2021 Audi Q5 Review

　　

2021 Audi Q5 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　From outward appearances, it'd be easy to think that the Audi Q5 had been redesigned for 2021. Instead, it has undergone a substantial refresh, with sharper styling than before. Underneath the sheet metal, the four-cylinder engine gets a power increase and a new infotainment system debuts. Unfortunately, that new infotainment system loses the dial controller from previous models and goes with a slightly more distracting touchscreen instead.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi Q5 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 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

　　$187/mo  for Q5 Premium

　　Q5 Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $43,300 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $51,900 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $48,100 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $55,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $54,000 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $61,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Audi is continuing to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the Q5. It's more powerful than the base Q5 and can go an EPA-estimated 19 miles on all-electric power on a full battery. It could be worth checking out if you can frequently recharge to help save on gas. Otherwise, the Q5 is a competent small luxury SUV that doesn't really stand out against the likes of the Acura RDX, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60. Read our Expert Rating below to get our full in-depth take.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Q5 drive? Our Q5, which had the base 45 TFSI powertrain, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds at our test track. That's a respectably quick time for a small luxury SUV with a base engine. Out in real-world driving, however, the engine sometimes feels overworked and there's a noticeable delay when you press the gas pedal.

　　Braking is the opposite — it feels good on the street and makes it easy to bring the Q5 to a smooth stop. But in our track performance braking testing, our Q5 needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average. The antilock braking system is pretty noisy too.

　　Other downsides include overly vague and imprecise steering (you don't get a good feel for the road) and an engine stop-start system that's overly jarring when it fires the engine back up. The Q5 does have good grip and poise when you push it hard around turns, but it's the singular bright spot for otherwise middling performance.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Q5? Our test Q5 came in the Prestige trim with the superbly comfortable front sport seats that have heating and ventilation. These front seats are the single most premium item inside the Q5. The cabin feels well built and insulated from the outside world.

　　However, there are issues with ride comfort. The suspension sends vibration from the road to your seat, making it unavoidable that you will feel cracks and bumps in the pavement. It's not especially firm or sporty — it's just constantly busy. The lack of a refined ride quality is unusual in luxury SUVs of this caliber, and we expect more from the Q5.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Q5's cabin is spacious whether you're sitting in the front or the back seat, and it's easy to enter and exit through the well-shaped door openings. We also like the commanding driving position that provides excellent outward visibility.

　　The standard 10.1-inch touchscreen looks great, but it's mounted to the top of the dashboard like a tacked-on tablet. That looks a little awkward, and it's even stranger to use. There is no dial or touchpad controller, so you need to poke and swipe in order to operate the infotainment system. This feels like it could be made easier. Many of our editors prefer the Q5's previous-generation MMI infotainment system.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Technology is a strong area for the Q5. Navigation maps are clear and easy to read, with accurate turn-by-turn directions. Our test vehicle came with a rich and voluminous Bang & Olufsen stereo system that certainly scores some luxury points. The advanced driver aids also performed well. Adaptive cruise control is helpful to use on the freeway, and you can't possibly miss the flashing blind-spot warning lights.

　　There were a few hiccups. Though Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration comes standard, connection issues forced us to plug in via a USB port. Bluetooth compatibility is good, and our vehicle included a wireless charging station. Don't expect much from the voice activation system, which requires you to adhere to strict prompts.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? At 25.8 cubic feet behind the seats, the Q5 has maximum storage capacity that is almost perfectly average for the class. Other luxury SUVs in this class like the BMW X3 (28.7 cubes) and Acura RDX (31.1 cubes) do offer more cargo space. There are a few tie-down points inside but no underfloor storage. Small-item storage inside the cabin is a bit below average. There's an average-size center console, and two small trays that could hold some business cards, but not much else.

　　When so equipped, however, the Q5 boasts a maximum towing capacity up to 4,400 pounds, which is strong for the class. Only a few competitors can match it. For parents, the easily accessible LATCH points and roomy back seat should make it easy to install even the bulkiest of rear-facing infant seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Audi Q5 45 TFSI gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's the same as a BMW X3 xDrive30i and higher than the estimates for a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic and Volvo XC60 AWD. Our test Q5 backed that up on our evaluation route by getting 27.9 mpg in real-world driving.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Q5 a good value? Build quality is a hallmark of Audi vehicles, and the Q5 is true to the brand. The interior panels exhibit a tight fit throughout the cabin, and there's an interesting mixture of authentic metals, leathers and woods inside. Some competitors do a better job of wowing you with crystals or flashy styling, but the Q5 brings a lot to the table.

　　Still, we're conflicted about its pricing. The Q5's base price is appealing for a luxury SUV considering you get standard all-wheel drive. But by the time you get up to the Prestige trim, many rivals offer the same impressive set of features. There isn't a whole lot that separates the Q5 from the pack at this price. Audi offers only four years/50,000 miles of coverage for the basic and powertrain warranties, which isn't helping its case.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　Audi rebuilt a brand from the ashes by taking on the established luxury set head-on, with flashy styling and dynamic features that made vehicles such as the Q5 the trendy alternative to BMW and Mercedes. But where is that strategy now? The Q5's recent styling refresh is overly conservative, and there's nothing dynamically to spark driver interest. It feels like Audi proverbially let off the gas for this newest Q5.

　　

Which Q5 does zzdcar recommend?

The midtier Premium Plus trim gets our recommendation in the Q5 lineup for its more substantial features list. It not only includes the Convenience package (optional on the Premium), but it also adds some additional tech and driver safety aids that we think you'll want to have in a luxury SUV.

　　

2021 Audi Q5 models

The 2021 Audi Q5 is a five-passenger small luxury SUV that's available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Within these trims, shoppers can choose between two engines:

　　45 TFSI: turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It also has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

　　55 TFSI e: enhances the four-cylinder engine with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It makes 362 hp and 369 lb-ft and can go an EPA-estimated 19 miles on all-electric power with a full battery before switching over to normal hybrid operation.

　　Premium

　　The entry-level Premium trim is anything but basic. You get a handful of features that are optional on some rivals. Feature highlights include:

　　LED headlights Roof rails Power liftgate Three-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Heated front seats Sliding and reclining 40/20/40-split folding rear seats Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app 10.1-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Several advanced driver aids such as: Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) The base Q5 is eligible for the Convenience package, which adds:

　　Power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors Keyless proximity entry Heated steering wheel Driver's seat memory functions Satellite radioPremium Plus

　　Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim gets you the above features, including those from the Convenience package, plus:

　　Panoramic sunroof Additional faux leather interior coverings Digital instrument panel Wireless charging pad with a signal booster Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)Prestige

　　The Prestige tops off the Q5 lineup with:

　　Acoustic insulated front windows (reduces outside noise) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Rear-seat window shades Heated and cooled front cupholders Interior ambient lighting Navigation system Automated parking assistance (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Bang & Olufsen premium audio

　　

2021 Q5 Highlights

Type: SUVPlug-in HybridSUV

　　Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$43,300
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$187/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles