2018 Audi Q5 Interior Design, Dimensions, and Comfort
The 2018 Audi Q5 gets a newly designed interior, where the focus is clearly on the technology employed to make the experience as hassle-free as possible. The touch and feel of every part of this interior inspire confidence with exceptional built quality, as expected from Audi in the Q5. Step inside and the first thing that grabs attention is the upright touchscreen infotainment display on the dashboard. Its positioning within the otherwise neat and clutter-less dashboard is rather awkward, making it look like a cheap Garmin aftermarket screen. Apart from that, there is very little to criticize about this interior. The Virtual Cockpit for the driver on higher-spec variants is a big highlight of the Q5, providing customizability and information lacking in some higher-end SUVs.
Apart from that, the leather, wood, and silver accents on the dashboard provide some depth to an otherwise solid-colored dashboard. Moreover, Audi’s iconic yacht-inspired gear selector lever blends well into the setting. Coming to the seats, the front seats are cladded in real organic leather, which makes the Q5 go one up over its rival’s synthetic leather-wrapped seats. The rear seats are capable of seating tall passengers with ease, due to Audi’s excellent use of space for a small crossover SUV like the Q5. In terms of interior size, the 2018 Q5 is not class-leading but is not far off its main competitors. Given the excellent cabin interior design and quality of materials, the 2018 Q5 is a great place for passengers to relax during the ride.
|
Models
|
2018 Audi Q5
|
2018 BMW X3
|
2018 Volvo XC60
|
2018 Acura RDX
|
|
Seating capacity
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
|
Interior Passenger Volume (ft³)
|
NA
|
101.4
|
NA
|
103.5
|
|
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
|
40.2/57.7/41
|
41.1/57.6/40.3
|
38/58.2/41.5
|
38.7/58.7/42
|
|
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
|
37.7/56.5/37.8
|
39.1/56/36.4
|
38/56.3/38
|
38.1/57.2/38.3
|
The 2018 Audi Q5 has slightly more space at the front, and slightly less rear row room compared to its German rival, the BMW X3. This is achieved while keeping the overall footprint of the Q5 smaller than the X3. It goes on to show Audi’s excellent use of passenger space for keeping its passengers comfortable inside the Q5.
2018 Audi Q5 Infotainment
The Premium and Premium Plus variants of the 2018 Q5 come standard with a 7.0-inch display, which is tucked inside a cubby hole on the dashboard. The Prestige variant gets the upgraded 8.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, as well as Audi’s famous Virtual Cockpit - a 12.3-inch fully color LCD driver information gauge display. The 2018 Q5 is powered by Audi’s MMI infotainment system, which is still one of the best in the business, thanks to its laptop-like functionality and responsiveness. However, the Virtual Cockpit system is the star of the show with its incredible customizations, such as a Google Earth-paired navigation system, vehicle health management, audio controls, etc.
Standard infotainment features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, two USB ports, and Bluetooth. Other available features include satellite radio, navigation, MMI All-In-Touch touchpad with handwriting recognition, head-up display, Wi-Fi hot spot, and Audi Connect Prime. For your music needs, you get a 10-speaker sound system as standard but you can upgrade that to a 19-speaker B&O premium sound system.
2018 Audi Q5 Cargo Capacity
At first glance, customers will be skeptical about the cargo space in the 2018 Audi Q5. Unfortunately, they are not far from being disappointed. Owing to the Q5’s design language, the boot space is actually a few cubic inches smaller than the previous generation Q5.
However, in practice, the boot will suffice for buyers who intend on taking their vehicle on short trips without much luggage. Where the Q5 saves some brownie points is with the rear seats, which can fold in a 40/20/40 split, making it more flexible than its rivals. However, the Q5’s competition will appeal a lot more to customers prioritizing cargo space.
|
Models
|
2018 Audi Q5
|
2018 BMW X3
|
2018 Volvo XC60
|
2018 Acura RDX
|
|
Standard Cargo Capacity (ft³)
|
25.1
|
28.7
|
17.8
|
26.1
|
|
Maximum Cargo Capacity (ft³)
|
53.1
|
62.7
|
56.3
|
61.3
|
The Q5 has a larger cargo trunk than the XC60 but falls short of the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX. However, with the seats folded down, the Q5 has the smallest cargo space, with rivals going over 60 cu. ft.
Additional Interior Storage Spaces
Another area where the Q5 falls short when compared with rivals is interior storage spaces. Audi has paid a little too much attention to style. And so it has made the sacrifices by making small door pockets, oddly placed cup holders on the center console, and a shallow center storage bin. However, the glovebox is well-sized and capable of carrying more than just the owner’s manual book.
2018 Audi Q5 Creature Comforts
Audi has been generous when it comes to features across the 2018 Q5 model lineup. The Q5 is sold in three variants -Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige, along with an additional Tech Package for all three variants. The base Premium variant has a lot of creature comforts one would not expect in rivals. Standard features include push-button ignition, a power liftgate, leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment, 40/20/40-split folding, reclining rear seats, and three-zone automatic climate control.
The 2018 Q5 Premium Plus variant adds a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, heated front seats with driver-seat memory settings, and a hands-free power liftgate. The top-of-the-line Prestige variant adds noise-insulated side windows, a head-up display, and ambient cabin lighting. Other standalone options include ventilated sports front seats, heated rear seats, and heated steering wheel.
Final Verdict
The 2018 Audi Q5 creates a new standard in terms of interior design and technology in its segment. The comfort is excellent, ride quality is brilliantly calibrated, and the quality of materials inside the cabin creates an ambiance that very few vehicles of its class can compare. Although the dimensions are on the smaller side, and practicality takes a hit due to the design language, there are still enough positives about the 2018 Audi Q5 that will appeal to its customers, and make a mark in the market for luxury compact crossovers.
