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2021 Audi Q5 / Q5 Sportback

Starting at $44,395

8/10 C/D RATING
Specs
2021 audi q5 front
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
8/10 C/D RATING

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  • Highs Slick looks, stylish interior, plenty of technology features.
  • Lows Not as capacious as some rivals, short on driving character, no complimentary maintenance plan.
  • Verdict The Q5 offers a tech-heavy and undeniably upscale experience but lacks the driving excitement of several key competitors.
By Drew Dorian

Overview

For luxury SUV buyers who prioritize style and technology over driving verve, the 2021 Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback are handsome choices with plenty to like. They look good, treat their occupants right, and won't seem out of place at the valet stand. Buyers can choose from regular and plug-in hybrid powertrains and the Q5's chassis delivers a quiet interior and a refined ride—but rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the BMW X3, and the Porsche Macan are sportier and more engaging to drive; the Q5 Sportback challenges fastback SUV rivals such as the BMW X4, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-class coupe, and the Infiniti QX55. Both offer enough tech to rival your local Apple store, with a large infotainment display, an optional digital gauge display, and a suite of available driver-assistance features. For 2021, the Q5 gains a little extra power and updated styling, but Audi's not addressed its uninspired handling, so it remains a second-tier choice for driving enthusiasts.

What's New for 2021?

Audi has introduced the fastback Q5 Sportback model for 2021 and given the squareback Q5 a light makeover to bring its styling up to date with the rest of the lineup. An updated grille, front and rear bumpers, new 18- and 20-inch wheel designs, and updated headlamps and taillights freshen its exterior appearance. Under the hood, the Q5's standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder receives a 13-hp boost to 261 horsepower; a 12-volt hybrid system is now standard, but Audi says this doesn't contribute to the Q5's boost in horsepower. Speaking of hybrids, the plug-in hybrid model receives similar updates to the exterior styling and sports unique 19- or 20-inch wheels. It too sees a slight horsepower bump this year to 362-hp. A Sport Plus package is available for the Q5 PHEV which adds adaptive air suspension and summer tires, among other items. The 2021 Q5's leather seats now come punctuated with contrasting stitching. All models receive a new 10.1-inch infotainment display with an updated version of Audi's infotainment software and a host of driver-assistance features are now standard, including lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. All models also receive a wireless smartphone charging pad and an integrated toll-road payment transmitter.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Audi distinguishes the Q5's powertrains with the numbers 45 and 55, the former meaning the standard turbo four and the latter indicates the optional plug-in hybrid setup. We'll let you choose between the regular Q5 and the coupe-like Q5 Sportback, but we'd recommend sticking with the 45 models. Of those, the mid-range Premium Plus trim offers the best balance of features and price, and now comes standard with Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2021 Q5 features a standard 261-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, a seven-speed automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive. The turbo four provides plenty of punch to scoot the Q5 around town or blast down a highway on-ramp, and it is smooth, quiet, and mellifluous. At our test track, the Q5 with this base powertrain delivered a brisk 5.5-second run to 60 mph. The plug-in-hybrid variant adds an electric motor that increases output to a combined 362 horses and 369 lb-ft of torque, which helped it snap off a quick 4.5-second run to 60 mph in our hands, beating the performance oriented SQ5 Sportback by 0.3 seconds. The luxury compact crossover's suspension is well damped and imparts a stable feeling no matter the road or driving condition. The ride is smooth and controlled—with or without the optional adaptive suspension—even over pockmarked asphalt. The steering is accurate and lightly weighted but provides no discernible feedback from the front wheels. In the Dynamic drive mode, the steering feels heftier but still artificial. Pitch the Q5 down a twisty two-lane and it'll handle it reasonably well, but a Porsche Macan will show you a much better time.

2021 audi q5 45 sideView Photos
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates for 2021 Q5 will earn 23 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The plug-in-hybrid variant has a combined estimate of 27 mpg and an electric-only range of 19 miles. On our 75-mph fuel economy test route, the Q5 with the base powertrain matched its EPA rating of 28 mpg; the plug-in hybrid model delivered only 26 mpg in the same test and managed to go on for only 17 of its 19 estimated electric-only miles. For more information about the Q5's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The 2021 Q5 provides enough room for four adults to get comfy and offers plenty of upscale features, even on the base Premium model. The cabin is both quiet at speed and easy to get in and out of. Moving up through the three trim levels—Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige—nets more luxury features, including Audi's slick Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster. When it came to seeing how many of our carry-on cargo boxes fit, the Q5 didn't impress. It beat the smaller Macan, but only just and held 18 cases with the rear seats folded. The Q5's rear seatbacks easily fold in a 40/20/40 fashion, however, providing flexibility that the Lexus RX doesn't have.

2021 audi q5 45 interiorView Photos
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Infotainment and Connectivity

Buyers of even the least expensive Q5 will enjoy an intuitive infotainment system displayed in a dashtop 10.1-inch screen. Most of the expected infotainment features are present and accounted for in the base Q5, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Things get much more interesting if you jump to the Premium Plus or Prestige trims, as they come with a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster that Audi calls Virtual Cockpit. It provides a wide, 12.3-inch view of the nav map plus selected media, phone controls, trip computer, speed, and tachometer, or a combination of these.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

The Q5 comes with standard driver-assistance technology, such as automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning. Other assists are available on the pricier models. For more information about the Q5's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

  • Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
  • Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
  • Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Audi's warranty coverage for the 2021 Q5 is average, and many rivals offer longer coverage periods.

  • Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
  • No complimentary scheduled maintenance
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Specifications

Specifications

2021 Audi Q5 45 TFSI

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and head, direct fuel injection, 261 hp, 273 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 111.0 in
Length: 184.3 in
Width: 74.5 in
Height: 65.5 in
Passenger volume: 99 ft3
Cargo volume: 26 ft3
Curb weight: 4185 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4 mile: 14.2 sec @ 97 mph
100 mph: 15.2 sec
120 mph: 24.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.1 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.3 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 28 mpg
Highway range: 510 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 25/23/28 mpg

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C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

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2021 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
Vehicle Type: front-engine, mid -motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $52,995/$60,740

POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 248 hp, 273 lb-ft + AC motor, 141 hp, 258 lb-ft (combined output: 362 hp, 369 lb-ft; 11.3-kWh lithium-ion, 7.7-kW onboard charger) Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink; Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc; Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season 255/45R-20 101H M+S AO

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 111.0 in; Length: 184.3 in; Width: 74.5 in; Height: 65.3 in; Passenger Volume: 99 ft3; Cargo Volume: 26 ft3; Curb Weight: 4733 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.5 sec
100 mph: 12.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.2 sec @ 104 mph
120 mph: 19.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 128 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
Highway Range: 480 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 27/25/29 mpg
EV Range: 19 mi

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