LIKES
- Chiseled looks
- Great base engine
- Compelling performance engine too
- Good standard safety features
- Good touchscreen
DISLIKES
- Interior is a little bland
- Plug-in hybrid fizzled for us
- Not exactly revolutionary
- Gets expensive in a hurry
BUYING TIP
The 2021 Audi Q5 crossover puts a new face on a best-selling formula that doesn’t show signs of getting old.
A new face and improved tech are just the start for the 2021 Audi Q5. As the automaker’s ‘tweener crossover between the smaller (but still big) Q3 and bigger (and even bigger) three-row Q7, the Q5 is a segue to electrification-curious shoppers, and even some performance-leaning shoppers.
Blunter: The 2021 Q5 needs to do a lot. It’s a 6.4 before safety is factored in, so this score may rise.
The news this year is an update to its front and rear bumpers, along with a 10.1-inch touchscreen with faster hardware behind it on all models. It’s still available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels for $44,295 to start and can reach past $63,000. The Q5 is available with a turbo-4 engine that serves as the base (and it’s our pick for relative value and comfort), or as a plug-in hybrid with a turbo-4, electric motors, and a lithium-ion battery pack. The top is still a 349-horsepower turbo-6 SQ5 that falls short of gaudy performance numbers posted by other competitors but keeps pace for comfort and usable performance. All Q5s are equipped with all-wheel drive, and the Q5 (plug-in hybrid or not) uses a 7-speed automatic transmission while the SQ5 adds one more forward cog for good measure.
The reworked front bumper will be noticeable to current Q5 owners, but not many more people. The grille is smaller and lower in the nose, but still handsome.
Under the hood of most Q5s, its base turbo-4 gets a little more pep to 261 hp, up from 248 hp last year. It’s our pick for affordability and overall comfort.
That’s because the optional plug-in hybrid pairs a turbo-4 with a 14.1-kwh lithium-ion battery that can power the Q5 for about 25 miles on electricity alone, but it also costs around $8,000 more. For that much, Audi delivers 362 hp—more than the performance-leaning SQ5—but it fizzles a little there. The batteries are too heavy and the turbo-4 isn’t as refined as we like.
Why? The Q5 still seats up to five, with room in the back for about 27 cubic feet of gear. Every Q5 gets soft leather upholstery and a high-quality finish.
The 2021 Q5 hasn’t yet been crash-tested, but every crossover gets automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and parking sensors. On Premium Plus and higher models, active lane control and adaptive cruise control come standard.
That complements a 10.1-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, at least 18-inch wheels (up to 21-inchers are on the menu) and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is available, and we like it.
Styling
The Q5 is sharper this year, but still a conservative pick.
The 2021 Audi Q5 is slightly updated, but compared to last year although you’d be hard-pressed to spot the differences. We’ve circled the changes like a Highlights magazine photo contest and, well, there aren’t that many circles.
Starting from an average score, we give the Q5 a 6 for style. The exterior is still good, we just wish the interior got a little more love this time around.
The Q5 doesn’t improve much on the crossover’s formula for looks. It still looks more conservative compared to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and BMW X3—especially the swoopier “coupes” that both sell. The Q5’s shape is a little rounder, but more hewn this year. The changes to the front bumper and grille are the most dramatic. The grille is both lower in the nose and smaller, with more upright intakes flanking both sides. There’s more color in the bumper, at least to our eyes, and a little more sculpting than last time around.
Around back, the 2021 Q5 is largely identical to last year’s version aside from OLED taillights on some models that offer a choreographed light sequence that’s not quite fountains at Bellagio, but better than Fisher-Price. Your mileage may vary.
Inside, the Q5 is heavy on tech but light on personality. A newly standard 10.1-inch touchscreen is perched on the dash like a tablet, which isn’t our favorite look (integrated touchscreens are a little more elegant like the Q8’s) but it lowers the cowl for better outward vision. The same high-quality surfaces reappear, but in black on black on blacker, the Q5 can feel a little cramped and dour inside.
Performance
Audi’s base turbo-4 and uptown turbo-6 are the most compelling Q5 powertrains.
Good power, all-wheel-drive traction, and a competent ride give the 2021 Q5 plenty of mainstream appeal. The compact Audi crossover doesn’t have the fire-breathing top end of Mercedes’ AMG GLC Class or the BMW X3 M, but it hits the fattest chunk under the bell curve with all three available powertrains. The Q5’s 7 here reflects good feels for the base turbo-4 and its competent ride. The SQ5 would score higher if rated separately.
This year, the Q5’s base engine gets a small bump up to 261 hp, from 248 hp last year. The Q5 is also fitted with a more powerful battery that can keep the accessories running for longer at stoplights. We haven’t yet driven this 2021 Q5, but its minimal change from last year means we can confidently predict its performance. We’ll update this space if that changes.
Like last year, the base engine is paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Audi claims the combo will propel the crossover from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is brisk enough to shift a heavy lunch.
For the top of the performance heap, the SQ5 returns for 2021 with the same powertrain as last year: 249-hp 3.0-liter turbo-6, an 8-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive. The SQ5 rides about an inch lower than its counterparts and is equipped with a standard air suspension. Performance goodies like a variable-ratio steering rack and a rear limited-slip differential are available and help the SQ5 feel even more athletic. Its meaty steering and quick feet give us the same good feels from the S4 performance sedan; that’s high praise for a crossover.
Bigger wheels equal a choppier ride, but an air suspension that’s standard on some models (optional on others) can help smooth that out. We haven’t yet driven the 21-inch wheels, but we’re inclined to believe that the painted-on thin tires probably don’t have much sidewall give.
Comfort & Quality
Comfortable for up to five, the Q5 impresses inside too.
A new face for the 2021 Q5 doesn’t spoil what’s inside. The Q5 crossover is just as lovely as it’s always been: swathed in leather, bathed in interior light from a big touchscreen, gently hugged by good and supportive seats.
Starting from an average score, the Q5 gets points for its good accommodations front and back and spacious cargo hold. It’s an 8.
Base Q5s get ample, heated front seats that are dressy and leather-clad. Premium Plus and Prestige versions upgrade to sport buckets that we’d snuggle up to any day of the week; they’re more adjustable and offer in-seat coolers that are key on sweltering days.
Behind the second row is about 27 cubic feet of cargo room—just enough for big grocery runs. With the rear seats folded, that space grows to about 60 cubes, but the second row never folds flat—it’s a good excuse to get out of helping friends move if you need one.
Every Q5 is finished in top-shelf materials with excellent build quality. We wish we could say the same about ourselves.
Safety
The Q5 lacks official safety data.
The 2021 Audi Q5 is too new to ruin in the name of science. We’ll withhold our score until more data arrives.
Short of new scores, the 2021 Q5 is equipped with standard automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and parking sensors. Mid trim Q5 Premium Plus versions include active lane control and adaptive cruise control as standard. In other cars, Audi’s driver-assistance features are confident and controlled and can help reduce fatigue on long drives.
We’ll update this space when crash-test data is complete.
Features
A new touchscreen dominates attention and hoards our fingerprints.
Audi’s overhauled the 2021 Q5’s infotainment system this year, just as much as its looks. Much like the new bumpers and grille, the differences may be hard to spot; little things can make a big difference, though.
The 2021 Q5 gets a 7 for features based on its big touchscreen and good standard equipment on all models. Top trims get even better, but for a price.
Like last year, the Q5 is available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels across all three powertrain variants: Q5, Q5 plug-in hybrid, and SQ5. The base Q5 Premium costs $44,295, including destination, and the top SQ5 Prestige runs the score up to more than $63,000.
The Q5 plug-in hybrid costs between $7,700 and $8,600 more than comparably equipped gas-only Q5s and offers mostly the same equipment. It’s hardly a value play—it may take many years for the more efficient powertrain to pay for itself in fuel costs—but the plug-in hybrid could be a sleeper performance pick with 362 hp—more than 100 hp more powerful than the base version. A newly optional sport package for the Q5 hybrid adds 20-inch wheels, adaptive air suspension, summer tires, sport seats—and nearly the same performance as the SQ5.
The high-performance SQ5 is $800 to $1,500 more than a comparably equipped Q5 hybrid and includes standard air suspension, 20-inch wheels, and upgraded rear taillights. Bigger 21-inch wheels and a louder exhaust are two of our picks for the quick crossover, but you do you.
Fuel Economy
The Q5’s most efficient in plug-in hybrid form, but the base model isn’t bad either.
Much about the 2021 Audi Q5 is new, but the gas mileage numbers likely won’t be. That’s because the powertrains were largely ported over from last year with the exception of a more powerful battery that can power the crossover’s accessories at stoplights. Those improvements usually don’t show up on EPA tests, however.
The EPA rated the 2020 Q5 at 22 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined. That’s a 4 on our scale.
The spend-up plug-in hybrid rates higher. The EPA says it can travel 20 miles on electricity alone, and when operating as a traditional hybrid it returns 27 mpg combined.
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