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Every time has heroes. The automotive era of the last few years has seen its own type of vehicle that is constantly climbing to the top. No matter how much you ask about the meaning of the SUV and compact SUV - this mixture of light off-roaders and family station wagons has been the top seller in recent years.
Fighting for the top in such a boom segment is not that easy and staying “on top” is not easy either - so it was time to refresh the top seller:
Audi Q5 - facelift
With the freshly redesigned Q5 version, Audi wants to convince and not persuade. Audi wants to combine sportiness and efficiency and set the benchmark in the segment. Not an easy task. I think it makes sense to start with the design:
The Q5 also continues to bear a typical Audi brand face. As with other models before, the Q5 has now also got a single-frame grille with bevelled corners and vertical chrome bars. The bumper openings have been redrawn and now contribute to a first sporty impression. The character's face is shaped by the newly shaped daytime running lights in the xenon headlights. At the same time, the new narrow light strips convince me in their function as daytime running lights much more than the previously used boomerang LEDs, which were placed very roughly around the headlights.
In the rear, too, the entire design was given an unmistakable design with large, smooth surfaces and only a little make-up. The LED taillights repeat the language of the headlights and grew in width. The rear bumper was given a diffuser look, which in turn was unnecessary. Here would have been even less, more. Alternatively, the basic version could have been given an aluminum look.
The exhaust tailpipes look like you got stuck while maneuvering. The look of the SQ5 top model can convince much more:
In the second half of the Q5's life, an Audi Q5 with front-wheel drive will also be offered for the first time. In 90% of all cases, this variant will probably be completely sufficient. As an engine for this version, Audi offers the 143 HP 2 liter TDI. The base price and therefore the cheapest entry into the Q5 model series is € 35.200.
The completely different side of the price ladder is occupied by the new top model of the successful SUV from Ingolstadt:
Audi SQ5 - A first driving impression is already online
The top-of-the-line model with 313PS and 650Nm is not only the most expensive Q58.500 model in the price list at € 5, but also the first S version from Audi to have a diesel engine. If you are interested in the new top engine in the sporty SQ5 and want to know how the high performance man drives, you should just get the linked post read.
If you want to drive a Q5 with a petrol engine, Audi has a manageable choice. Either the 2 liter four-cylinder TFSI with 225PS or the 3 liter V6 TFSI with 272PS. While the small petrol engine is available with an 8-speed automatic (44.050, -) as well as with a manual 6-speed transmission (41.900, -), the 400Nm 3 liter V6 is only available with the 8-speed automatic (48.350 €).
After all, Audi has 3 power levels ready for the diesel engines. The basis is the new entry-level diesel with 143PS and front-wheel drive, followed by the 2 liter TDI with 177PS and the 3l TDI with 245PS. As with the petrol models, the large diesel is only available with an automatic. Instead of the 8 gears in the gasoline engine, the diesel is supported by a 7-speed S tronic. The price for the 580Nm strong diesel is € 49.500
The top seller and buy recommendation is the 2 liter diesel with 177Ps, 380Nm and the 7 gear S-Tronic automatic for 42.050 €
And what about a hybrid?
The Q5 series was the first series in the Audi program that could offer a hybrid. The Q5 Hybrid will remain in the range even after the facelift, but should continue to play a subordinate role in the hit parade of the best-selling Q5. Audi is also offering the hybrid technology platform in the refreshed Q5. The combination of a 2 liter four-cylinder TFSI engine with 211HP and a 54HP electric motor results in the drive package of the hybrid with a total output of 245HP. The power of the two motors is passed on to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic. In the best case, a purely electric driving distance of up to 3 kilometers is possible. The Q5 Hybrid is in the price list at € 53.900 and should therefore continue to fulfill an alibi role in the portfolio.
The revised Q5 series also has some special delicacies to offer:
The electromechanical power steering. The era of hydraulic power steering is finally up. Audi also uses power steering in the Q5 that works with electrical assistance. The advantage here is, among other things, that no energy is required when driving straight ahead, which means that consumption is reduced by up to 0,3l per 100km. A dynamic steering system is optionally available from Audi. The assistance provided by the steering varies from very light in the city to sporty when driving fast.
Dynamic chassis. As an option, Audi offers a dynamic chassis in the Q5 that can be variably adapted to the conditions. The on-board computer can change the behavior of the dampers within milliseconds and thus switch between particularly comfortable and emphatically sporty.
BiTurbo diesel. The 313PS strong BiTurbo Diesel with its power of 650Nm is able to accelerate the almost 2 ton Audi Q5 from 5.1 to 0 within 100 seconds. No further words are necessary here. The V6 diesel combines this power with a manageable thirst. Less than 8l per 100km should be feasible. 12 liters but also 🙂
Start-stop system. Every engine in the new Q5 receives an automatic start-stop system in series. This saves fuel, especially in city traffic. However, it can be deactivated by the driver. The process of “starting” in the Q5 variants that were driven was quick and unspectacular.
Further details, such as the transmission heating, the MMI system, the WLAN hotspot, the Audi online services, the Adaptive Cruise Control, the Active Lane Assist, the driver information system, the Bang & Olufsen sound system, the air-conditioned comfort seats, the Audi Side Assist and that adaptive light will be explained in further articles 😉