terms of braking.
| Model |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| Brake Front (in.) |
12.6 |
12.9 |
13.5 |
12.9 |
| Brake Rear (in.) |
11.8 |
11.9 |
12.6 |
13.0 |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) |
4200 |
3959 |
3892 |
4130 |
| 60-0 MPH (ft.) |
117 |
130 |
115 |
123 |
Towing Capacity
The Audi Q5 makes the lowest power figures in the competition. In spite of this fact, the Q5 offers the largest towing capacity. The Q5 can tow up to 4400 lbs which commendable for a car in this category. No cars in the competition come even close to the Audi in this case.
| Model |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
4400 |
3500 |
3500 |
N/A |
Not many people buying a luxury SUV will care about the fuel economy numbers but its play an important part when we have to compare multiple cars. The Audi Q5 goes in the city for about 20 miles on a single gallon of fuel while on the highway it can go for about 27 miles on a gallon of fuel. The Audi gets a combined fuel efficiency rating of 22 MPG making it the least fuel-efficient car of the lot. The Volvo XC60 boasts the best in competition combined fuel economy figures of 26 MPG. The Volvo is followed by the Merc and the BMW with both the cars getting a combined fuel economy rating of 24 MPG and 23 MPG respectively.
| Model |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| MPG (city) |
20 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
| MPG (highway) |
27 |
31 |
28 |
27 |
| MPG (combined) |
22 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
"Audi knows how to put together a premium cabin, and the Q5 continues to stand out in this regard."-Edmunds
Seating & Comfort
Jump on two the inside and you’ll find the cabin to be nice and quiet. The noise insulation is superb and you can barely hear to the engine grunt. The cabin is nicely laid out in typical Audi fashion. The focus has been laid out functionality and everything on the dash is placed ergonomically. The quality of materials is top notch. The dash board and the steering wheel are wrapped with high quality leather. All this adds up to give the car a premium feel. The Audi Q5 can accommodate 5 full grown adults quite comfortably. The seats are nicely cushioned are crafted with high quality materials. Up front you get a total head/shoulder/leg room of 39.4/57.7/41 inches respectively while at the rear you get a total head/shoulder/led room of 39/56.4/37.4 inches respectively. The Audi Q5 features the most spacious interiors in the competition.
| Model |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.4/57.7/41.0 |
38/56.2/41.2 |
37.8/57.3/40.8 |
40.0/57.2/40.4 |
| Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.0/56.4/37.4 |
38.1/55.2/38.1 |
38.5/56.5/37.3 |
37.4/56.0/34.8 |
Infotainment System
The MMI infotainment system of the Audi Q5 isn’t the most intuitive infotainment system. In fact, the system is quite slow and sluggish and this is the probably the only area where Audi missed its mark. The 12.3 inches touchscreen interface lags a bit and pixelates at times. The screen is host to the navigation system, car settings, and some other functions and features of the car. As standard, the car is equipped with Audi concert radio which comes with 10 speakers, single CD player, MP3 player, Bluetooth and satellite radio. You can avail the Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers and 505-watt amplifier by paying extra if you are really keen on improving your in ride entertainment experience. SiriusXM Traffic and HD radio technology are also available as an option.
Some of the cool features on the inside of the 2017 Audi Q5 are listed below.
- Audi concert 10 speaker surround sound system.
- Three-zone automatic climate control.
- Stainless steel door sill inlays.
- Keyless start-stop
- Aluminum satellite interior inlays.
Cargo Volume
Being an SUV, you would expect the Audi Q5 to accommodate a large amount of luggage. The Q5 does live up to your expectations by offering a cargo volume of 29.1 cubic feet when the rear seats are up. Flip down the rear seats and open up to 57.3 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Volvo XC60 is the only car in the competition that offers better cargo volume than the Audi Q5. The Volvo offers a cargo volume of 30.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and once the rear seats are folded down, you get a cargo volume of 67.4 cubic feet. The Mercedes Benz GLA and the BMW X4 both fail to beat the Audi Q5 in terms of cargo volume.
| Model |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| Cargo Volume to rear seat up (ft.3) |
29.1 |
30.8 |
19.4 |
17.7 |
| Cargo Volume to rear seat folded (ft.3) |
57.3 |
67.4 |
56.5 |
49.4 |
Dimensions and Weight
The balanced dimensions of the Audi Q5 give is solid look and a commanding stance. The car is thoughtfully designed and retains the DNA of an old-school SUV and yet looks modern with the lines and the curves that flow across its body. The Q5 is 182.6 inches long and 74.7 inches wide. The car is 65.2 inches tall and gets a ground clearance of 7.9 inches. The Q5 weighs about 4200 lbs. The BMW happens to be the tallest car of the lot while the Audi happens to be the widest. The Volvo is the tallest car and also features the best ground clearance in the category.
| Model |
Audi Q5 Premium |
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription |
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 |
BMW X4 xDrive 28i |
| Curb weight (lbs.) |
4200 |
3959 |
3892 |
4130 |
| Length(in) |
182.6 |
182.8 |
183.3 |
184.5 |
| Width(in) |
74.7 |
74.4 |
74.4 |
74.1 |
| Height(in) |
65.2 |
67.4 |
64.5 |
63.9 |
| Ground clearance (in) |
7.9 |
9.1 |
5.9 |
8.0 |
| Wheelbase (in) |
110.5 |
109.2 |
113.1 |
110.6 |
| Track width (in) F/R |
63.7/63.5 |
64.3/62.4 |
63.9/63.7 |
62.8/63.4 |
Exterior Features
Some of the cool features on the outside of the 2017 Audi Q5 are listed below.
- LED taillights.
- Power adjustable heated exterior side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals.
- Automatic rain sensing wipers.
- Headlight washers.
- Audi advanced key (keyless start, stop and entry).
- Adaptive xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and static cornering lights.
- Rear LED fog lights.
Audi understands that people buying this car will be driving it in the city traffic and will occasionally be taking it for off-roading. Hence, it becomes necessary that Audi equips the Q5 with safety equipment that keeps its passenger safe in the real jungles as well as in the concrete jungles. As a result, the Q5 has been loaded with some advanced safety features just so that you stay safe and protected as you cross the mountains during your adventure or wade through the city traffic to reach your office. The Q5 gets a ‘Good’ rating in most of the crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The Q5 also gets a ‘5 Star’ rating in most of the tests conducted by the NHTSA.
NHTSA RATINGS
| Overall rating |
4 star |
| Overall frontal barrier crash rating |
4 star |
| Frontal barrier crash rating driver |
4 star |
| Overall side crash rating |
5 star |
| Side barrier rating |
5 star |
| Side pole rating driver front seat |
5 star |
| Combined side rating rear seat |
5 star |
| Rollover rating |
4 star |
| Side barrier rating driver |
5 star |
| Frontal barrier crash rating passenger |
5 star |
| Combined side rating front seat |
5 star |
| Side barrier rating passenger rear seat |
5 star |
IIHS Ratings
Crashworthiness
| Small overlap front driver side |
Good |
| Small overlap front passenger side |
Good |
| Moderate overlap front |
Good |
| Side |
Good |
| Roof strength |
Good |
| Head restraints & seats |
Good |
Crash prevention and mitigation
| Front crash prevention |
Superior |
| Headlights |
Marginal |
| Child seat anchors (LATCH) |
Good |
Safety Features
- Driver and front passenger dual-stage airbags, front thorax side airbags and Sideguard head curtain airbags
- Front-passenger occupant detection for airbags
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) in rear seats
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Offroad mode and traction control (ASR)
- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
- Tire-pressure monitoring system
Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription
The Volvo is the Swedish contender of the Audi Q5. The Volvo is priced only $50 more than the Audi and makes about 20 horses than the Audi. However, the Audi rips apart the Volvo in terms of acceleration timings and braking. The Volvo on the flip side has the better fuel economy numbers and is larger in shape than the Audi. The XC60 offers the better luggage storage capacity but loses to the Audi in terms of towing capacity. Comparing both the cars carefully, we came to the conclusion that if you’re in search of luxury SUV to drive in the city and don’t really need a car that has solid off-road abilities and wants a break from the big three Germans, then you should go for the Volvo XC60. However, if you love to explore the unfathomed paths and sometimes want a car that can take you off-roading, the Audi Q5 should be the car of your choice.
Audi Q5 vs Mercedes Benz GLC 300
The Mercedes Benz GLC is a mid-size luxury SUV from Stuttgart, Germany. The Merc is cheaper than the Audi by a $1000 and has 21 more horses than it. The Audi, on the other hand, outclasses the Benz in terms of acceleration timings. The Merc has the better braking stats and also has the better fuel economy figures. The Audi, however, offers the better cargo volume and towing capacity. Both the cars are pretty similar to each other in terms of specs and features and so it is really difficult to declare a clear winner. The Merc has its own set of positives and negatives and the Audi too has its own set of positives and negatives. We’d rather say that both the cars are equally good and it won’t really make a big difference if you buy any one of the two.
Audi Q5 vs BMW X4 xDrive 28i
The BMW X4 hails from Munich, Germany and is a strong competitor of the Audi Q5. The BMW costs about $5000 more than the Audi. The X4 too makes 20 more horses than the Audi and yet fails to beat the Audi in terms of acceleration timings. The Audi, on the other hand, outclasses the Beemer in terms of braking, cargo volume, passenger volume, and towing capacity. The only area where the BMW beats the Audi is fuel efficiency and it does so only by a small margin of 1 MPG. Clearly, the Audi is the better package of the two. It costs less, it drives better and is more practical. If you have to choose between the two, you should certainly go for the Audi Q5 any day.
The Q5 is a brawny SUV from Ingolstadt, Germany. The stunning looks and striking features of the SUV make it an instant eyeball grabber in spite of being a very common car on the roads. Practicality, comfort, power, features and looks, the Audi Q5 is the perfect blend of all these factors. This car will certainly offer a great value for your money and will also be a great companion. A daily driver, a highway cruiser, jungle explorer. The Q5 can do it all.
