2025 Audi Q5 Overview: Similar Tune, Extra Quantity

Picture by: Tim Stevens / Motor1

The Audi Q5 is a kind of SUVs that feels acquainted even for those who’ve by no means pushed one earlier than. As Audi’s best-selling mannequin, they’re straightforward to search out in most parking heaps, putting the suitable mix of inoffensive styling on the surface and aspirational luxurious on the within to ship mass-market attraction. For 2025’s Q5, that elementary idea would not change. Audi’s tweaks to this compact SUV are refined, including just a little extra cargo area right here and a bit extra legroom there, plus bit extra energy and about an acre’s value of extra digital shows. The consequence continues to be very a lot the identical recipe, however the result’s sweeter but sharper than earlier than. 

Engine, Drivetrain, Horsepower: Larger Enhance

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The engine that can drive the majority of Q5 fashions bought stays the identical, primary turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder as earlier than. It has been massaged a bit, although, now providing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That is up from 201 hp and 236 lb-ft from the previous base Q5 40 TFSI, or a tick up over the previous Q5 S line 45 TFSI, which made 261 hp and 273 lb-ft. Gas financial system is 25 mpg mixed.

Need extra? Step as much as the SQ5 and its 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6, now making 362 hp and 406 lb-ft. Its effectivity is nineteen mpg metropolis, 26 freeway, and 22 mpg mixed. 

That is proper, no hybrid choices nor fancy, high-voltage electrical turbos or something of the like. These turbos are new, although, with a variable geometry design meant to reduce lag regardless of these larger output figures. The most important change, although, comes on the opposite finish of the crankshaft: The SQ5 will get a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a pleasant improve over the previous technology’s computerized.

Expertise and Infotainment: OMG OLED

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Slot into the driving force’s seat, and it turns into instantly obvious the place Audi’s engineers spent the majority of their money and time on this 2025 rendition of the Q5. Like on the Q6 E-Tron, gauge cluster and infotainment duties are dealt with by a pair of OLED shows joined on the bezel to kind a single sweeping pane. OLED know-how means daring colours and luscious distinction, however most significantly, it delivers the form of pure blacks at evening that automotive-grade LCDs can solely dream of.

The panel behind the steering wheel measures 11.9 inches on the diagonal, whereas the brand new infotainment display screen is a contact greater at 14.5. Want extra? Tick the suitable packing containers, and you will get a 3rd show on the passenger aspect, one not almost as crisp-looking however providing yet one more method to interface with Audi’s newest MMI software program. 

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Premium Plus and Status fashions additionally get a brand new heads-up show, greater and brighter than earlier than. It really works higher with polarized sun shades and presents a number of completely different views with sufficient telemetry knowledge that even data-hounds will hold their eyes on the highway. That is good as a result of in case your eyes ought to linger too lengthy on a roadside sizzling canine stand or different culinary distraction, the usual driver-monitoring system will chime early and sometimes.

The HUD is a pleasant improve, however the software program driving the gauge cluster disappoints. It presents loads of pages of knowledge to cycle by means of however is not almost as customizable or, frankly, as visually compelling as what you may discover in a brand new BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The lackluster design on such a wonderful show seems like a waste.

Picture by: Tim Stevens / Motor1

I additionally discovered myself hating the capacitive contact buttons on the steering wheel. By the tip of the day, I might misplaced depend of the variety of occasions I inadvertently turned up the quantity when my proper palm grazed the higher portion of the touch-sensitive space.

Design: Hiya Once more

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The basic form and character of the Q5 have not modified a lot in 2025, however the particulars are fairly completely different. The grille up entrance is even greater than earlier than, and whereas the general look is extra stately and complicated, I’ve to say I favor the svelte shapeliness of the earlier technology.

The headlights and taillights are essentially the most vital change, maintaining with the fashionable pattern of going as slim as attainable whereas that includes inordinate ranges of complexity in pursuit of visible aptitude. That comes courtesy of a grid of LED-illuminated sections on the entrance and a crystalline-like construction of OLED panels on the rear, all of which might be custom-made within the automobile’s app or infotainment heart to ship a point of personalization.

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On the within, the most important design change is the aforementioned faceful of OLED pixels, however different refined revisions are right here, too, together with a swap to a a lot smaller shifter. That creates room for greater cup holders and storage cubbies. There’s extra storage out again, 27.6 cubic ft value with the seats up and 56.9 down. Legroom is up, too, all because of the inevitable improve in measurement over the outgoing mannequin. The 2025 Q5 is about an inch and a half longer and a half-inch wider than earlier than. 

Driving Impressions: Extra Really feel, Extra Shove

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Piloting the brand new Q5 by means of the city sprawl is as easy because it’s ever been. That new DCT has been tuned by Audi, not for immediate, rapid-fire shifts however to slide between gears very like an computerized. It eases itself gently on top of things, sliding from one cog to the following with out a lot as a nod out of your passengers. Energy supply, too, is refined and relaxed, requiring you to flex your foot exhausting on that accelerator to get the turbo working. Steering, nonetheless, is ultra-light, with U-turns requiring only one finger.

The steering good points fairly a little bit of heft as you cycle by means of the drive modes, however there is a shocking quantity of really feel all through. In Dynamic, the sportiest, the SQ5’s throttle now turns into way more sharp and that transmission extra keen, if nonetheless relaxed. Faucets on the shift paddles behind the wheel are nonetheless dealt with on a delayed foundation, a delay compounded by a noticeable quantity of turbo lag.

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The SQ5 delivers a lot the identical expertise whenever you’re idling by means of city. However, discover some extra participating roads (of which there are a lot in Colorado, the place I examined these SUVs), dial it as much as Dynamic, and the sportier of the 2 actually does really feel considerably completely different. The SQ5 provides extra energy and in addition extra sound. Whether or not idling in visitors or swinging as much as the redline, the exhaust word on the SQ5 is way extra participating. Likewise, the DCT right here acts with way more intent, shifting rapidly whenever you ask it to.

There’s even higher really feel by means of the steering wheel, thanks partially to Audi utilizing stiffer mounts to connect the entrance subframe to the chassis. That swap does lead to a slight penalty in journey high quality, particularly over separation joints and different quick, sharp impacts, however the optionally available air suspension on each Q5 and SQ5 presents remarkably good journey high quality regardless of the bigger wheel sizes. Sadly, I wasn’t capable of pattern a model with metal springs.

Picture by: Tim Stevens / Motor1

Gas Financial system: Down a Bit

The 2025 Audi Q5 is EPA-rated for 22 mpg within the metropolis, 30 on the freeway, and 25 mpg mixed. That is down one from the previous Q5’s ranking, however in my testing, I did barely higher, coming in at 25.8 mpg. On the SQ5 aspect, you are taking a look at 19 mpg metropolis, 26 freeway, and 22 mixed. I once more got here in fairly near the official ranking at 23 mpg. 

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Pricing+Verdict: Splurge On the S

The Q5 begins at $52,200, a giant bounce from the 2024 mannequin’s mid-$40,000 MSRP, and you may must drop one other $8,400 for the Status package deal if you’d like niceties just like the air suspension and the gratuitous passenger-side show. The Q5 Status mannequin I drove stickered at $63,290, together with the $1,295 vacation spot. The SQ5 begins at a quite dearer $64,800, however for that, you at the very least get the air suspension customary. In the event you’re considering of Q5, the additional splurge on the SQ5 feels worthwhile. The adjustments to the chassis lead to a noticeable enchancment in really feel, whereas the additional aggression from each engine and transmission make for a much more participating drive with out a lot in the way in which of compromise. Both approach, the brand new Q5 is hardly a reinvention, however it does ship sufficient new energy and toys to maintain up with the Joneses – or the Bavarians, because it had been. 

2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5 FAQs

No, at the very least not for now. Your solely selections are a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder or a 3.0-liter V6.

Sure, each the bottom Q5 and the warmer SQ5 achieve energy, as much as 268 on the previous and 362 on the latter. The penalty, although, is a few additional turbo lag, particularly on the littler 2.0-liter.

BMW’s lately refreshed X3 is unquestionably this factor’s hardest competitors. The Mercedes-Benz GLC continues to be value your consideration within the luxurious crossover SUV crowd, too.