Revving up
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The Audi Q5 is one of the brand’s most popular models in the UK, and it also happens to be one of the best premium SUVs on the market. Competing against cars such as the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, it’s a real all-rounder, being practical and good to drive but having the kind of quality and prestige that the Audi badge has always offered.
The range comprises petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid models, which covers most bases - only a fully electric model is missing, though the Q4 and Q6 e-tron models fill that role to a degree. There’s also a high-performance SQ5, and plenty of money to be saved by buying used. Read on to find out more about the Q5.
If you want a practical family SUV that also has a bit of class and a real feeling of solidity, then the Audi Q5 could be the car for you. That the Audi badge has a bit of prestige and driveway appeal isn’t in doubt, and on the Q5 it’s attached to a real all-rounder, with strong performance, decent economy, a practical cabin and plenty of equipment.
The Q5 is good to drive. Not quite as engaging as some rival vehicles perhaps, but swift and comfortable, with confident handling (helped by the brand’s quattro all-wheel drive), and decent visibility from your raised perch. The cabin design no longer looks as fresh as some of Audi’s later models but it’s certainly logically laid out, and the quality is exactly what you’d expect from Audi.
There’s space for five and a pretty large boot too, with further space if you flip the rear seats down. And it’s certainly refined - even the four-cylinder engines are smooth, while the six-cylinders have plenty of power and really add to the feeling of luxury. The performance models really get a move on, too, whether you opt for the earlier petrol SQ5 or the post-2019 diesel models. There’s also a plug-in hybrid, which may well appeal to town dwellers.
The Q5 competes with the likes of the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Both are appealing cars in their own right - the X3 has a dynamic feel, and the Mercedes really majors on comfort, and all are broadly as spacious and refined. For a left-field choice, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio focuses even more on fun, while the Lexus NX feels even more impeccably built than the Audi, and features efficient hybrid power.
In a car like this, diesel power still makes a lot of sense - it’s no surprise that even the high-performance SQ5 went down the diesel route, despite the fuel already falling out of favour by the time it replaced the petrol version in 2019. But not many buyers can stretch to the SQ5, so we’d recommend the 40 TDI instead. It might be the base engine in the Q5, but it still makes more than 200 horsepower, and has claimed economy in the mid-40mpg range, which should keep fuel costs low. As for trim, S Line is deservedly popular - the sporty appearance suits the Q5, but it also gets a few extra bits of equipment that you’d have to pay extra for on the Sport, such as a reversing camera and a larger infotainment screen.
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The Q5 has a familiar lineup of trim levels, which these days is mostly themed around sporty appearance packages - the SE available at launch has long gone, though you may still find used examples around. All are well-equipped.
The Audi Q5’s exterior dimensions are:
The Audi Q5’s boot size is:
Since all Q5s start their life with a list price of more than £40,000, used buyers will have to pay the price in the form of a hefty tax surcharge in the car’s second to sixth years of registration. As of 2024/2025 this means an annual bill of £600, or £10 less for hybrids. That drops down to a lower rate from year seven, though the good news is it applies across the board - so an SQ5 will cost you no more to tax than a basic diesel.
As a mid-size SUV with a premium badge, insurance rates aren’t sky high for the Q5 but won’t cost you pennies either. The entry-level models start in group 27 and this goes up to group 45 for the SQ5, not far short of the maximum group 50. These figures are similar to most other cars in the same class.
£32,644
£51,350
£28,190
£700 off£34,150
£40,990
£34,999
£29,895
£31,461
£41,400
£41,000
£27,894
£37,990
£34,233
What is the most popular colour for Audi Q5 ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Audi Q5 ?
What is the most popular fuel type for Audi Q5 ?
What is the most popular engine for Audi Q5 ?
What is the average mileage for Audi Q5 ?
22283
How many Audi Q5 cars are available for sale?
759
