The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Quality infotainment
- Good turbo engines
- Just-right SQ5
- Impressive safety scores
Dislikes
- Interior lacks verve
- PHEV’s weak range
- Can get very pricey
- Where’s the free maintenance?
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2023 Audi Q5 is a do-it-all luxury SUV that’s especially sweet in SQ5 form.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Audi Q5? What does it compare to?
The 2023 Audi Q5 is a five-seat compact luxury SUV that does battle with the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
Is the 2023 Audi Q5 a good SUV?
The Q5 is a solid choice with few downsides. It’s just as good with no options as it is loaded up, thanks to willing powertrains, a comfortable suspension, and lots of tech for the money. We rate it at 6.7 out of 10 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2023 Audi Q5?
For the most part, the Q5 stands pat for 2023. Adaptive cruise control is standard across the range, and the mid-level Premium Plus trim gains upgraded audio.
The Q5 comes in conventional two-box form or as a sleeker Sportback, which has a roofline that dives rearward more like a hatchback. The basic Q5 is pleasant enough, if a bit conservative, with its broad shield of a grille up front and subtly muscular details from the side. Sportbacks are prettier yet, though without the wow factor of Audi’s own A7.
Inside, both models share a conventional, somewhat ordinary dash, though standard leather and wood go a long way to elevate the atmosphere. The 10.3-inch touchscreen perched high on the dash can seem like an afterthought, though at least it’s a crisp display.
Audi offers four power outputs on the Q5 ranging from a modest 201 hp to 362 hp in the SQ5. Base versions are generally good enough, but we’d spend the extra $2,500 for the “45” trim that adds 60 hp and slices about a second from the 0-60 mph sprint.
In Audi-speak, “55” refers to a plug-in hybrid that offers 23 miles of estimated range on a full charge plus SQ5-rivaling acceleration. What it lacks is the SQ5’s buttoned-down suspension, which strikes a fine balance between daily-driver utility and winding road fun.
All models have automatics; look for a snappy 7-speed dual-clutch in 4-cylinder models and a conventional, if slightly less hurried 8-speed automatic with the SQ5’s 6-cylinder.
Fuel economy runs the gamut, from 25 mpg combined in the most popular 4-cylinders to just 20 mpg combined in SQ5 guise. The plug-in’s 23-mile range promises eco-friendly commuting for many drivers, though.
Inside the Q5, you’ll find comfy seats up front and a decently spacious back seat. Sportbacks slice a bit of head room and luggage space, though they’re not as cramped as some competitors. The cabin may lack pizzazz, but it comes with standard leather and an available digital instrument cluster that’s particularly nice.
With the addition of adaptive cruise control this year, Audi has bolstered this model’s already impressive safety record. Top ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS are worth bragging about, too.
How much does the 2023 Audi Q5 cost?
This year, the Audi Q5 costs $44,695 to start with its 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, leather seats with heating and power up front, and 10.3-inch touchscreen fitted with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
That ain’t bad, but we’d budget another few grand for the more powerful 4-cylinder, metallic paint, and a package with a heated steering wheel, keyless start, and driver-side seat memory.
The SQ5 runs about $13,000 more, which isn’t a terrible upcharge for all that power plus an adaptive suspension.
Where is the 2023 Audi Q5 made?
In Mexico.
2023 Audi Q5 Styling
The 2023 Audi Q5 is dressed in a conservative suit, while the Sportback version loosens up its tie a bit.
Is the Audi Q5 a good-looking car?
Arguably the least adventurous compact luxury SUV in styling, the 2023 Audi Q5 nonetheless delights in its details—oh, and Audi offers an especially vibrant range of color options. It’s a 6 on the TCC scale mostly due to its exterior.
The Q5 comes in two basic forms: a standard model and the sleeker Sportback, which sees a hatchback-like tapered roofline but otherwise carries over the model’s basic shape. Traditional Audi cues all check in here, including a broad, octagonal grille with interesting surface detailing, small headlights, and sharp lines with a hint of muscularity along the sides. SQ5 versions differ mostly in their detailing.
The Q5’s interior boasts lots of tech but can feel anodyne, particularly against the relative decadence of the Mercedes-Benz GLC or the spa-like serenity of the Volvo XC60. Skip the full black-on-black treatment in favor of warm brown to liven things up a little. At least leather’s standard, which is unusual for the segment.
2023 Audi Q5 Performance
The 2023 Audi Q5 offers good acceleration and a comfortable ride in all forms, though it’s most fun as an SQ5.
Audi fits all-wheel drive as standard, and every version of the Q5 delivers good go matched to a well-tuned ride. Those two attributes net the Q5 a 7 on the TCC scale
Is the Audi Q5 4WD?
Yep, Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard across the range.
How fast is the Audi Q5?
It’s fairly quick, though Audi’s confusing lineup requires some explanation.
In Audi-speak, the “40” model uses a 201-hp version of the automaker’s 2.0-liter turbo-4, which cranks out an extra 60 hp in the well-worth-the-money “45” model. “55” versions pair the 4-cylinder with an electric motor and a 17.9-kwh lithium-ion battery for a hefty 362 hp. The Sportback starts off in “45” guise.
Even the base engine is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.8 seconds, which is sliced to 5.7 seconds as a “45” and a mere 5.0 seconds in “55” guise.
We like the idea of the plug-in with its 23-mile all-electric range on a full charge, but we’ve yet to test the latest model. We’ll update this space when we do so.
Non-hybrid models drive quite well, aided by the rapid-fire 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. They’re silky smooth after a hint of snarl right off of throttle tip-in.
Whether it’s a “40,” a “50,” or a “55,” the Q5 boasts a comfortable, composed ride even with the optional 20-inch alloy wheels. They’re just shy of athletic, but they’re plenty comfy for daily commuting.
SQ5 versions swap in a 349-hp 3.0-liter turbo-6, which slices the 60 mph sprint to just 4.7 seconds. This model is as hot as a Q5 gets, and that’s OK with us. It rides on a lowered air suspension that gobbles up big bumps. A limited-slip rear differential makes the SQ5 even more fun to hustle, though the steering can feel artificially light at low speeds.
The SQ5’s conventional 8-speed automatic is smooth and quick, yet not as snappy as the 7-speed dual clutch fitted to 4-cylinder models.
2023 Audi Q5 Comfort & Quality
The 2023 Audi Q5 makes great use of its allotted interior space.
The 2023 Audi Q5 has a spacious, well-equipped interior. It scores 8 on the TCC scale thanks to comfy, multi-adjustable front seats, decent second-row room, and plentiful cargo space.
Both the base seats and the grippier sports seats fitted to the SQ5 to offer good support for a wide range of driver shapes and sizes. Standard heating and leather help, too.
The second row serves up 38 inches of leg room and enough width to accommodate three average adults in a pinch. Sportback versions lose an inch and a half of rear-seat head room, though they don’t feel as confining as the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
Audi squeezes 27 cubic feet of cargo space out of the Q5’s tail end. The rear seatbacks don’t quite fold flat, but they open up a more impressive 60 cubes.
Interior materials impress for the price, especially since most rivals drape their seats in synthetic leather.
2023 Audi Q5 Safety
The 2023 Audi Q5 has a great safety record.
How safe is the Audi Q5?
It should be a very safe choice. The NHTSA gives it the best possible ratings for an SUV, while the IIHS says it’s a Top Safety Pick+. Add in a particularly robust set of crash-avoidance and driver-assistance tech and we wind up at a solid 8 for safety.
The IIHS does note that Premium and Premium Plus trim levels have slightly less effective headlights compared to the range-topping Platinum, though they’re all fairly good.
Every Q5 comes with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors.
2023 Audi Q5 Features
Audi packs a lot of features into the Q5, which is available in a wide range of configurations.
The 2023 Audi Q5 comes stuffed with more standard features than many of its competitors, and it offers a good infotainment system plus a host of nice extras. It’s an 8 on the TCC scale.
This year, the base Q5 Premium runs $44,695. It comes with LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
You might as well stop there, though Audi does tempt with more power and options.
One downside: the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty is OK, but several competitors now include a few years of scheduled maintenance.
Q5 Sportbacks begin in “45” trim and cost $51,495, about $4,300 more than a conventional roof.
Which Audi Q5 should I buy?
We’d step up to the “45” for its extra power. It’s only $2,500 more, anyway, The $1,100 Convenience Package adds keyless start, auto-dimming exterior mirrors with power folding, memory for the driver’s seat, and a heated steering wheel. Another $595 for District Green paint (it’s so pretty) and you’re on the hook for $47,790. Do you deliver?
Before you add the $1,450 panoramic sunroof, though, you may want to step up to the Premium Plus trim that costs $5,500 above the base version but adds that big sunroof, 19-inch wheels, active lane control, a digital instrument cluster, and Bang & Olufsen audio. Audi will also let you add cooled seats, navigation, and blacked-out exterior trim to this version, if you like.
How much is a fully loaded Audi Q5?
The Prestige trim level upgrades the LED headlights and adds cooled seats, navigation, automatic parking, and a head-up display for another $5,500.
The SQ5 lineup mostly mirrors Q5s, albeit with adaptive dampers, more power, bigger wheels, and uprated brakes. They run $56,995 to start and can approach $80,000 with bespoke paint and a few other options.
2023 Audi Q5 Fuel Economy
The 2023 Audi Q5 boasts better fuel economy than many of its rivals.
Is the Audi Q5 good on gas?
It’s a good overall choice, though you’ll pay more to use less gas.
Base “40” and “45” versions check in at 23 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined. That’s decent enough for a 3 on the TCC scale.
The “55” plug-in hybrid rates 26 mpg combined, which is still impressive given its extra power. Its 23-mile all-electric range on a full charge should be enough to handle a typical commute without any tailpipe emissions, too.
SQ5s are fairly thirsty at 18/24/20 mpg, per EPA estimates.
