Audi Q5 Research

The Audi Q5 joined the brand’s lineup back in the two thousand nine model year, as its 2nd crossover SUV. The mid-size utility vehicle now sits inbetween the fatter Q7 and the compact Q3.

A fresh Audi Q5 arrived for the two thousand eighteen model year, and substituted a strong-selling but distinctly dated model. The latest Q5 launches very first with a Two.0-liter 4-cylinder gas engine and standard all-wheel drive, but a more powerful SQ5 will go after later.

Its rivals include vehicles such as the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Volvo XC60, Cadillac XT5 and Range Rover Evoque.

With the Q5, Audi doesn’t stray too far from the successful luxury-crossover formula. The platform is derived from the A4, but the Q5 has better ground clearance and now is standard with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system for excellent all-weather traction.

The all-new two thousand eighteen Q5 not only rails on the same architecture as the Audi A4, but also it shares much of the sedan’s powertrain and interior. Highlights for the fresh model include an all-wheel drive system that disconnects the rear differential to save fuel and then, Audi claims, it reconnects the rear wheels quicker than any rival. Inwards, the Q5 gains as an option Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster that substitutes conventional gauges with a high-resolution, multi-configurable digital screen.

Primarily, the Q5 is available only with a Two.0-liter 4-cylinder rated at two hundred fifty eight horsepower and two hundred seventy three pound-feet of torque, improvements of thirty eight hp and fifteen pound-feet over the outgoing model. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and it sends power to all four wheels exclusively; unlike some of its rivals, the Q5 is not available in a two-wheel drive configuration.

A replacement for the performance-oriented SQ5 has also arrived. Power comes from the fresh turbocharged Three.0-liter V-6 fitted to the latest S4 and S5 sedan and coupe, with peak output rated at three hundred fifty four hp and three hundred sixty nine pound-feet of torque. Mated to an 8-speed automatic and driving all four wheels, the engine will hustle the SQ5 from 0-60 mph in Five.1 seconds.

The Q5 very first arrived in U.S. showrooms in late two thousand nine as a two thousand nine model, and was left virtually unchanged for the two thousand ten model year. It was suggested in a single configuration: with a V-6 engine, an automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. This initial Q5 had a brainy mix of luxury and spectacle off the bat. The heart of the spectacle package was a Three.2-liter, 270-horsepower V-6, teamed up with a 6-speed automatic with manual gear selection and all-wheel drive. It was powerful, but created a little more volume and stimulation than expected from an otherwise refined German suggesting. Gear switches were sleek enough, and Audi claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds.

The Q5’s chief dynamic liability is its fairly stiff rail, and Audi’s adjustable Drive Select suspension and steering are some of our least dearest applications of chassis electronics. The Q5 will tow Four,400 pounds and has almost eight inches of ground clearance, so mild off-roading isn’t entirely out of the question. Most versions come with luxury features such as leather, Bluetooth, and satellite radio; a panoramic sunroof is a fine addition to the options list.

In the two thousand eleven model year, Audi added a fresh drivetrain option to the Q5 mix—a version of the VW/Audi corporate turbocharged 4-cylinder making two hundred eleven horsepower. Mated to a 6-speed automatic and front-wheel drive in base form, this is the Q5 we recommended unanimously at the time. It felt lighter on its feet, produced much better fuel-economy numbers than the V-6 (20/27 mpg vs Legal/23 mpg), and had a lower sticker price. That said, it’s still infrequent to find a Q5 priced below $40,000 with popular features.

For the two thousand thirteen model year, the Audi Q5 carried over its turbocharged Two.0-liter 4-cylinder, but suggested as a high-output option its 272-hp supercharged Three.0-liter V-6 coupled to an 8-speed automatic, plus a fresh Q5 Hybrid was added to the mix. The hybrid blends the turbo-4 powertrain and 8-speed automatic with lithium-ion batteries and a 54-hp electrified motor for a net of two hundred forty five hp, a 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds, and a combined gas-mileage rating of twenty six mpg, according to the EPA. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard with all powertrains, including the hybrid.

Audi added a TDI turbodiesel Q5 to its lineup for the two thousand fourteen model year and it earned EPA ratings of up to twenty seven mpg combined.

In 2015, Volkswagen admitted diesel engines in this model illegally cheated federal tests and polluted beyond allowable thresholds. As part of unprecedented settlements with federal and state governments, Volkswagen agreed to buyback from owners diesel-equipped models of this vehicle. To determine eligibility for all affected Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi models, Volkswagen set up VWDieselInfo.com for owners. (Owners of affected vehicles can come in their VIN numbers to see if their cars are eligible for buyback.)

On the other end of the spectrum, an SQ5 was added as the high-performance version of the Q5. It uses a 354-hp version of the corporate supercharged Three.0-liter V-6 and also gets upgraded chassis and suspension components, albeit it manages just nineteen mpg combined. With those additions, the available Q5 powertrains numbered four, lightly the most multitude for any crossover in its class.

For 2016, Audi added some to the Q5’s standard-equipment list and brought on some fresh package contents and options. A three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and the panoramic sunroof are now available on all Q5 models, and the adaptive damping suspension is now available as a stand-alone option on Q5 Premium Plus models. Audi connect is now available as part of the Navigation Plus package, while a fresh Bang & Olufsen sound system arrives in Technology package Premium Plus models.

For 2017, Audi discontinued the Q5 Hybrid and added an available appearance package to the top-of-the-line SQ5.

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