Audi Q5 SUV now on sale: prices and specs revealed

Having been revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the eagerly awaited all-new Audi Q5 is now available to order in UK Audi dealers – and we can now reveal all the pricing and spec details you’ll need.

Audi is claiming that its new mid-size SUV will be more fun to drive, more fuel-efficient and more comfortable than its predecessor and it’s certainly not lacking on the technology front, either. We’ve taken an early drive of the Q5, but for all the facts, read on.

The new Audi Q5 is on sale now – read our review here.

New 2017 Audi Q5 styling

The Audi Q5 has established a formidable presence in the SUV class and Audi has wisely chosen not to stray far from the design we’ve become familiar with. It has grown in every direction, though, while still managing to lose 90kg of weight. Along with the weight-saving, improved aerodynamics aid fuel efficiency and are said to reduce interior wind noise to make for a calmer driving experience.

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While the Q5’s shape hasn’t altered much, the way its surfaces are treated has. There’s now a far more prominent character line running from the headlights to the tail-lights and this brings with it a more assertive appearance, not unlike that of the latest Audi A5 coupe. The more muscular look is also down to more pronounced mouldings around the large wheelarches – another nod to the car’s all-wheel-drive capabilities.

This Q5 looks notably lower than the previous model – but the actual difference is marginal. The roof isn’t quite so much higher than the bonnet-line, though, helping to provide a more squat, energetic look. This powerful appearance is helped by larger wheels – 18-inch alloys are standard on SE and Sport models, while S line cars get 19-inch wheels and 20-inch upgrades are available as an option.

Finally, the tailgate now wraps around like those seen on other Audi SUVs, which not only looks neater, but promises to make access to the boot space easier.

Engines

At launch, the Audi Q5 will be offered with a choice of a 187bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, claimed to return up to 56.7mpg, or a 248bhp 2.0-litre TFSI petrol that can manage 40.9mpg. CO2 emissions for these are 132 and 157 g/km respectively, although optional larger alloy wheels will affect these numbers.

Later, a 3.0-litre TDI diesel will be offered, providing 280bhp. Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive drivetrain with Ultra technology is standard with both launch engines. This can disengage drive to the rear wheels when not needed, improving fuel economy.

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While there’s no official word yet, a new high-performance Audi SQ5 is also expected, following strong sales of the previous version. It would most likely be fitted with a tuned version of the 3.0-litre diesel engine, make around 340bhp and have quattro four-wheel drive as standard. If that doesn’t sound powerful enough, an RS Q5 is also expected in 2017, with an advanced twin-turbo petrol V6 making around 450bhp.

Future releases won’t all be performance-focused, though: 2017 is also likely to see the debut of a plug-in hybrid Q5 e-tron model. Expect a petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a battery pack for CO2 emissions of less than 90g/km for a low 15% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company-car tax rating.

MPG, CO2 & running costs

While all launch cars will be fitted with quattro four-wheel drive, it’s expected that the Q5 will later be offered with front-wheel drive for the first time, making it more efficient and giving it a lower starting price. Four-wheel drive will still be common on many versions, with Audi’s Ultra technology lessening its impact on economy. In fact, the whole range benefits from economy and performance upgrades and there’ll be an optional air suspension system to improve comfort, too.

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With much in common, mechanically, with the Audi A4 saloon and larger Audi Q7 SUV, the new Q5 benefits from advanced manufacturing techniques and the use of more high-strength steel has reduced weight by as much as 90kg from the old model.

Light weight always results in better performance and economy and lower emissions and this has been further boosted by the availability of two-wheel drive. The ‘ultra’ quattro system has also been further optimised: It only sends power to all four wheels if it senses the front tyres losing traction, behaving like a front-wheel drive in most conditions.

Interior & equipment

It’s completely new, but the interior of the Q5 won’t be unfamiliar to Audi owners, following the tried-and-tested layout of other models in the range. This is hardly surprising given Audi’s reputation for creating some of the best cabins in the business with upmarket materials, although there are more options to tweak the interior than before.

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Expect plenty of interior room, thanks to the Q5 having more space between the front and rear wheels. Refinement has also been improved, with more road noise filtered out of the cabin. Relaxation can be further accentuated if you specify the ambient lighting system – which is able to offer 30 colours of light – along with massaging seats.

Technology

Front-seat occupants will enjoy the latest Audi MMI infotainment system, a development of the hardware found in the latest Audi A4 and Audi Q7, which can include Google Maps and ‘personal route assist’ software that ‘learns’ your favourite journeys and suggests routes accordingly.

The system uses an 8.3-inch display and is operated using a rotary controller in the centre console. With a touch-pad built in, it can recognise handwriting as well as pinch and zoom gestures as used by smartphones. For those who like to stay connected, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be supported, while a separate optional SIM card in the dashboard will provide a wi-fi hotspot and enable connected services across Europe – a three-month trial of Audi’s connected services comes free.

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Other clever connectivity technology includes ‘Phone Box’, which links your smartphone to the car’s external aerial and uses inductive technology to keep compatible phones charged. The Q5’s quiet interior can be made the most of with an upgraded Bang & Olufsen stereo, with 3D sound.

Audi’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ 12.3-inch TFT display will also be on offer to completely replace the traditional gauge cluster, displaying either traditional dials, maps, media or vehicle information. Optionally, you can choose a head-up display, allowing you to keep an eye on speed and instructions while still looking out the windscreen.

Practicality & boot space

The Q5 will be available with a versatile rear seat, capable of sliding forwards and backwards, reclining and splitting 40/20/40. The offers between 550 and 610 litres of space depending on the seat position.

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That’s a 10-litre increase on the previous generation, while folding the middle row down increases luggage capacity to 1,550 litres. Choose air suspension and loading or unloading is made easier thanks to its ability to lower the rear of the car, while the Q5’s powered tailgate can be opened with an optional sensor when your hands are full.

Safety & driver assistance

The Q5 will be available with an impressive array of safety features, which could also make driving easier. Not only will it be able to keep itself in lane, it’ll also have adaptive cruise control that can automatically adjust its speed to match the vehicle ahead and a traffic-jam assist function will be able to drive the car for you in stop-start traffic.

Autonomous emergency braking is standard, first warning of potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians and then hitting the brakes if no action is taken. The system can also warn of crossing traffic as you reverse out of a parking space and the Q5 will also be able to take care of parking duties and read traffic signs.

Price & on-sale date

The Q5 can now be ordered from UK dealers. Prices start at around £37,000 for an SE model with the 2.0-litre TDI quattro, with a 2.0-litre TFSI quattro S line car starting at just over £41,000. Further models will later be launched both above and below the launch models in the price list.