The Audi Q5 Raises The Bar For Luxury SUVs

The third generation of the Audi Q5 made its debut today as the first SUV in the lineup built on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture with a choice of powerful gas engines and updated technologies. This follows the recent debuts of the A6 e-tron and the gas-powered A5 as Audi aims to breathe new life into its lineup.

The Q5 is a two-row SUV that has long been one of Audi’s top-selling vehicles. The hope is that this new generation will continue to build on that success. The revised design and advanced technologies in the cockpit of the Q5 combined with efficient and responsive gas engines give the Q5 and its sportier SQ5 variant a good chance of maintaining their popularity.

Two Powerful Gas Engines, But No Hybrid

Set to go on sale in the US early next year, the Q5 will initially be available with a choice of two gas engines. The Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 268 horsepower paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rides on 18-20 inch wheels. The sportier SQ5 gets an upgrade to a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder with 362 hp paired to the same transmission with either 20- or 21-inch wheels. All-wheel drive is standard, as is the promise of improved handling and a more comfortable ride.

A dynamically tuned steel suspension system is standard with the option for a sports suspension on the Q5 that becomes standard on the SQ5. It was designed in tandem with the steering to provide improved handling and a better overall ride quality. A steel spring suspension along with frequency selective damping (FSD) and a revised front axle create a firmer ride. The FSD also helps reduce damping forces, especially the high frequencies created over rough surfaces like cobblestones. Optional air suspension adds adaptive damper control that can be adjusted through Audi drive select. The combined changes create a more noticeable difference between comfort and sport modes.

The Luxury Of Silence

Part of creating a luxury experience is ensuring that the ride is something of an escape from th outside world that lets everyone relax. Audi optimized the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of the Q5 to mute as much sound as possible. This includes an aerodynamic clad underbody, air curtains to direct airflow around the wheel arches, and air deflectors.

There are also underbody guides to reduce the turbulence of air beneath the Q5 and lateral aero panels at the back to smoothly direct air over the vehicle’s surfaces. Even the deep roof spoiler and exterior mirrors were designed with aerodynamics in mind. Sound was further muted with the use an acoustic glazing on the windshield with the ability to add that to the front side windows on request.

An Elegant Exterior Design

The exterior of the Q5 still looks very Audi, taking its cues from other recently revealed models like the A5 family of vehicles. The goal was to create something fluid and dynamic with an eye-catching appearance. It includes a Singleframe grille with functional air curtains on either side and a large air intake. The S line adds air curtain tubes with matte anthracite chrome-look accents with matte silver chrome on the SQ5.

Around the back, the design is clean and unfussy with a three-dimensional light strip that runs along the full width of the vehicle. There’s also a diffuser that’s integrated into the raised bumpers and functional tailpipes. Those tailpipes are rectangular and found on the left and right of the Q5 while the SQ5 sports four twin round tailpipes in a new design. Choose from eleven exterior colors, with the ability to personally configure paint finishes if you choose.

• Arkona White
• Glacier White
• Mythos Black
• Floret Silver
• Navarra Blue
• Grenadine Red
• District Green
• Tambora Gray
• Ultra Blue (S models only)
• Daytona Grey (S models only)
• Sakhir Gold (S models only)

Enjoy The Lightshow

The Q5 sports an impressive lighting design, and it’s one that can be customized with eight available light signatures. These are easily selected from a menu within the infotainment system, where it also shows you exactly how they’ll appear, so there’s no need to step out of the vehicle to take a look. There are additional lighting options outside the US, including dynamic lights, adaptive matrix LED headlights, and car-to-x communication, which aren’t available here due to government regulations.

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“I had the chance to see the Q5 ahead of its reveal, and it was equipped with the full adaptive lighting system that is available outside the United States. It’s really fantastic and more than a little disappointing that we can’t get it here. On the upside, the third brake light on US models of the SQ5 reflects the word quattro onto the rear glass, so at least we have a little something special.”

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Automotive Journalist

There’s also beautiful lighting inside the Q5. A single contour light runs along the full width of the dashboard and there’s additional indirect lighting under the infotainment screen along with soft illumination for the door panels. It helps create a warm and inviting environment in the Q5, even at night.

Infotainment That Enhances The User Experience

Technology is a priority inside the Q5 with a Digital Stage that includes multiple displays. Rather than looking like an afterthought, Audi integrated the technology into the design for a more cohesive appearance. The panoramic display houses both an 11.9-inch instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. Additionally, there’s an available 10.9-inch passenger display screen.

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“The abundance of screens in some vehicles is a bit much, taking over the dashboard and becoming intrusive for both the driver and passengers. The Digital Stage in the Q5 does a great job, right down to the passenger screen that is tucked to the side rather than just mashed onto the dash as an extra.”

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Automotive Journalist

There’s also wireless phone charging on the center console, two USB-C ports in the front and in the rear, with the ability for the rear to charge at up to 100 watts for larger devices like laptops. All that tech is balanced by a soft wrap design running from door to door across the dashboard. It includes fabric panels to add warmth to the interior along with the use of recycled and sustainable materials.

A Spacious, Comfortable Interior

The interior of the Q5 comfortably seats five adults with a new design that elevates the experience. There’s an adjustable rear seat that both slides and tilts. Adjust it all the way back to give rear passengers extra room or move it forward when cargo needs become a priority. There’s roughly 52 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats, with a cover that easily stows in the cargo floor. A larger storage area has been built into the center console as well and there are additional spots for stowing smaller items throughout the interior.

Audio includes a 16-speaker, 685-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. Speakers are placed throughout the Q5 to create 3D surround sound with Symphoria technology, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute. There’s also vehicle noise compensation (VNC) that compensates for interior noise and the ability to customize the sound with Functions on Demand. Pricing for the 2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5 has not yet been announced but is expected closer to the on-sale date in early 2025.