2022 Audi Q5

　　

2022 Audi Q5 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawDirector of Content Strategy

　　Josh Sadlier has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Josh is director of content strategy at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autotrader and Automobile. Under his stewardship, zzdcar' own 1989 Yugo GVL won first place at the Concours d'Lemons, taking home a jar of borscht, a can of beets, a cutting board and a pint of VIP vodka.

　　The 2022 Audi Q5 is a nice compact luxury SUV. Equipped with standard all-wheel drive and available with a turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine or a significantly more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Q5 is decent to drive and appeals to a variety of consumers. It's a step up from the entry-level Q3 but not as expensive or bulky to drive as the larger three-row Q7. Key rivals include the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Audi Q5 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$149/mo  for Q5 Premium

　　Q5 Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $43,300 MSRPPremium S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $45,800 MSRPPremium S line 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $55,400 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $48,300 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $50,800 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $59,500 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $54,000 MSRPPrestige S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $56,500 MSRPPrestige S line 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI e (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 7AM) - $64,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2022, every new Q5 gets sportier S line styling, while the plug-in hybrid, which carries the alphabet soup designation of 55 TFSI e, gets a more powerful battery that increases electric-only driving range to 23 miles (up from 19 miles in 2021). Plugging in this Q5 to charge frequently can easily reduce your use of gas. There's also a new base engine that Audi calls the 40 TFSI. It's a bit underpowered for a luxury SUV — just 201 horsepower — but it helps make the Q5 more affordable. It's less powerful than last year's base engine, though.

　　In selected cities, Audi also offers a new Traffic Light Information system for the 2022 Q5. Using vehicle-to-infrastructure technology, it predicts when traffic lights will turn green, helping drivers to spend less time idling in traffic. No matter where you live, the infotainment system gains improved voice control this year.

　　Overall, we like the Q5. It's roomy, comfortable and built to high quality standards. But it doesn't stand apart from rivals like it once did. To learn more about the Audi Q5, be sure to read our full Expert Rating for more details about this competent but ultimately unremarkable SUV.

　　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

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Q5 drive? We tested the Q5 in 45 TFSI guise, which means it had the 261-hp engine. Although the Q5 put up competitive numbers at our test track, accelerating to 60 mph in 6 seconds flat, it's hit-or-miss in the real world. Once the turbo's spooled up and you're in the right gear, there's a nice, smooth pull to redline that's worthy of the Audi badge. But the transmission can be slow to engage and sometimes feels indecisive. This is an adequate powertrain, but its reflexes are not sharp. Braking is the opposite — the pedal is firm and there's plenty of brake force as soon as you ask for it.

　　Push the Q5 toward its limits on a winding road and you'll be rewarded with good grip and impressive poise. Although the Q5's Quattro with Ultra technology all-wheel-drive system defaults to front-wheel drive under normal circumstances, we noted its eagerness to send power rearward during enthusiastic driving and help give this luxury SUV some rewarding athleticism.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Q5? Our Q5 Prestige had superbly comfortable front sport seats with heating and ventilation. The cushions are a little too firm to be called plush, but would provide welcome support on long drives. The cabin feels well built and is thoroughly insulated from the outside world. In particular, there's almost no detectable wind noise, even at highway speeds.

　　Ride comfort is satisfactory for the class, especially given the Q5's respectable handling capabilities and our test car's 20-inch wheels. You glide over most surfaces, while major pavement imperfections are met with a refined tautness that filters out harsh feedback.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below