Presentation of the Audi Q5: Entertainment strengthened

Contents

It has been quiet at Audi for a long time, but now new models are following in quick succession. This includes the Q5 SUV, the third edition of which is visually restrained but takes a big step forward in terms of infotainment. The drive systems remain conventional, the prices self-confident.

As with the successor to the A4 and the A6, Audi is not making any radical changes to the design. The decision against this is probably due not least to the fact that the predecessor sold quite well until the end despite an unusually long production time. Audi is therefore continuing to try a conservative design that is very similar to that of the Q6 e-tron. You may find this a little boring, but Audi is appealing to a clientele that is looking for a car design on this side of the exaggeration that many manufacturers are now offering.

Minimally larger

There is another increase in the dimensions, although it is not too large. Instead of 4.68 m, the new model measures 4.71 m, while the width is now 1.9 m instead of 1.89 m. The wheelbase remains almost identical at 2.82 m except for a few millimeters more. The trunk is unchanged at 520 liters, the maximum volume is a few liters smaller at 1473. The maximum towing capacity of 2.4 tons also remains the same.

Initially there are two petrol engines and one diesel. Further engines are to follow, including two plug-in hybrids. Those who want a purely battery-electric drive are referred to the similarly voluminous Q6 e-tron. All engines available at the launch of the Q5 are mild hybridized. A starter generator with 48 volts contributes up to 18 kW. The provisional range is as follows:

	WLTP consumption	Power in kW	Torque in Nm	All-wheel	Preis
TFSI	6,4 bis 7,3	150	340	optional	52.300
SQ5	8 bis 8,6	270	550	standard	82.900
TDI	5,9 bis 6,6	150	400	standard	57.100

Android Automotive

As in the other new Audi models, the biggest advance in the third Q5 is in the field of consumer electronics. Instead of its own system, Audi is using Android Automotive OS, which skips at least a decade over the previous system. In future, Audi will also open up the system to third-party providers – naturally only to a limited extent and, to a certain extent, only under supervision. Obviously, the manufacturer will not give every app provider unrestricted access to the system. After all, they remain responsible for the entire vehicle.

A new feature in the Q5 is a system that reduces driving noise with a counter-sound. The principle is old, but effective. Unfortunately, Audi only supplies it in conjunction with the Bang & Olufsen sound system. The first press release leaves the subject of automated driving open. We therefore assume that the Q5 will remain with Level 2, at least for the time being. This means that the driver will not be able to hand over responsibility for driving the vehicle to the car for a short time. Whether this will remain the case for the entire construction period of the third generation is uncertain.

Fierce internal competition

The new Audi Q5 can be ordered from September, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025. As always, the prices have been calculated confidently, even if the base model costs more than 10,000 euros less than the Q6 e-tron. However, the Q5 is facing tough competition from the electric car, as leasing rates for corporate customers are the main driver of demand for commercial registrations, which also dominate for this model. And those who are allowed to choose their company vehicle will start to ponder: For the private use of a commercial Q5 with a combustion engine, one percent of the list price must be taxed as a non-cash benefit, for the Q6 only 0.25. This gap will only narrow with the announced plug-in hybrids, for which 0.5 percent of the list price must be taxed.

(mfz)