The Q5, Audi's biggest seller in the U.S. and globally, is getting a major redesign that adds new software, more storage, adjustable rear seating and space, and upgraded driver-assist features.
It is part of an accelerated product rollout designed to help the brand better compete against German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The launch of the Q5 "marks the next important step in the rejuvenation of our portfolio," Audi CEO Gernot Doellner said in a statement.
The third-generation Q5 midsize crossover is the second Audi model to use the brand’s new Premium Platform Combustion architecture following the recently unveiled A5 midsize sedan and wagon that replaces the A4.
The Q5 is one of 20 model launches Audi plans in 2024 and 2025, including a new A6 large electric sedan and wagon. A replacement for the Q3 compact crossover is expected to be unveiled this year.
The Q5 was Audi’s biggest seller in 2023, accounting for 331,928 of the brand’s 1.90 million deliveries, according to company figures.
The Q5 will continue to be built at Audi’s plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico. The factory was chosen for its proximity to the U.S., which accounted for almost half of all Q5 deliveries worldwide last year, the company said.
The Q5 has a single panoramic display that incorporates a digital display for the driver and an infotainment touchscreen.
Audi also builds a long-wheelbase version of the current generation Q5 in Changchun, China.
In Europe, the Q5 was the fifth bestselling premium midsize SUV in the first seven months of 2024 with 19,352 sales, down 26 percent. according to market analyst Dataforce. The Q5 trailed Audi’s Q4 midsize electric SUV, which was No. 4.
The Q5 will launch in Europe with three combustion engines, all with 48-volt mild-hybrid electric assistance.
The entry model uses a 201-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and will start at €52,300 ($57,800) in its home market of Germany. No figures for carbon dioxide emissions were given.
A 201-hp 2.0-liter diesel model will cost from $63,100, while the performance SQ5 with a 371-hp 3.0-liter V-6 turbocharged gasoline engine will start at $91,600.
Order books open in September to German customers for deliveries in the first quarter of 2025.
U.S. sales will begin in spring or summer 2025, an Audi spokesperson said. U.S. pricing and other specs will be released closer to the North American launch.
Only two engines will be available in the U.S.: A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 268 hp on the Q5 and a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine that produces 362 hp on the SQ5. Both engines are paired to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Q5's rear is smooth with a light strip across the width of the vehicle.
The Q5’s mild-hybrid belt-starter generator adds 24 hp to the combustion engine and is fed by a 1.7 kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate chemistry battery.
Plug-in hybrid versions will be launched later, Audi said. No further details were given, but the brand has said the related A5 plug-in hybrid will have an electric-only range of 100 km (62 miles).
The design of the new Q5 is an evolution of the current generation model with more emphasis on the front end with a wider single-frame grille and prominent intakes on both sides.
Audi said the design gives the car a “visually full and wide stance on the road.”
Models with the sportier S Line specification highlight certain body components with matte anthracite chrome-look accents.
High-tech lighting features prominently. At the rear, a three-dimensional shaped light strip “spectacularly” brings together the physical and digital worlds, Audi said.
Six digital OLED panels with a total of 266 segments generate a new image several times per second. Audi said the lights can be used to communicate to other road users, for example in emergency situations, in markets that allow it.
The Q5 uses parent Volkswagen Group’s E-cubed electrical architecture that debuted with the electric Porsche Macan and Audi Q6.
The architecture runs Software 1.2 supplied by Cariad, which Audi said improves the digital user experience. The infotainment system runs on Android Automotive OS.
A single panoramic display incorporates a driver-facing 11.9-inch "digital cockpit" as well as a central 14.5-inch touchscreen with high-resolution OLED technology. The car can also be ordered with a 10.9-inch front passenger display.
Audi said the interior is designed to create a lounge-like ambience with fabric panels in the door and the armrests. Materials in the cabin include Kaskade man-made textile upholstery that Audi said is reminiscent of natural materials such as wool.
A "dynamic interaction" light strip spans the width of the interior and can flash or pulse to act as a welcome function or indicate when the vehicle is locked and unlocked.
The rear seat is fully adjustable and can be moved lengthwise and tilted, therefore increasing trunk volume or rear passenger space. Audi said three people can be comfortably seated on the rear bench.
With the rear seats folded down, the cargo volume increases up to 1,473 liters, depending on the model variant, Audi said.
The luggage compartment cover can also be stowed in a special compartment under the rear cargo floor, providing even more space for luggage and a secure place for the cover.
Audi has added an even larger storage compartment under the center armrest compared with the outgoing model, in addition to other smaller storage areas for sunglasses, keys and other personal items.
The center console is equipped with an inductive and cooled wireless phone charging tray with 15 watts of charging power, and there are two USB-C ports in the front and two in the rear seating area.
Standard driver-assist technologies include rear parking sensors, regular cruise control and lane departure warning. Other systems such as adaptive cruise control are optional. An optional head-up display includes the ability to change settings via steering wheel buttons, which Audi said is a first for the brand.
The current Q5 is also sold in a coupe-styled Sportback model. Audi has not said if this will form part of the third-generation lineup.
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