The new Audi Q5

Audi’s Q5 SUV has been a fan-favorite for over 15 years and now there is a new, up to date/stylish version. This latest model is all about being “even more modern and dynamic”—you know, like that one friend who suddenly started doing yoga and swears by green juice.

This Q5, the first to be built on the fancy PPC platform, comes in both petrol and diesel engines which are combined with a little hybrid magic (MHEV plus technology) to make them even more fuel-efficient. It’s packed with digital toys, customizable lights, and more techy bells and whistles than a futuristic spaceship. Audi’s also rolled out the sporty SQ5, for those who want their morning coffee run to feel like a race.

Since its debut in 2008, the Q5 has ruled the midsize premium SUV world, and Audi’s latest version is determined to keep it that way. The secret sauce? The new Q5 is built on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which sounds important and probably is. Audi’s plan is to create future-proof vehicles—so, basically, cars for tomorrow, today.

For the curious, the current 2. gen Q5 is made in Mexico and the new Q5 is not gonna break this newish “tradition”.

How practical?

As the previous generation, this new Q5 also has a pretty roomy interior with ample head and legroom, so you can stretch out and relax—whether you’re driving or just lounging in the back.

Speaking of the backseat, the Q5’s rear seat is fully adjustable – as in the previous model. You can move it, tilt it, and even fold it down to create up to 1,473 liters of trunk space. Need more room for your IKEA haul or spontaneous beach trip? No problem. Even the luggage compartment cover gets its own secret compartment under the trunk floor.

Compared to the previous model there’s a bigger armrest compartment, spots for your keys, sunglasses, and even an inductive charging tray for your phone that’s cooled—because apparently even your phone deserves air conditioning now. And don’t worry about running out of juice; with USB ports everywhere (front and back) that can charge laptops, you could probably power a small office while cruising down the highway.

11 colors and big wheels

The new Audi Q5 will be available in 3 exterior designs: basic, advanced exterior, and the sporty S line exterior. The S line model has its own unique style, with larger air intakes in the front shaped like fancy L-wing aero tubes. Meanwhile, the rear diffuser gets a serious sporty upgrade. And for those who like things sleek and stealthy, there’s a black exterior package available for both the S line and S models.

You can choose from 11 exterior colors and for those with a flair for the custom, Audi exclusive offers personalized, high-end paint finishes to match your individual style.

On the wheel front, the German market models come with alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 21 inches, depending on the exterior package and engine. S line and S models get 19-inch wheels as standard, but if you want to roll even bigger, optional 21-inch forged wheels in classic S design are available. And if you really want to make a statement, there’s an extravagant 21-inch tricolor wheel that’s sure to turn heads!

Interior

The interior of the new Audi Q5 is like a high-tech living room on wheels, built around four key principles: 1. human-centric, 2. visual clarity, 3. Digital Stage, 4. Material Driven Design

First up, it’s “human-centric,” meaning everything is designed to pamper the people inside. It’s like Audi saying, “We get it, you’re the boss here.” But are you?

The second key is “visual clarity”— which is a fancy way of saying everything is laid out so you don’t have to bother with physical buttons. Well, until you realize some of those functions (including the AC controls) are buried in a touchscreen menu. That brings us to the next feature: the “Digital Stage.” Sure, it sounds impressive, mainly the main 14.5-inch OLED MMI touch screen with curved design, which is like a mini cinema on your dash. But try adjusting something while driving, and you might find yourself wishing for an old-school button or knob — because who doesn’t love a good game of “Where’s the Menu/AC and other buttons?” while cruising at 60 mph?

There’s also an optional 10.9-inch MMI Passenger Display (with privacy mode so your passenger can binge YouTube without bugging you), but it might make your co-pilot spend more time navigating the touchscreen maze than actually helping with directions. And aren’t we already surrounded with enough displays in our lives already?

To top of that, the multimedia system also has a digital voice assistant with AI support, so you can talk with your car and ask questions about anything you want. The system uses Android Automotive OS which means, that Apps such as YouTube are available via the integrated store (as well as the updates).

the optional display in front of the passenger has a privacy mode. If its on – Only a black screen is visible to the driver.

Lastly – “Material Driven Design”. For those who want both style and eco-friendliness, the interior materials are not just soft and cushy, they’re also eco-conscious. Audi’s seats are made from materials like Kaskade, which sounds like a cool DJ but is actually a textile that looks like wool and is made from recycled stuff like old plastic bottles and fabric scraps. Dinamica, a suede look-alike, also joins the sustainability party, made from recycled polyester. So, not only will you ride in style, but you’ll also be doing a bit for the planet—one recycled seat at a time.

There are also many important lights in the interior! Because who doesn’t need a light show while driving? Audi clearly knows that contour lighting in the dashboard and doors is what’s been missing from your life, especially when it’s dark. Why focus on the road when you can admire the interior’s “floating effect” created by indirect lighting under the MMI Panorama Display?

And let’s not forget the dynamic interaction light (IAL). This LED strip spans the width of the interior, offering crucial life functions like a welcome light when you unlock the car, as if your car wasn’t already welcoming enough. Oh, and it “supports” safety by visualizing the turn signal—because apparently, you need both the Virtual Cockpit and a glowing strip to confirm you’re turning. Don’t worry, though, the IAL doesn’t replace your turn signals, it just provides that extra layer of glowing reassurance. All of this, of course, comes as part of the optional ambient lighting package plus.

The interior should be quiet enough since the aerodynamics have been fine-tuned with clever design tweaks. Additionaly, acoustic glazing on the windshield (and optionally on the front side windows) should keep the interior noise down as well.

New fancy exterior lights

Audi’s new Q5 SUV isn’t just about driving—it’s a light show on wheels.

At the back, the rear lighting design is completely new with a fancy full-width light strip that screams, “Look at me!”. There are also the second-gen digital OLED tail lights that are so high-tech, they practically have their own personality. For real, since they can now “talk” to their surroundings—warning other drivers of accidents or breakdowns with fancy OLED warning symbols. It’s like having a car that says: “Heads up, everyone, I’m here to save the day!” To top of that, there’s even a projection light in the spoiler-above the rear window, that enlarges the brake light area! To improve driving safety, I guess.

The front Matrix LED headlights can do some tricks as well. Apart from the regular features, the LEDs in them can dim up and down in perfect harmony, ensuring you have the most consistent light signature in the neighborhood.

And if that’s not enough, Audi’s taken customization to a new level. With up to eight digital light signatures, you can make sure your car’s headlights and taillights express exactly how you’re feeling that day—because nothing says individuality like personalized light animations when you lock your car.

Engines

In Europe, the Audi Q5 SUV lineup is rolling out with three engine options and with more to come later. Right out of the gate, all models come equipped with MHEV plus technology, which gives an extra 18 kW (24 PS) boost for a short time. All versions also feature the 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission for smooth and fast shifts.

The entry-level option is the 2.0 TFSI engine, pumping out 150 kW (204 PS) and 340 Nm of torque, with front-wheel drive as standard. If you want more grip, quattro all-wheel drive is available as an upgrade.

For diesel fans, there’s the 2.0 TDI from the EA288 evo generation, cranking out the same 150 kW (204 PS) but with a beefier 400 Nm of torque. This one comes exclusively with quattro all-wheel drive for those who like a bit of adventure.

Only MHEV

Every model comes with the fancy MHEV plus technology, which uses a 48-volt system to give the engine a short boost, reduce CO2 emissions, and make driving a bit more comfortable. Oh, and you can even park or maneuver in pure electric mode – but not drive, so don’t expect to cruise the streets silently like a superhero.

The powertrain generator (PTG) adds a little extra muscle, with up to 230 Nm of torque and 24 extra horses (just enough to make you feel like a secret F1 driver). Plus, with the 48-volt system, the air conditioning will keep you cool even when the engine is off—perfect for those red light moments when you’d rather focus on your tunes than your temperature.

The lithium-ion battery, which sounds super high-tech with its lithium iron phosphate chemistry, stores enough juice to get some electric assistance and feeds back energy when braking.

Suspension

The new Q5 comes with a regular steel coilover suspension as standard, though if you’re feeling sporty (or going for the Audi SQ5), there’s a sport suspension option too. The steel spring suspension, paired with the passive FSD damping system, makes sure the Q5 stays firm and confident on the road. FSD keeps things comfy by easing up on the damping over rough surfaces like cobblestones, while still keeping things tight when you’re cornering or switching lanes.

If you’re looking to get even fancier, the optional air suspension with adaptive damper control adjusts to your driving style via Audi drive select, offering a much more pronounced difference between comfort and sport modes compared to its predecessor. +It has 4 height adjustment options, so you can adjust it higher to the “offroad” and “lift” mode, but also lower to the “dynamic” mode, or just leave it to the “comfort/standard” setting.

And to top it all off, the Q5 now comes with enhanced progressive steering as standard, so whether you’re cruising or carving up corners, it’s got your back.

Driver assist. sytems and new HUD

Audi’s new Q5 comes loaded with driver assistance features that are here to make your life easier—because clearly, driving on your own is so last century. You’ll get the basics like a rear parking aid with a fancy distance display, cruise control, a speed limiter (because who doesn’t need reminding to slow down?), and even a lane departure warning to keep you in line. Plus, there’s an efficiency assistant to save gas and an attention and drowsiness assistant, because apparently staying awake at the wheel is harder than it sounds.

Of course, if you’re feeling extra, you can opt for more assistance packages. The Adaptive Driving Assistant plus is basically a cloud-based co-pilot that reads high-res maps, listens to the “swarm” of other cars, and optimizes your driving so you barely have to pay attention. It even handles speed, distance, and lane guidance, so you can just sit back and pretend you’re doing something important.

If that’s not enough, there’s the Active Front Assist, which rolls four systems into one—emergency braking, evasion assist, turn assist, and cross-traffic assist—because the Q5 really wants to make sure you don’t mess up. Throw in traffic sign-based cruise control and Park Assist plus, and you might as well let the car do all the driving.

The Audi Q5 now offers a brand new configurable Head-Up Display (HUD) that keeps you informed without taking your eyes off the road. It not only shows everything from speed and navigation to media data, but for the first time, you can control vehicle and infotainment functions directly through the HUD – using steering wheel buttons to scroll through lists and make selections.

Price

The new Audi Q5 SUV and its sportier sibling, the Audi SQ5, are set to hit Germany and other European countries in early 2025. But if you’re eager to get your hands on one, pre-orders open in Germany in September 2024.

Starting prices? The Audi Q5 TFSI 150 kW kicks things off at 52,300 euros. Want quattro all-wheel drive? That’ll bump you up to 54,650 euros. Diesel fan? The Q5 TDI quattro starts at 57,100 euros.

If you’re eyeing the high-performance Audi SQ5, be ready to shell out a hefty 82,900 euros.