2021 Audi Q5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Q5 is a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carries the Audi design language well, while still maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It has an expressive face, with LED headlights squinting out beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, all sporting horizontal elements that emphasize width. The body styling features crisp character lines, and the greenhouse is like a protective shell. The rear features bold, large taillights. Overall, the Audi Q5 has a very classy, modern, appearance from stem to stern with exceptional fit and finish everywhere you look. The plug-in Q5 wears some S-Line trim pieces and enhancements to set it apart from the gasoline-only Q5, and looks even better, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels.

Inside, things are similarly classy and modern. While the Q5 is packed with technology, it maintains an uncluttered appearance. Buttons, switches, and knobs are smartly grouped and segregated by function, and there’s a unity of design that is very pleasing. Material selection is at a high level, and where disparate materials meet, the lines are crisp and well-defined. There’s a real authenticity to the materials, with real wood, real metal, and honed surfaces. The 10.1-inch touchscreen floats at the top of the centre stack, just where it should be to be in the driver’s line of sight. The second row is also nicely appointed, with standard leather upholstery on seating surfaces throughout.

The Q5 PHEV takes a good thing and makes it better. The Q5 is already a fun crossover to drive in its standard gasoline-only form; adding an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery makes it genuine adult entertainment. The total combined output for the PHEV is 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, a good match with the crossover’s 4,665-lb curb weight. An electric motor works with the 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder gasoline engine in a boost function and then provides backup to the gas engine during coasting and low-demand situations. It’s an innovative setup that delivers convincing acceleration when needed (0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.3 seconds, per Audi), and contributes to impressive fuel-efficiency figures of 4.7 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres combined. In gasoline-only mode, the Q5 PHEV is rated at 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined. The Q5 PHEV’s battery pack can be recharged overnight with household current (Level 1, 120-volts) or in 2.4 hours with Level 2, 240-volt, service.

The Q5 PHEV's drivetrain uses a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD), and can be switched into modes to drive for a limited range on available battery power only (up to 31 kilometres depending on the state of charge); to reserve battery power for later electric driving; or to automatically drive in hybrid mode, boosting with battery power or using only battery power when most efficient and effective. As a driver, you might choose to reserve your battery power if you want to drive those last few blocks home as quietly as possible or to complete your commute to work through the most congested downtown streets in the most efficient manner. So, having control over these modes is a benefit.

Q5 uses speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering and has a wider-than-expected turning radius. This can come as a surprise during a first drive if you attempt perpendicular parking maneuvers (as you should), but quickly becomes a non-issue with familiarity. Four-wheel independent suspension is standard, with five-link setups front and rear. Handling is good, with a slightly stiff, sporty setting that balances comfort with road feel. Body roll is minimal and controlled, and braking is powerful and predictable.

There’s a reason compact crossover SUVs like the Q5 have exploded in popularity over the past few years—it’s the Goldilocks Phenomenon. Not too big, not too small, but just right. Thanks to smart packaging, the Q5 PHEV manages to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, so it doesn’t eat up cargo space. There are 710 litres of space (converted from U.S. specifications) behind the second row. Fold down the second row, and you can haul up to 1,503 litres of cargo behind the first row.

There’s a reasonable amount of legroom in the second row (960 mm) and plenty of headroom (958 mm) and shoulder room (1,435 mm). Two adults can sit comfortably behind adults in the first row, and a third adult can squeeze in for shorter rides when absolutely necessary. The driver and front-seat passenger are treated to a pair of Audi’s super-comfortable and supportive sport seats with a wide range of adjustment, heating, and, with the $1,200 Comfort Interior Package, ventilation.

The front row gets a pair of cupholders, and several cubbies and nooks for phones, change, chargers, and junk. The centre-console armrest lifts to reveal a small storage bin. Reflective of its uncluttered design, everything inside functions well and has been laid out smartly.

Q5 PHEV gets Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and as always, it’s impressive. The new centre-console touchpad is easy to use and master. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offers three views: classic, sport, and dynamic. It’s a clear, good-looking, and customizable instrument panel that elevates the cabin to another level of futuristic tech. Combine this with the colour/mood-adjustable LED ambient interior cabin lights, and Q5 achieves an impressive level of customization.

A great-sounding Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers and a 16-channel/755-watt amplifier is standard. Wireless Apple CarPlay is included and works like a charm, and wired Android Auto is also included.

The 2021 Q5 PHEV hasn’t been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yet, but the 2020 Q5 (gasoline-only) received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, where it received a “marginal” rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars but has not yet rated the PHEV. We expect the PHEV ratings to match the gasoline-only ratings when they finally appear.

Safety features include six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks in the rear doors, electronic stability control with off-road mode, electronic vehicle immobilization, anti-theft alarm, interior motion sensor, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights, LATCH connectors on outboard rear seats, a rearview camera, and a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Available driver-assistance features include Audi Pre Sense front, Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and traffic congestion assist, traffic-sign recognition, Audi active lane assist, and hands-on detection to ensure you’re actively driving while using these additional systems.

The 2021 Audi Q5 TFSI e quattro is available in two trim levels in Canada: Progressiv (pricing starting at an MSRP of $70,400) and Technik (starting at $73,100). The plug-in hybrid model adds about $25,000 to the price of a gasoline-only Q5 models and roughly $20,000 to a Q5 Sportback coupe. The Q5 is priced above the threshold for Canadian federal and provincial EV incentive programs.

It’s tough to find direct competitors in the PHEV five-seat luxury SUV class. The BMW X3 PHEV (from $59,990) is the nearest current model that matches up closely with the Q5 PHEV. The Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge (starting at $66,650) is another near-competitor, and the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV (starting at $80,750) is a larger vehicle capable of seating seven but is worth measuring against the Q5. The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (starting at $95,500) comes from the same parent company (Volkswagen Group) as the Q5 but is obviously in another class. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV starts at $44,198 but is also in a different class. We expect the competition to ramp up as more PHEV models enter production.

The Audi Q5 TFSI e quattro has a lot going for it. With impressive efficiency figures, fun driving experience, and overall quality look and feel, it’s a compelling vehicle – and the plug-in part of the package is the icing on the cake.