Now in its second generation, the Audi Q5 is a compact luxury crossover and originally the German brand’s answer to rivals like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Over the past decade, it gradually supplanted the A4 sedan as Audi’s best seller. In a crowded segment, it specializes in advanced tech and sublime comfort. The Q5 seats five and would suit a young professional or small family quite well, with three different engine options (two gas-powered powerplants and one plug-in hybrid) and escalating amenities packages up the trim chain. There are also two bodies, with the coupe-like, BMW X4-rivalling Q5 Sportback having been added in 2021. Show
The Q5 starts with three trim levels (Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige) and three power options for each (standard 40 TFSI, the 45 TFSI or the 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid). Add-on bundles are up for grabs like a panoramic sunroof and convenience package with a heated steering wheel and driver’s seat memory. For 2023, adaptive cruise control is now standard on all models—a welcome addition. Middle-grade Q5s in Premium Plus are standard with a Bang & Olufsen audio system for the first time; the plug-ins get OLED taillights and Chronos gray replaces Quantum gray in the exterior color set. Equipped with standard AWD and a 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Q5 is available to two other powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (though not on the Sportback). Its competitors all have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine: Acura’s base RDX gets 272 horsepower, the Jaguar F-Pace makes 246 and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio pumps out 280. On the other hand, the Q5 gets slightly better fuel economy with a respectable EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined. The plug-in hybrid can save some money as long as commutes are under 23 miles—once the battery is depleted the gas engine is good for 26 mpg combined.  Starting at $43,500 for the base Premium, the Q5 is nearly $3,000 more than the RDX, but it’s about $2,500 less than a Stelvio and almost $9,000 less than the F-Pace, placing it somewhere in the middle. The Premium Plus and Prestige trims start at $49,000 and $54,500, respectively. While the Q5 is at its most powerful as the performance-skewed SQ5, which is a whole separate animal with a stout V6 engine generating 354 horsepower, the basic Q5 is a steady performer with predictable simplicity. As a luxury SUV, the Q5 checks all the boxes for amenities and suitable plushness. Precise German engineering speaks through the driving experience and crisp design cues. A 10.1-inch touchscreen provides streamlined access to infotainment and vehicle settings, but requires the driver to engage without the benefit of physical knobs. Interior panels in the two-row SUV (with a spacious-enough second row) are flawlessly installed and a mixture of materials integrate seamlessly throughout the cabin. Frontal collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warnings and front and rear parking sensors are all standard fare on the Q5. Adaptive cruise control is bundled with traffic jam assist and predictive efficiency assist, an improvement over 2022, but they still cost extra where they don’t on some mainstream brand vehicles like the Hyundai Tucson. The Q5 is also a chameleon that fits a variety of budgets and thirst for acceleration with a stable of options. We recommend the mid-grade Premium Plus, which features the upgraded audio system and a sunroof. There’s something for just about everyone in this crossover’s lineup. Performance: 12/15Audi’s Q5 is available with three engine options. First, the 40 TFSI (which stands for “Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection”) is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Next up is the 45 TFSI, which is the same engine but goosed to 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Last is the 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid, which harnesses a 17.9 kWh battery and an electric motor for a combined 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. With the plug-in hybrid, you’ll get an EPA-estimated 23 miles of all-electric range. Unfortunately, the racy-looking Sportback doesn’t come in PHEV form. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard across the board, as is a seven-speed automatic transmission. In the luxury compact crossover category, several competitors are powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with varied results. The Acura RDX, Jaguar F-Pace, and Alfa Romeo Stelvio all squeeze more horsepower out of their powerplant, however. Audi’s Q5 lags behind the F-Pace by 45 horsepower, the RDX by 71 horses and the Stelvio by 79 ponies. Every one of them also beat the Q5 in torque numbers, too. What the Q5 does have going for it is its silky-smooth suspension, which provides a comfortable ride on most surfaces. Whether it’s taking a curve on a notoriously pockmarked Midwestern country road at the end of winter or a slightly choppy dirt road, the Q5 performs admirably. Fuel Economy: 14/15The EPA estimates the Q5 will return 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg with a combined rating of 25 mpg. Only the 55 TFSI e plug-in-hybrid gets a slightly better rating with a combined estimate of 26 mpg and an electric-only range of 23 miles. SQ5 drivers will find the mpg suffers slightly, losing a single mpg in the city with the performance variant. Compared to other crossovers in its class, the Q5 does quite well. Jaguar’s F-Pace gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio AWD gets 24 mpg combined, and the Acura RDX gets 24 mpg combined with FWD or 23 mpg combined with AWD. Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15Audi equips every Q5 with an average set of advanced driver-assistance safety technology. Included in its standard package are Audi adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, Audi Pre Sense (which automatically tightens the safety belts for the front seats, closes the front and rear side windows, closes the sunroof and engages braking assistance or full/emergency braking), Audi side assist (two rear-facing radar sensors detect vehicles approaching from the rear and the side, and alerts the driver during lane changes via indicators located in the side mirror housings), auto high-beams and well-placed lane departure warning lights. Now that adaptive cruise control is included on all models, even the base Q5 is comprehensively equipped and competitive in the segment. Parking assist is included on the Prestige trim for those who prefer to have the car steer into a parking space with little intervention. The Q5 earned the highest possible rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): Top Safety Pick+. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Q5 a five-star overall safety score, which is top marks. Comfort & Room: 13/15Spacious and comfortable in both rows, the Q5 is easy to get in and out with generous door openings. The touchscreen in the center console isn’t positioned well and fully reliant on touch. It can be difficult and distracting for drivers both in its setup and requiring the driver to reach across for certain controls. At 38 inches of legroom in the second row, the Q5 ties the RDX but offers slightly more than the F-Pace and a solid 2 inches more than the Stelvio. All five seats of the Q5 are plush and shaped for comfort and ergonomics, a plus for short and long drives. The choice of materials, colors and combinations (leather, Nappa leather and imitation leather along with a microfiber fabric) make for a custom cabin experience, though the standard fabric/leather combo serves driver and passengers more than well. Infotainment: 13/15Audi doesn’t skimp on the tech front, and even base model Q5s are equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a high-resolution 10.1-inch touchscreen. Wireless charging comes with the Premium Plus trim, along with Audi’s comprehensive Virtual Cockpit feature, a configurable digital gauge cluster on the driver’s side that includes a 12.3-inch view of the phone controls, trip computer, speed, tachometer and a beautiful navigation map. Current and future-forward, the Q5’s infotainment scores high marks for its clear and intuitive graphics, but would benefit from fewer touches and swipes to get deeper into the menu. Still, it’s a smarter and more modern system than that in the F-Pace and Stelvio. But the tech-friendly RDX gives the Q5 a run for its money in terms of ease of use and strong layout. Cargo Space & Storage: 11/15When all five seats are occupied, the Q5 can hold an average amount of cargo in the back with 25.8 cubic-feet. That compares unfavorably to the Acura RDX, which boasts 31.1 cubes and the Jaguar F-Pace with slightly more at 32.1 cubes. However, the Q5 holds more than the Stelvio, which can host a meager 18.5 cubic-feet of cargo with all the seats in place. Fold the seats down and the Q5 expands to 54 cubic-feet, which is decent but unremarkable and much less than the most spacious SUVs in this class (the F-Pace is just shy of 70 cubes). The Q5 Sportback, with is racier roofline, loses a bit of volume, with 24.7 cubic-feet behind the rear seats and 51.9 overall, but that’s less space lost relative to the regular version than other “crossover coupes” like the BMW X4 or Infiniti QX55. The Q5’s rear seats may be configured in a 40/20/40 setup, converting the cargo area into a more flexible space. As such, the Q5 can swallow odd-sized items like musical instruments, hockey gear bags or gardening supplies like a small tomato trellis. This vehicle isn’t made for moving large items, but the Q5 can easily handle runs to big-box stores and haul multiple kids to multiple sporting events. Small-item storage inside the cabin is adequate, and the handy console conceals items like chapstick, wipes and loose change. Inside the doors, the pockets can accommodate a small water bottle at an angle; a larger opening would be more ideal. The Q5 can tow up to 4,400 pounds, which is impressive and near the top of its class. It’s more capable than the Stelvio, which can tow 3,000 pounds and the RDX, which can tow only 1,500 pounds. Jaguar’s powerful F-Pace edges the Q5 with a maximum tow rating of 5,291 pounds. Style & Design: 9/10Audi does an impressive job of not just crafting an elegant car inside and out, it takes care to ensure the fit and finish are commensurate with the price point. When it comes to the overall design, the Q5 presents a package that meets what it promises and then some. Interior panels are flawlessly installed and the German firm finds ways to use different types of materials in harmony inside the cockpit. The gear shifter is pleasantly shaped and moves smoothly and knobs and switches are laid out in a no-nonsense way that makes each function easy to manipulate. Moving up to Premium Plus or Prestige trims means the addition of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which changes the look behind the wheel with impressive graphics and elegant navigation screens. The center 10.1-inch touchscreen could be better integrated into the dash, but earns big points for graphics quality and usability. Is the 2023 Audi Q5 Worth it? Which Q5 is the Best Value?Like the 2022 version, the 2023 Audi Q5 is available in three trims (Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige) and three engine options include a plug-in hybrid. All-wheel drive is standard across the board. Those seeking more power are going to want to take a look at the performance-oriented SQ5 variant. The difference between the base Q5 and the top-of-the-line Q5 Prestige is over $10,000. Between the two is a happy medium in the Premium Plus ($49,000), which is our pick for best value. Equipped with the upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio system, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a panoramic sunroof and more, this mid-grade trim is worth a look. For about $2,500, opt for the 45 TFSI engine with 60 more horsepower and 37 more lb-ft of torque than the base 40 TFSI. The plug-in hybrid might seem attractive on the surface, but the gas-powered models have more range per tank and the overall cost is more attractive. How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Audi Q5?The Q5 costs as much to insure as most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium ranging from $2,543 to $2,654 depending on powertrain and trim, though this averages all 50 states. An Alfa Romeo Stelvio owner might pay almost $2,600 per year, while the Acura RDX starts around $1,875 and the sedan Jaguar F-Pace is $2,870. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator. What is the mpg on Audi Q5 plugWith the battery depleted, the EPA estimates the Audi's combined fuel economy at 26 mpg; that figure is lower than the Lincoln's 33 mpg or the 36-mpg rating for the Lexus.
What is the mpg of the 2022 Audi Q5 hybrid?Up to 23 city / 29 highway2022 Audi Q5 / MPGnull
How far does the Audi Q5 hybrid go on electric?Note that our 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid's 14.1-kWh capacity is rated for 19 miles of electric range. For the 2022 model year, the battery size increases to 17.9 kWh, boosting range to 23 miles.
Is Audi making a Q5 hybrid 2023?Audi Q5 Plug-in Hybrid models are available with a 2.0 L-liter plug-in hybrid engine, with output up to 362 hp, depending on engine type. The 2023 Audi Q5 Plug-in Hybrid comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 7-speed automated manual.
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