Audi Q5 Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

The Audi Q5 is one of the most well-rounded Audis on sale. If you value a combination of practicality and premium integrity with the typically Audi clean and precise drive, it’s well worth considering. 

What’s more, then new Audi Q5 is a great evolution of everything that made the previous two models sell by the millions. It looks stylish and sophisticated, the interior is high-tech and the engines are great all-rounders – with more to come in the form of long-range plug-in hybrids. 

There is also a choice of two distinctive Audi Q5 bodystyles. The SUV is the most practical, with a very well-shaped boot. The Sportback, meanwhile, has a sleek rear end all of its own, while still managing to boast useful boot space (although the lack of a rear wiper on the Sportback is a bit disappointing). As both are available from launch, it’s a compelling choice to have in Audi showrooms. 

Traditionally, the best engine choice for most Audi Q5 buyers would have been the TDI diesel. It’s still a really solid choice, with great fuel economy, but diesel no longer has the tax benefits it once did. This means that many Audi Q5 buyers are likely to prefer the plug-in hybrid version when they arrive. 

For those seeking value for money, the latest entry-level petrol is a solid option. It has decent pulling power and is refined when cruising. It may surprise you how capable it is in everyday driving. 

In terms of trims, we’d definitely steer you towards S line versions. They look the part, have upgraded interior trim, and their sportier styling is likely to pay dividends on the used car market, too. 

The Audi Q5’s most obvious rival is the BMW X3. Like the Audi, this offers a choice of petrol, diesel, performance and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and a select choice of trims focused around the sporty M Sport variant. BMW X3 prices are closely aligned with the Audi Q5 too. 

Other premium rivals for the Audi Q5 include the Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60. Again, they offer the all-important plug-in hybrid variants that are so important to company car drivers, along with the sporty trim lines that private customers want. 

More leftfield premium alternatives to the Audi Q5 include the Lexus NX and the Genesis GV70. The latter is being facelifted this year, so we’d hold on for that one. 

Overall, the Audi Q5 shows plenty of the premium quality and finish the brand is famous for. The interior has upper surfaces finished in soft-touch stitched leather-look trim – that’s both the top of the dashboard and the side door panels, adding a luxury touch. 

There are various different materials available across the Audi Q5 range. We particularly liked the suede-effect Dynamica choice, which was beautiful to the touch (and sustainable, too). This stretched from the dashboard into the side door panels, and even the knee protectors on the centre console. 

The Audi Q5 does have some harder plastics lower down, but they still feel solid and robust. Details such as lined door pockets ensure there’s still a quality touch to it. The precise ‘click’ of the buttons is very ‘Audi’, although the occasional accompanying creak from that button pack fitted to the driver’s door armrest is perhaps less so. 

The key thing that really chips away at the quality feel is the expanse of gloss black plastic. This looks great when it’s clean, but it’s a magnet for dust and fingerprints, and you’ll quickly find the Audi Q5 covered in them during daily use.

The Audi Q5’s infotainment takes the form of a ‘Digital Stage’. This is a curved, freestanding panoramic OLED display that integrates a 14.5-inch Audi MMI touchscreen and 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit driver display. As soon as it comes to life, it impresses, with brilliant and colourful clarity from the extra-large array of screen space. 

It will require a little familiarisation. In a change from before, it’s now entirely operated by touch, and the menu structure requires acclimatisation (although there is a vertical strip of shortcuts to help here). The heater controls are now also integrated into the screen itself, along the bottom of the display, rather than being tactile physical buttons, which is a shame. 

The Audi Q5’s infotainment system is extremely comprehensive, incorporating plenty of new technology and functionality. There’s even now an Audi app store, which allows access to third-party apps. The Audi voice assistant is now smarter, including self-learning and AI support to recognise more than 800 voice commands. 

A supplementary 10.9-inch passenger display, standard in the Edition 1, allows them to stream content and use infotainment and navigation features independently of the driver. They can, for example, set the sat nav on behalf of the driver. 

The driver display operates a little differently to before, via touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons. These are a bit fiddly, but the logic does become clearer the more you use it. You can’t get full sat nav mapping in the driver’s display anymore, though, as it’s restricted to the large centre touchscreen. 

The Audi Q5 is also available with a head-up display, that we found particularly crisp, clear and colourful. It’s genuinely useful, with plenty of functionality and super-useful sat nav instructions, and we liked how it even used the familiar, attractive Audi font in its various readouts.  

The Audi Q5 comes as standard with a 10-speaker stereo. The test cars were fitted with the Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system, which was superb, and comes as part of the Sound & Vision Pack that also includes the snazzy head-up display. 

The Audi Q5 will support passengers’ devices too. The front USB ports offer power up to 60 watts, while those in the rear are capable of up to 100 watts – that’s enough to power larger devices such as laptops.

The Audi Q5 is an extremely practical model indeed. The high-set driving position is simply superb, with perfectly placed controls and plenty of adjustability. The driver has a great view out, with good visibility, while the seats really are among the best in the business. The sporty S line seats are particularly comfortable and supportive, even after hours behind the wheel. The Audi Q5 is easy to get in and out of, too. 

The latest Audi Q5 has a longer wheelbase than before, and the advantages are particularly obvious in the rear. Passengers have more leg- and knee room, and the amply-sized seat itself is just as comfortable as those in the front, with good support. The backrests are reclinable, and the split-slide function is a smart new touch. 

Headroom in the rear of the Audi Q5 SUV is excellent. Interestingly, it’s also ample in the Audi Q5 Sportback, despite its plunging roofline. This will be important for those who want stylish looks combined with good space and practicality. 

The Audi Q5 engineers have spent a lot of time optimising the boot. It is really well-shaped, and there’s now a smaller load lip which makes it easier to get heavy loads in and out. With the seats up, there’s an ample 520 litres of space, which impressively dips only slightly in the Q5 Sportback, to 515 litres. 

With the rear seats folded – via remote levers in the boot – the Audi Q5 SUV has 1473 litres of space and the Audi Q5 Sportback has 1415 litres. This can all be varied by sliding the rear seats back and forth. 

We found the Audi Q5 Sportback boot was easy to access, as the angular roofline made it easier to lean in. However, the Audi Q5 SUV has a squarer and more practical shape overall, particularly if you’re loading items above the retractable load cover. Incidentally, the load cover now has a dedicated stowage space beneath the boot floor, so you can tuck it out the way with the rear seats folded. 

The launch Audi Q5 range has a choice of two engines, the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel. Both produce 204PS, and both have quattro four-wheel drive as standard. They also both have an S tronic seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and the MHEV Plus 48-volt mild hybrid system. 

The Audi Q5 TFSI is the most affordable engine. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds and produces 340Nm of torque. This gives it a punchy feel, although it does need to be revved to give its best, where it can sound a bit thrashy and vocal. 

As the gearbox has a tendency to change up quickly, to boost fuel economy, you’ll notice it often has to change down a gear or two when you press the accelerator, which can make it feel a bit busy. Flicking the tiny gearshifter back to ‘S’ mode holds onto gears for longer, which resolves this, and there are also steering wheel paddleshifters. 

The Audi Q5 2.0 TDI has the same power output but feels more muscular thanks to 400Nm of torque. 0-62mph acceleration in 7.4 seconds indicates that it’s a match for the TFSI in terms of performance, and it feels like a larger, more relaxing engine in practice because there’s more pulling power at lower revs. It will accelerate more strongly without having to change down a gear. 

While both engines will be perfectly powerful enough for most, those who do drive more quickly may find ultimate performance tails off when they press on, particularly in the diesel. The upcoming TFSI e plug-in hybrids will offer more power – as does the desirable Audi SQ5 we’ve tested separately.

The Audi Q5 is a very hushed car to drive and travel in. Wind noise is kept at bay even at motorway speeds, and road noise is generally isolated as well. This gives it a sophisticated feel at all speeds. 

The engines can be audible at times, though. The Audi Q5 TDI has a clattery nature, and it sounds obviously ‘diesel’, even if it is generally well isolated. There’s a touch of vibration at lower speeds and, while it’s a very smooth engine, you’ll notice it when you rev it. Incidentally, the diesel clatter is far more obvious from the outside than within. 

The Audi Q5 TFSI is quieter in everyday use. You’ll notice the whistle of the turbo more than the engine itself. However, with less pulling power, it often needs to rev a bit higher than the diesel, where it does sound gruffer and more intrusive. 

An advantage of both engines is their ability to often switch into pure electric mode at lower speeds. This gives them the gliding refinement of the best EVs, and means you’re less aware that you’re running with petrol or diesel power. The engines will generally always be off as you come to a halt and sit at junctions or traffic lights. 

The latest Audi Q5 has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP. However, the related new Audi A6 has been tested, and scored a full five-star rating, with particularly good scores for adult and child protection. We have no doubt the Audi Q5 will do similarly well – if not even better. 

The Audi Q5 comes with plenty of technology to boost safety. The headlights, for starters, are superb, with plenty of functionality – and the Matrix LED lights on the Edition 1 are even better. There’s even a button on the driver’s door panel to turn on a special lighting mode that improves visibility in bad weather. Meanwhile, the interior ambient lighting offers safety features – if you go to open a door when there’s a car (or cyclist) approaching from behind, it will flash red to warn you. 

The Audi Q5 is a well-proven car that is built at high volume and sold all around the world. This means that it is well-developed to meet the demand of all countries, which should be reassuring to UK drivers. 

Such volumes mean any reliability issues with the Audi Q5 can often quickly be ironed out too. As the engines are well-proven units from other Audis, and the interior electronics are also shared with other models, this ensures reliability for the Audi Q5 should be good. 

The Audi brand didn’t perform so well in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, but this was because of the poor performance of older models. Newer Audis are much better. 

The Audi Q5 has the standard three-year, 60,000-mile Audi warranty. This can be extended to four years and 75,000 miles, or five years and 90,000 miles, at an added cost. 

The good news is that there doesn't appear to be any common faults with the Audi Q5 that we've seen, while Audi performs very well as a brand when it comes to reliability, scoring 9.12 out of 10 in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

Audi Q5 insurance groups start at 37 for the 2.0 TFSI Sport, and group. 38 for the 2.0 TDI Sport. They ease up to group 39 for S line models, with Edition 1 also falling into group 39. Therse insurance groups are a little higher than the Q5’s direct rival, the BMW X3.  

Company car drivers may find the 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI Audi Q5 a little expensive in terms of Benefit-in-Kind tax, due to their CO2 emissions. Fleet drivers may prefer to wait for the new Audi Q5 TFSI e plug-in hybrids, which have lower CO2 and more affordable company car tax. The Audi Q6 e-tron all-electric SUV will be even cheaper for fleet drivers, of course. 

Both the Audi Q5 TFSI and TDI have identical CO2 emissions starting from 156g/km. Even versions with larger wheels don’t go above 170g/km. This means they are subject to a first-year road tax rate of £680. After year one, owners will pay the standard £190 rate. 

However, as all Audi Q5 cost more than £40,000, they are subject to the Expensive Car Supplement. This adds an extra £410 a year from years two to six. 

The Audi Q5 is available with three core trim levels, called Sport, S line and Edition 1. Even the Audi Q5 Sport is well equipped, as you’d hope for a car that starts from almost £50k. It comes with 19-inch wheels and LED lights front and rear – the headlights include digital daytime running lights and a clever ‘junction light’ that helps you see better at intersections. Fancy dynamic indicators at the rear are standard, too. 

The MMI navigation plus system is standard, with 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen and an 11.9-inch OLED driver display. A three-year subscription to Audi connect navigation and infotainment is included. The screen also features the Audi parking system plus, with rear-view camera and 360-degree display. 

Heated front sports seats are standard, trimmed in Audi’s twin leather upholstery. The twin-spoke steering wheel is leather too. There’s three-zone climate control, electric folding door mirrors with auto-dim function and an acoustic windscreen to help hear the 10-speaker stereo. Ambient lighting is also included. 

The Audi Q5 S line has stylish 20-inch alloys and the oh-so-desirable S line exterior styling that includes bespoke bumpers, radiator grille and rear diffuser finished in contrast phantom black metallic. It has S line badges in the front wings, and rear privacy glass. 

The Audi Q5 S line also has S sport suspension, while inside, the three-spoke steering wheel is flattened on the top and bottom. Special S line seats with integrated headrests have embossed S line logos, and the black headlining gives a sportier feel. It also has a novel ‘projection’ rear brake light, that lights up the underside of the roof spoiler when the driver brakes. 

The Audi Q5 Edition 1 has even larger 21-inch alloys, and comes with standard Matrix LED headlights that offer a choice of active digital light signature options. It’s marked out by red brake calipers, too. 

Inside, the MMI 10.9-inch passenger display is standard, as is an Audi digital key, while the front sports seats are trimmed in Dynamica micro-fibre and leather, and are electrically adjustable. Active safety is boosted by standard lane departure warning with added functionality, including the exit warning system.