2015 Audi Q5
October 2015
Jim Prueter
The Q5 compact SUV is Audi’s best-selling model in the United States. Venture into any upper middle-class neighborhood and you’ll find the Q5 increasingly invading the roads. Audi has done an excellent job with this vehicle and it shows in design, performance, and popularity.
The Q5 comes standard with all-wheel drive and is offered in five different models to suit individual buyers. The Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, 220-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter, supercharged, V-6 with 272 horsepower. There’s also a high-performance SQ5 trim with a 3.0-liter V-6 and 354 horsepower, a 245-horsepower hybrid model, and a new 3.0-liter, diesel V-6 that returns 240 horsepower. All Q5 models come with a super smooth shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Gasoline-powered models require premium fuel.
My test Audi was the SQ5, which was well-equipped with most options. It isn’t overly fast, mainly because of the all-wheel drive and its outrageous 4,400 pounds. Still, it’s massively entertaining to drive, but the ride may be a bit too firm for some tastes.
No auto manufacturer builds better interiors than Audi, and the Q5 is no exception. Materials are premium and impeccable. I especially like the rear seats that slide-adjust forward and backward. Although the Q5 is a five-passenger crossover, it would be difficult to seat three adults in back.
Sophisticated in-cabin tech systems, like Audi Connect, offer everything from Google maps with real-time news and traffic information to a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to eight devices. But some of the controls are fussy — there are no audio knobs, and changing the climate control fan speed requires going two layers deep into the touch-screen interface.
The Q5 has high safety ratings, with a 4-Star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is a 2015 Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Regarding safety, the technology package includes parking sensors, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitoring system.
Overall, if you’re in the market for a luxurious, five-passenger, do-anything SUV with excellent performance and Armani-tailored styling, there’s a good chance the Q5 lineup has just the right vehicle for you.
The Q5 comes standard with all-wheel drive and is offered in five different models to suit individual buyers. The Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, 220-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter, supercharged, V-6 with 272 horsepower. There’s also a high-performance SQ5 trim with a 3.0-liter V-6 and 354 horsepower, a 245-horsepower hybrid model, and a new 3.0-liter, diesel V-6 that returns 240 horsepower. All Q5 models come with a super smooth shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Gasoline-powered models require premium fuel.
My test Audi was the SQ5, which was well-equipped with most options. It isn’t overly fast, mainly because of the all-wheel drive and its outrageous 4,400 pounds. Still, it’s massively entertaining to drive, but the ride may be a bit too firm for some tastes.
No auto manufacturer builds better interiors than Audi, and the Q5 is no exception. Materials are premium and impeccable. I especially like the rear seats that slide-adjust forward and backward. Although the Q5 is a five-passenger crossover, it would be difficult to seat three adults in back.
Sophisticated in-cabin tech systems, like Audi Connect, offer everything from Google maps with real-time news and traffic information to a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to eight devices. But some of the controls are fussy — there are no audio knobs, and changing the climate control fan speed requires going two layers deep into the touch-screen interface.
The Q5 has high safety ratings, with a 4-Star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is a 2015 Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Regarding safety, the technology package includes parking sensors, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitoring system.
Overall, if you’re in the market for a luxurious, five-passenger, do-anything SUV with excellent performance and Armani-tailored styling, there’s a good chance the Q5 lineup has just the right vehicle for you.
JIM PRUETER, an automotive writer based in Phoenix, has provided reviews and advice about cars for more than 20 years.
Details
Fuel Economy
- 14 MPG City
- 31 MPG Highway
The Good
- Five different models and four different powertrains
- Elegant interior
- Excellent resale value
The Bad
- Some fussy operating controls
- Firm ride
- Styling starting to show its age
Vehicle Type:
Crossover
Base Price:
$39,300
As Tested:
$64,995