German car companies are generally known for stylish, fast, safe, and premium vehicles. On that note, Audi has an excellent Q-Lineup of SUVs and the Q5 is the most pragmatic vehicle in the company’s inventory. 2018 Q5 is built to offer the best of comfort, practicality and performance without breaking the bank and that turned out to be true since its inception. For 2018 MY, Ingolstadt introduced the second generation of the Q5 with a more powerful engine, new tech gizmos and styling.

2018 Q5 comes with a starting price tag of $41,500 and is available in three trim levels. For 2018 MY, 3.0L supercharged V6 has been axed and 2.0L turbo inline-4 has been amped up to produce more power. You also get a new 7-speed automatic DCT gearbox as standard. The 2018 Audi Q5 competes with the likes of the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

2018 Audi Q5 Engine

The 2018 Audi Q5 not only boasts a new, chiseled, and mean exterior but also gets a brand new engine to justify its aggressive behavior. As standard, you get a more powerful and more efficient 2.0L turbo inline-4 engine mated with a new 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Power is sent to all the wheels via the renowned Quattro AWD drivetrain system.

Unlike previous models, you don’t get an option to upgrade to a V6 unit. If you need more power and sporty characteristics, you need to get the SQ5 (reviewed separately). The 2.0L turbo inline-4 mill is the sole offering across the lineup and it churns out 252 hp and 273 lb-ft torque; 32 hp more than the previous gen. The new turbocharged four-banger feels smooth as butter. Power delivery is linear and there is no significant turbo lag. The seven-speed DCT gearbox, on the other hand, feels snappy and is one of the best automatic gearboxes on the market.

Models	2018 Audi Q5	2018 BMW X3	2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
MSRP	$41,500	$42,650	$42,050	$41,995
Engine	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	AWD	AWD
Transmission	7-speed automatic	8-speed automatic	9-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Power	252 hp @ 5000 rpm	248 hp @ 5200 rpm	241 hp @ 5500 rpm	280 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque	273 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm	258 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm	306 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

2018 Audi Q5 is the most affordable luxury SUV in the competition. It also offers better power and torque figures than its German counterparts. However, Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers a better price to power ratio. It also offers the highest power and torque figures on paper. BMW X3 is the least powerful on paper and it is also the most expensive one in the lot.

2018 Audi Q5 Acceleration

With the new upgraded engine under the hood, the performance quotient of the new 2018 Q5 has significantly increased compared to the previous gen.

2018 Audi Q5 can now hit 0- 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, which is 1.1 seconds faster than the previous gen model. It covers a quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 94.6 mph. Top speed is electronically limited to 130 MPH.

Models	2018 Audi Q5	2018 BMW X3	2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
0-60 MPH	5.9 secs	6.3 secs	6.7 secs	5.4 secs
Quarter mile	14.5 secs	14.8 secs	15.2 secs	14.1 secs
Engine	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4

Stelvio is the most powerful on paper and naturally it has the best acceleration timings in the lot. Audi Q5 follows it closely to the finish line. GLC Class has better torque than the X3 but it quickly runs out of steam which is why it is slightly slower than the latter.

2018 Audi Q5 Brake Performance

2018 Audi Q5 comes standard with ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels. It comes equipped with 13.3-inch ventilated disc brakes at the front and smaller 13-inch ventilated disc brakes at the rear.

The brake pedal feels firm and when the brakes are slammed at 60MPH, the Q5 comes to a stop in just 114 feet, which is impressive for an SUV. The brakes are supplemented by ABS, ESC and brake assist for better braking performance. 

Models	2018 Audi Q5	2018 BMW X3	2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Brake Front (in)	13.3	13	13.5	13
Brake Rear (in)	13	13	12.6	12.5
Curb Weight (lbs)	4045	4156	4001	4044
60-0 MPH (ft.)	114	119	116	117

2018 Audi Q5 has the largest set of brakes in the lot. It is also lighter for a mid-size SUV. These two key factors play a vital role in its braking performance. BMW X3 is the heaviest in the pack and takes the longest time to stop. GLC Class has the largest front brake rotors but comparatively smaller rear brake rotors. Had it been not so, it would have won this comparison.

2018 Audi Q5 Handling

Audi Q5 has been redesigned ground up for the 2018 MY. However, it still drives and handles similar to the previous model. However, this doesn’t mean the Q5 is bad. In fact, the Q5 has one of the most refined driving dynamics in its class. It is light and stays planted on the road even while taking sharp turns or driving through twisty roads. The standard suspension unit works well and soaks most of the bumps. But the overall ride quality is on the firmer side when you compare it with the likes of the GLC Class. However, you can get the optional adaptive dampers for better handling and a softer ride.

All the trims come standard with Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system that ensures excellent road grip. Moreover, the drivetrain comes equipped with a sports rear differential to deliver better performance, additional traction, and reduce understeer. Furthermore, Audi has distributed the curb weight to 53% at the front and 47% at the rear for better handling. The new 2018 Q5 also has 8.2-inches of ground clearance (0.3-inches higher than before).

2018 Audi Q5 MPG Figures

The new 2018 Q5 not only produces more power and torque but also manages to return better fuel economy than its previous gen models.

The 2018 Audi Q5 has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 23 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. It comes with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank and has a highway driving range of 499.5 miles.

Models	2018 Audi Q5	2018 BMW X3	2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
MPG (City)	23	22	21	22
MPG (Highway)	27	29	28	28
MPG (Combined)	25	25	24	24
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gallons	17.2 gallons	17.4 gallons	16.9 gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)	425.5/499.5/462.5 miles	378.4/498.8/430 miles	365.4/487.2/417.6 miles	371.8/473.2/405.6 miles

2018 Audi Q5 is the most efficient in the segment, at least in the city. However, the BMW X3 outperforms the competition when it comes to highways. But we were very much impressed with what Alfa Romeo Stelvio has to offer. Despite being the most powerful, fuel economy didn't take a significant hit. But its driving range is on the lower side owing to the small fuel tank. Audi Q5 on the other hand comes with the largest fuel tank in the lot and that translates to the best driving range.

Verdict

Although there are plenty of choices in the luxury compact SUV segment, we recommend the new 2018 Audi Q5. For 2018 MY, Audi Q5 enters the second gen and comes with a new amped up 2.0L turbo inline-4 mill along with a new 7-speed automatic DCT gearbox. It provides more power and torque; fuel economy has improved as well. Apart from these, the 2018 Q5 has admirable handling characteristics just like its previous gen models.

Also read:

• Check out the 2022 Audi Q5!
• Read more about the 2022 Audi S5 Sportback: Prices, Trims, Features, MPG, and Performance