2023 Audi Q5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Audi Q5's exterior styling combines subtle curves with angular accents for an overall appearance that is both classy and sporty. It's offered in two body styles: the regular Q5 SUV and the pictured Q5 Sportback that features a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker silhouette. We typically aren't fans of this "coupelike" styling, but the Q5 is an exception as it features a spoiler-like element that protrudes just above the taillights. It gives the Sportback a more definite transition from hatch to the more upright tail section as opposed to some rivals that have a somewhat weak and awkward rear end.

On the inside, the Q5 is refined with a fairly simple layout, though its age is beginning to show since its last redesign was five years ago. Leather seating and heated front seats are standard, while a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats are available. There's a good amount of technology included, but rather than opt for a huge tablet-like touchscreen as some other carmakers have, the Q5 continues with a 10-inch touchscreen atop the dash. Materials quality is good for the class, but now that non-luxury manufacturers have stepped up their game, the Q5 doesn't feel quite as special as it did a few years back. Rear-seat passengers are surrounded by harder and more durable plastic elements which should stand up to children and pets over time.

The Q5 benefits from a sturdy build quality that feels appropriately German. There are no squeaks or creaks to be heard when driving over rough surfaces. On the whole, it's a solid choice among competing SUVs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche.

The Audi Q5 is available with the choice of three engines. The base 40 TFSI quattro is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces power specs of 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI quattro turbo increases output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and is the only engine offered with the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI e is a plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) that makes 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque with its added electric motor and is estimated to return 37 kilometres of electric-only range. A full charge should require 2.5 hours on a 7.4 kW home charger. All Q5s come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.

Our Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine is hampered by a noticeable delay in power delivery, which is likely attributable to the slow-to-react transmission. It makes initial acceleration feel as though the SUV is stuck in mud as it tries to pull itself out in the first few feet and makes the Q5 feel much slower than its 6.1-second 0-100 km/h estimate. Once underway, power is more than adequate, but you'll still have to plan ahead when passing slower traffic.

Handling and driving experience are suitably sporty for an Audi and should easily exceed most drivers' expectations. Steering is precise and overall, the Q5 instills confidence on a curvy road. More spirited drivers would do well to step up to the higher-performing SQ5, though the firmer suspension will affect ride comfort.

The Q5 strikes a good balance between compliance and cornering. You'll still feel some side-to-side jostling and bumps in the road, but they're well-managed and rounded over to eliminate any harshness from impacts. The engine and exhaust remain pleasantly quiet unless you floor the accelerator. Road and wind noise are also well silenced for a calm cabin that meets luxury SUV standards.

The basic interior design of the Audi Q5 hasn't changed much since the most recent redesign in 2018, but it has stood the test of time well. The infotainment touchscreen is placed atop the dash in the driver's sightline to reduce distraction and traditional dials and buttons are provided for the climate controls. There are also physical buttons for secondary vehicle controls, reducing the need to dig through on-screen menus for more commonly used features.

Outward visibility is good for the class and is helped by a narrowly profiled front roof pillar that doesn't obstruct your view through sharp left turns as much as some rivals. The view out the rear is also better than average, but you'll still have to rely on the parking cameras and proximity sensors when backing into a tight spot.

Up front, there is plenty of space for taller passengers and the rear seats should accommodate six-footers without bumping into the headliner. This is also the case with the Sportback model as headroom is only reduced by 0.6 cm compared to the standard Q5. There's plenty of legroom and space under the front seats for your feet.

Front passengers have several storage places for their personal items, but some are oddly sized and shaped. There's a shallow pocket under the climate and secondary controls, but it's too small for a phone. Directly to the rear of that is another fist-sized pocket where the old infotainment dial controller used to be, as well as an odd narrow slot to the side.

A wireless phone charger is on a sliding tray that covers the cupholders, which are heated and cooled in the top trim. Behind them is a shallow centre armrest bin. The door pockets are the most accommodating in the Q5 and can hold larger drink bottles. Keyless entry is standard.

Behind the rear seats, you have as much as 730 litres of cargo space. The Sportback drops only slightly to 700 litres. By comparison, the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 can hold another roughly 110 litres but the Porsche Macan maxes out at only 487 litres.

All Q5s come standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen that benefits from sharp graphics and relatively quick responses. It does take a while for the system to boot up and even longer for Apple CarPlay to activate, though. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be used in all Q5 trims, and Bluetooth is also standard while SiriusXM satellite radio is available. A Bang & Olufsen audio system is standard on higher trims. The on-screen buttons in Audi's native infotainment system are large and easy to read for easy operation while driving, but the app buttons in Apple CarPlay are much smaller and closer together, making use a bit more difficult.

As is the case with most new vehicles, the Q5 can be monitored remotely via a smartphone app and allows feature control such as unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. This Audi Connect Care service is included for a limited-time subscription, after which you'll have to pay for access. It also includes a Wi-Fi hotspot. Mid-range trims benefit from a customizable digital instrument panel Audi called its virtual cockpit that delivers a lot of information when you need it.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2023 Audi Q5 was awarded five out of five stars for overall, frontal, and side protection. It scored four stars in rollover tests. These results are in line with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which gave the Q5 its highest score of "Good" in all crashworthiness tests. It also named the Q5 a Top Safety Pick+, the IIHS's highest honor.

All Q5 models come with the typical advanced safety features expected of any new vehicle. These include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. Stepping up from the Audi Q5 Komfort to the Q5 Progressiv adds driver assistance features such as lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to reduce driver fatigue when stuck in dense traffic.

The top Technik trim adds matrix-design LED headlights that selectively block portions of the high beams to keep from blinding oncoming traffic. You also get a head-up display, a semi-automated park assist system, and a traffic sign reader. Rear-seat side impact airbags are offered as an option on all trims.

The standard Audi Q5 has a new car starting price of $48,400 (not including a $2,700 destination fee) for the entry-level Komfort trim and the 40 TFSI engine. At the top of the range, the plug-in hybrid 55 TFSI engine in Technik trim manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) starts at $75,000. The Q5 Sportback is available with only the midrange 45 TFSI engine and costs a few thousand more than an equivalent non-Sportback Q5. We typically steer shoppers away from "coupelike" SUVs such as the Sportback because the rooflines tend to reduce cargo capacity and rear-seat headroom. The Sportback's sacrifices are negligible, so if you're attracted to that style, we say go for it.

The 40 TFSI engine is estimated to return fuel economy of 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.2 on the highway, and 9.3 in combined driving. The 45 TFSI has estimates of 10.6 L/100 km city, 8.2 highway, and 9.5 combined. The plug-in hybrid 55 TFSI is estimated to return 37 kilometres of electric range and once the battery is depleted, the hybrid engine is rated at 9.0 L/100 km in combined city and highway miles. This model could make sense for those with short commutes and regular access to chargers. Otherwise, it would take an eternity to recoup the roughly $10,000 premium required to upgrade from the 45 TFSI engine.

Trim level pricing jumps by about $5,000 for each upgrade but we suggest going with at least the midrange Progressiv trim. It adds a good amount of tech and safety features to justify the cost. Luxury-oriented shoppers with deeper pockets will likely enjoy the numerous enhancements that come with the Technik trim.

Compared to the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Q5 is priced similarly. We're more inclined to recommend the X3 or GLC since they don’t suffer with the Q5's slow engine response. Not surprisingly, the Porsche Macan is more expensive and you also get fewer features for the money, but it's the performance choice in the class. The value leader is the Genesis GV70 which costs thousands less than the Q5, but its interior quality is just marginally behind the class. Other lower-priced competitors include the Acura RDX and Volvo XC60.

Note: Images show a US model.