Overview
The 2024 Audi Q5 is a rolling manifestation of the term “well rounded.” It blends comfort, styling, features, and build quality for predictable behavior and appeal rather than cutting-edge dynamics or adventurous style. If there is a weak leg in the Q5 formula, it’s the rather uninspiring handling. Still, buyers appreciate its honest personality and have driven it to be the make’s bestselling model. A choice of three powertrains certainly helps widen its appeal: the standard 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder provides sufficient performance, while a 261-hp four is available. A 362-hp plug-in hybrid tops the list, providing power and efficiency in a socially desirable package. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. Technophiles will appreciate the Q5’s digital-friendly features and driver assists, not to mention its clean and logical interior design. If you like the Q5’s vibe but find the hardware a bit uninspiring, check out the performance-oriented SQ5 and its turbocharged V-6 (reviewed separately). If you need even more tactile and visual excitement and have a bit more money to spend, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio or the Porsche Macan might be a better choice.
What’s New for 2024?
For 2024, the Q5, as well as the rest of Audi’s SUVs, features adaptive cruise control (ACC) and adaptive cruise assist (ACA) as standard. The traffic sign recognition system has been expanded to enhance those systems by increasing its predictive ability. The myAudi app now includes remote-start functionality, and the new Audi App store supports third-party services including Spotify and Amazon Music. Q5 40 customers can now spec an available Black optic package with black exterior trim and roof rails; it’s available on Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. Arkona White replaces Ibis White exterior paint across the entire model family.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Q5 comes in 40, 45, and 55 (plug-in-hybrid) versions. The three powertrains fall within 1 or 2 mpg of one another, and adaptive cruise control is standard on all, so the decision largely comes down to how much you are willing to spend for additional power and luxury. Whether you prefer the practicality of the standard model or the sleeker look of the Sportback’s raked backlight, we think the added punch of the mid-tier 45 models is well worth the price. Of those, we think the midrange Premium Plus trim offers the best balance of features and price, and it also comes standard with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
With three available powertrains, it’s easy to dial in the right amount of power for the price. The standard setup is the 2024 Q5 40’s 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. Both are smooth and quiet. Stepping up to the 261-hp Q5 45 version in the base Premium trim is about a $3000 upcharge and well worth the price in our eyes. Though the base engine in the 40 is adequate, the 45’s additional 61 horsepower makes a tangible difference and inserts more joie de vivre in your otherwise dull commute. At our test track, the Q5 45 delivered a brisk 5.5-second run to 60 mph. Thanks to its combined 362 horses and 369 pound-feet of torque, the plug-in-hybrid variant knocked off a quick 4.5-second run to 60 mph at the track; the quickest of the three, it also beat the performance-oriented SQ5 Sportback variant by 0.3 second. The 2024 Q5’s suspension is well sorted and delivers a smooth and stable ride over a variety of surfaces. There’s also an available adaptive suspension that strives to blend that smooth ride with sharper reflexes over smooth pavement, with mostly favorable results. Unfortunately, the steering, while accurate, is a bit lifeless in operation and lacks the tactile feel and feedback that define the best setups. The wheel builds some resistance in Dynamic drive mode, but overall, its operation feels synthetic. Though the Q5 won’t complain too loudly when pushed, vehicles such as the Porsche Macan and the BMW X3 will perform similarly with much more engagement.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2024 Audi Q5 40 wears EPA fuel-economy estimates of 23 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, with a combined rating of 25 mpg. The 45 only extracts 1 mpg highway in exchange for the additional 61 horsepower it brings. On our 75-mph fuel economy test route, the Q5 45 matched its EPA rating of 28 mpg. The 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid offers incrementally better fuel economy (26 mpg combined in hybrid mode). But, with an electric range of only 19 miles with a fully charged battery, it remains a bit of an outlier; although fast, it’s also more expensive. Note that in our hands, the plug-in hybrid delivered only 26 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route and managed to go on for only 17 of its 23 estimated electric-only miles. Still, the Q5 with any of the available powertrains stands up well to the competition. 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 23 mpg combined with AWD. For more information about the Q5’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Part of the Q5’s attraction is the spacious, comfortable interior and easy ingress and egress. Decent materials and a restrained but functional layout reflect the brand’s take on luxury, although the standard touchscreen could be integrated better. The ride is hushed in town and on the highway, and 38 inches of rear-seat legroom goes a long way toward keeping passengers content. Moving up through the three trim levels—Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige—nets more luxury features, including Audi’s slick Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster. When it came to seeing how many of our carry-on cargo boxes fit, the Q5 falls behind the pack. It beat the smaller Macan, but only just, and held 18 cases with the rear seats folded. The Q5’s rear seatbacks easily fold in a 40/20/40 fashion, however, providing flexibility that the Lexus RX doesn’t have.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 2024 Q5 hits the necessary marks in the tech department, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability and a Wi-Fi hotspot as standard. Also standard is a dashtop 10.1-inch screen. It’s legible and responsive, but its center mounting position requires a look-and-stretch move for some functions that had been hardwired into our brains with Audi’s previous control-knob-based commands. Things get more interesting if you jump to the Premium Plus or Prestige trims, as they come with Audi’s well-regarded Virtual Cockpit, a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster that provides a wide 12.3-inch view of the nav map, plus selected media, phone controls, trip computer, speed, and tachometer, or a combination of these. For 2024, the Q5 gets remote engine-start capability via the myAudi app; the app is also updated to work with third-party services, including Amazon Music and Spotify.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
For 2024, Audi Q5 SUVs feature adaptive cruise control with adaptive cruise assist (coordinates cruise, traffic-jam assist, lane centering, and more for smooth vehicle operation and safety) as standard. The latter features an expansion of traffic-sign-recognition capability designed to make the assist work more comprehensively. The Q5 also comes with standard driver-assistance technology including automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning. For more information about the Q5’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Standard adaptive cruise control with adaptive cruise assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Audi’s standard warranty package is just typical for the industry. Its limited and powertrain warranties match those offered by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Rivals such as the Cadillac CT4 will offer more value here with longer powertrain coverage; the BMW 2-series offers three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Audi Q5 45 TFSI
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and head, direct fuel injection, 261 hp, 273 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 111.0 in
Length: 184.3 in
Width: 74.5 in
Height: 65.5 in
Passenger volume: 99 ft3
Cargo volume: 26 ft3
Curb weight: 4185 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4 mile: 14.2 sec @ 97 mph
100 mph: 15.2 sec
120 mph: 24.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.1 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.3 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 28 mpg
Highway range: 510 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 25/23/28 mpg
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2021 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
Vehicle Type: front-engine, mid -motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $52,995/$60,740
POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 248 hp, 273 lb-ft + AC motor, 141 hp, 258 lb-ft (combined output: 362 hp, 369 lb-ft; 11.3-kWh lithium-ion, 7.7-kW onboard charger) Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink; Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc; Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season 255/45R-20 101H M+S AO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 111.0 in; Length: 184.3 in; Width: 74.5 in; Height: 65.3 in; Passenger Volume: 99 ft3; Cargo Volume: 26 ft3; Curb Weight: 4733 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.5 sec
100 mph: 12.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.2 sec @ 104 mph
120 mph: 19.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 128 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
Highway Range: 480 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 27/25/29 mpg
EV Range: 23 mi
