2018 Audi Q5 Preview
Competes with: BMW X3, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Looks like: A smaller, tidier version of the redesigned Q7 SUV, with a lot of Q3 in back
Drivetrain: 252-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Hits dealerships: Spring 2017
CARS.COM — At this week’s 2016 Paris Motor Show, Audi debuted the redesigned Q5, an SUV whose prior generation is soldiering into its ninth model year. (Put another way, when the Q5 first showed up, more than half of all smartphones were BlackBerrys.) Despite that, the current Q5 is still Audi’s best-selling nameplate in the U.S. by a hefty margin.
Related: 2016 Paris Motor Show
Global sales for the redesign begin in the first quarter of 2017; Audi tells us the U.S. version will arrive in the spring. Expect to see full details on it sometime during the U.S. auto-show circuit that starts later this year.
Exterior
Up front, the Q5 shares a lot of cues from the redesigned A4 sedan and larger Q7 SUV. Its six-sided grille is more defined, while the headlights feature continuous LED piping — both Audi traditions of late. Higher-resolution Matrix LED headlights are available. The tail mixes equal parts Q7 and Q3, with horizontal bumper reflectors and some decorative silver framework below. Alloy wheels range from 17 to 21 inches in diameter.
Roughly the same width and height as its predecessor but about an inch longer, the Q5 stays about the same size as its German competitors, the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The popular Lexus RX 350 is about 9 inches longer.
Interior
If you’ve been in the redesigned A4 or Q7, the Q5’s low dashboard and stacked materials should look familiar. Audi mixes details from both cars in the new Q5, from the Q7’s big touchpad to the A4’s tablet-like screen. The screen measures 8.3 inches, while an available simulated instrument panel swaps physical gauges for a 12.3-inch display that can minimize the gauges to show other menus or the navigation map. Audi says the three-position backseat can both slide and recline.
Other available features range from a heated steering wheel to massaging front seats, Bang & Olufsen premium audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an Audi-branded tablet for backseat entertainment. Stay tuned to see which features make it to the U.S. Q5.
Under the Hood
At least at first, the U.S. version of the Q5 will employ a turbocharged gasoline 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 252 hp, according to Audi. It will pair with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Performance options for the global Q5 range from an adaptive air suspension to variable-ratio steering and an active rear differential that shifts power between the left and right rear wheels to optimize handling.
Safety
Audi says the Q5 will have a standard forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. Available safety features include systems to mitigate collisions when you turn into oncoming traffic or open a door when a vehicle or cyclist is approaching. On the self-driving front, the Q5’s available adaptive cruise control can steer the SUV in low-speed traffic.
