Looks can be deceiving. The redesigned Q5’s subtle sheet-metal changes obscure a near-total overhaul of the brand’s top-selling U.S. nameplate. The 2018 Q5 rides on the latest iteration of Audi’s MLB evo platform with an all-new chassis. The new Quattro all-wheel-drive system uses only the front wheels when cruising to save fuel but can quickly send power to all four wheels in slippery conditions or during sporty driving.
2018 Audi Q5
| 2018 Audi Q5 | 2017 Audi Q5 | Mercedes-Benz GLC300 | |
| Wheelbase | 111.0 in. | 110.5 in. | 113.1 in. |
| Length | 183.6 in. | 182.6 in. | 183.3 in. |
| Width | 74.5 in. | 74.7 in. | 74.4 in. |
| Height | 65.3 in. | 65.2 in. | 64.5 in. |
| Curb weight | 4,045 lbs. | 4,090 lbs. | 3,891 lbs. |
| Base engine | Turbo 2.0L 4-cyl. | Turbo 2.0L 4-cyl. | Turbo 2.0L 4-cyl. |
| Horsepower | [email protected],000 rpm | [email protected],450 rpm | [email protected],500 rpm |
| Torque, lbs.-ft. | [email protected],600 rpm | [email protected],500 rpm | [email protected],300 rpm |
| EPA mpg | TBA | 20 city/27 hwy. | 22 city/28 hwy. |
| Base price* | TBA | $41,850 | $40,075 |
| *Includes shipping | |||
Additional second-row legroom was the largest feedback-driven deviation from the first Q5’s original formula. And as with the A4 and Q7 redesigns, the Q5 gets the latest package of Audi driver-assist, connectivity and convenience technologies.
- Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
- Technology: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, selectable drive modes, optional Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, head-up display, 4G LTE Wi-fi, Audi Connect connectivity suite, 755-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system
- Safety: Standard front-collision warning and automatic braking with pedestrian detection; optional adaptive cruise control; lane-keeping assistance; rear cross-traffic alert; blind-spot monitoring; traffic-jam assistance
- Target: 60,000+ units a year
- Competitors: BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Jaguar F-Pace, Lexus NX
- Strengths: Interior fit and finish, quiet cabin, standard Quattro awd, sporty-yet-comfortable ride and handling, acceleration, technology, rear-seat legroom
- Weaknesses: Inconvenient cup holder placement; single powertrain choice at launch
- Bottom line: A day on the backroads, highways and craggy trails of Mexico’s Baja peninsula showed the Q5 to be at home no matter the conditions. Despite its being the first luxury vehicle assembled in Mexico, the Q5’s interior fit and finish would make any plant manager in Ingolstadt smile. Fresh competition will test the Q5’s staying power, but Audi was wise to stick to what made the Q5 successful in the first place.
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