2019 Audi Q5 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

A few more features are standard this yearNew 7-inch driver information displayPremium Plus trim adds standard navigation and wireless phone chargingPart of the second Q5 generation introduced for 2018

　　In a decade of production, the Audi Q5 has only undergone one significant overhaul — and that was for last year's model. That's a testament to just how well Audi nailed this luxury SUV's appeal from the beginning. The Q5 quickly became the brand's best-selling model in America. And with that kind of success, it's wise to tweak at the margins while the competition catches up. Not surprisingly, the 2019 Audi Q5 offers only a few subtle refinements for this year.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$195/mo  for Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　Q5 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $42,950 MSRP2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) (Most Popular) - $49,950 MSRP2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $53,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The 2019 Q5 now offers a few more standard luxuries, including heated front seats and an upgraded driver display and gauge cluster. The midtrim model now includes navigation and wireless phone charging (previously it was an option). They are small changes, but they're enough to keep the Q5 fresh.

　　As before, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine carries the workload. The standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system for which Audi is renowned also received a major overhaul in the Q5 last year. It's now primarily a front-wheel-drive system that can engage the rear wheels in less than a half-second when traction is required.

　　Today's Q5 also features some of the latest driver assistance technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and city-oriented automatic emergency braking at speeds up to 52 mph. These kinds of driver aids were noticeably absent in the first-generation models.

　　All of these second-generation updates make the 2019 Audi Q5 a premium crossover that can mix it up on dry roads as easily as those covered in snow or dirt. In this increasingly competitive group — with alternatives from BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz — the Audi Q5 remains a standout.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Audi Q5 Premium Plus Quattro (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　Overall, the Audi Q5 gets strong scores for performance. However, its overly intrusive stability control prevents it from scoring a bit higher. But for the typical driver, this drawback will probably never arise. Otherwise, we consider it one of the best in the class.

　　

Acceleration

7.0

　　With a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, the Q5 is no slouch, but it is marginally slower than some of its rivals. It's certainly quicker than what we would've expected from a four-cylinder engine a few years ago. In everyday driving, it gets off the line smoothly with confident power.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The Q5 stopped from 60 mph in 114 feet, which is shorter than its competition. In routine conditions, the pedal is moderately firm, though we did feel some odd ABS resets and clicks. Even when driven hard, though, we had full confidence in the brakes.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　The steering is appropriately weighted in Comfort and Dynamic modes. On a winding road, it's precise, although there's not a lot of feedback for the driver. In tight confines, whipping the wheel around is effortless.

　　

Handling

6.0

　　The Q5 feels very capable on twisting mountain roads, but the stability control intervenes far too early and aggressively to explore its potential fully. For the average driver, this is a nonissue, but it could be alarming in evasive maneuvers.

　　

Drivability

9.0

　　The Q5 has a great balance of performance and drivability. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts quickly and smoothly, and it feels well-tuned for the engine. And because of the Q5's relatively compact size, it's easy to squeeze into small parking spots.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　In every comfort metric, the Audi Q5 does well, balancing compliance and road-hugging reassurance. Like most of the cars in the class, it's easy to drive for many hours at a time with little to no fatigue.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The seats are firm but well-shaped for hours of comfortable touring. The leather upholstery breathes reasonably well. But on hot days, the ventilated seats offered in the optional Warm Weather package are a nice addition. The rear seats may lack a little thigh support for the average adult.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The Q5 feels sure-footed on the road without sacrificing ride quality. You feel most of the imperfections in the surface, but it's never transmitted into the cabin as a harsh jolt. This base suspension is so good that we question whether it's worth it to upgrade to the adaptive system.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　Road noise is muted to barely noticeable levels, and wind noise is essentially absent at highway speeds. The engine is also appropriately quiet, but it doesn't sound that great under hard acceleration.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Once the automatic climate control is set, you rarely have to adjust it. It cools down a hot cabin quickly, and the vents disperse the airflow without any cold spots or gaps.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　Audi's interior design continues to impress us. The design is minimal and tidy, and the smart use of multipurpose switches and knobs reduces the clutter of buttons suffered by rivals. Materials quality is excellent regardless of trim level and makes you feel special.

　　

Ease of use

9.0

　　The world would be a better place if all cars were as easy to operate as the Q5. Primary and secondary controls are placed right where you want, and even though there is an abundance of features, finding and using them is intuitive.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The door openings are tall in height and relatively short in terms of length, which makes getting in and out easy in tight parking spots. And the elevated ride height won't require any undue effort for shorter passengers.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The driver's seat has all the adjustments needed to accommodate occupants of varying heights and builds. The range of adjustments is also wide enough to allow taller drivers to find an optimal position.

　　

Roominess

9.0

　　Even though the Q5 isn't a big car, it feels big inside. In the front and back, headroom, shoulder room and hiproom are generous, and there's plenty of legroom for adults in the rear seats.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　The roof pillars allow for decent outward visibility. The placement of the infotainment screen is excellent, right in the driver's line of sight. The same holds true for the easy-to-read virtual instrument panel. Rear visibility is good enough not to require reliance on the rearview camera.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　As with other Audi vehicles, the Q5 benefits from sturdy assembly and impeccable materials at all trim levels. The consistent weight and click of all switchgear stand as a great example of attention to detail. Everything about it screams premium.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The Q5 will easily hold all of your items, whether it's cargo in the back or your personal effects up front. Cargo capacity is about average for the class and includes plenty of smart features to keep things in place. The rear seats don't fold flat with the cargo floor but are easy to push past.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　The door pockets and the center armrest bin are adequately sized for personal items, and a handy narrow slot keeps your phone secure. The cupholders are placed in front of the armrest, which may impede use of the infotainment system.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　With 25.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a maximum of 53.1 cubic feet, the Q5's capacity is a bit small for the class. But plenty of hooks and nets are available to keep smaller objects in place, and a track-based anchor system handles bigger items. A power liftgate comes standard.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　LATCH anchors are easily found and accessed behind clearly marked plastic covers.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　Not only does Audi have a lot of tech features built in, but the automaker makes them easy to use. The doubling up of functions for switches, buttons and knobs keeps the cabin from getting cluttered with controls. We were surprised the stability control was overly sensitive, which is unusual for an Audi.

　　

Audio & navigation

9.0

　　The MMI infotainment system remains one of the best in the industry thanks to a simple layout and intuitive menus. Controlling the audio via the steering wheel is pleasantly convenient, and it's easy to enter destinations for the navigation on the center console trace pad.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included, you get the best smartphone integration implemented so far. These systems are more intuitive with a touchscreen than with the Q5's MMI dial controller, but shifting the dial allows for quick scrolling and selections.

　　

Driver aids

6.0

　　The Q5's stability control was unusually sensitive. If driven with vigor, the system will kick in aggressively when cornering by activating the brakes at specific wheels. Most drivers will never corner with this kind of speed, but it could occur in emergency swerves.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Audi's MMI system accurately deciphers voice commands for standard functions such as navigation and phone calls, but Apple CarPlay recognizes more natural speech and provides access to the audio system.

　　

Which Q5 does zzdcar recommend?

　　With three trim levels available, we say go for the middle and opt for a Premium Plus. This trim includes several luxury features (panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, heated front seats) and satisfies tech and safety needs with navigation, in-car Wi-Fi, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking.

　　

2019 Audi Q5 models

　　The 2019 Audi Q5 is available in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. All trims come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque) joined to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.

　　Standard equipment on Premium trim includes 18-inch wheels, roof rails and crossbars, a rear spoiler, xenon headlights with LED running lights, LED taillights, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors and a power liftgate.

　　Inside, you'll find push-button ignition, cruise control, leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated and power-adjustable front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, transmission shift paddles, and a 40/20/40-split folding and reclining rear seat.

　　Technology features include a rearview camera, Bluetooth and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　Automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians at speeds up to 52 mph (called Pre Sense City) is also standard.

　　Premium Plus models add 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, automatic LED headlights, auto-dimming side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, driver-seat memory functions, a navigation system, a 10-speaker audio system with satellite radio, a wireless phone charger, a Wi-Fi connection, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display. Driver assistance features include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

　　Prestige models combine the features listed above with noise-insulated side windows, a head-up display, ambient cabin lighting, a bird's-eye view parking camera, a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system, and driver aids that include adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.

　　Premium trims can add a handful of stand-alone options such as 19-inch wheels, heated front seats, panoramic sunroof and rear side airbags. The Convenience package, which adds eight-way power-adjustable seats, keyless entry, heated side mirrors and satellite radio, also is available on the Premium.

　　Options for Premium Plus trims include the Black Optic package (20-inch wheels, matte-black roof rails and black exterior trim), Cold Weather package (heated rear seats, heated steering wheel) and the Warm Weather package (ventilated front sport seats, rear window shades). The premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, rear side airbags and 20-inch wheels can also be added à la carte.

　　Prestige models are also offered with the same option packages as those of the Premium Plus trim, and a fixed roof can replace the standard panoramic sunroof on both trims.

　　

2019 Q5 Highlights

Trim: 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　

Base MSRP	$42,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$195/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles