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4.8

Audi Q5

Starts at:
$37,300
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New 2014 Audi Q5
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Key specifications

Highlights
4,400 lbs
Towing Capacity
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
Engine Type
20 City / 28 Hwy
MPG
220 hp
Horsepower
Engine
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
Engine Type
2.0 L/121
Displacement
220 @ 4450
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
258 @ 1500
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
Suspension
Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Weight & Capacity
4,079 lbs
Base Curb Weight
N/A
Curb Weight - Front
N/A
Curb Weight - Rear
N/A
Maximum Payload Capacity
Safety
Standard
Stability Control
Entertainment
Standard
Bluetooth®
Electrical
N/A
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
150
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
Brakes
4-Wheel Disc
Brake Type
4-Wheel
Brake ABS System
N/A
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
Yes
Disc - Front (Yes or )

Notable features

New turbo-diesel V-6 engine
New performance-oriented SQ5 model
Turbocharged or supercharged gas engines
Hybrid version offered
Available Audi Connect information system
Standard AWD

Engine

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 Engine Type
2.0 L/121 Displacement
220 @ 4450 SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
258 @ 1500 SAE Net Torque @ RPM

Suspension

Multi-Link Suspension Type - Front
Multi-Link Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Multi-Link Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Weight & Capacity

4,079 lbs Base Curb Weight
N/A Curb Weight - Front
N/A Curb Weight - Rear
N/A Maximum Payload Capacity
4,400 lbs Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
440 lbs Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
4,400 lbs Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
440 lbs Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
4,400 lbs Maximum Trailering Capacity
20 gal Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
N/A Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
N/A Curb Weight
0 lbs Total Option Weight

Safety

Standard Stability Control

Entertainment

Standard Bluetooth®

Electrical

N/A Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
150 Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

Brakes

4-Wheel Disc Brake Type
4-Wheel Brake ABS System
N/A Brake ABS System (Second Line)
Yes Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Disc - Rear (Yes or )
13 in Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
12 in Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
Not Available Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Photo & video gallery

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Maintenance
1 years / 5,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 model years or newer / less than 60,000 miles
Basic
1 year or 20,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
Dealer certification
125-point inspection

The good & the bad

The good

Acceleration
Cabin materials
Towing capacity
Diesel's EPA-estimated fuel economy
Low cargo floor

The bad

Inconsistent steering feel
Smallish multimedia screen
Top-heavy feel during sharp turns
Passable backseat room

Consumer reviews

4.8 / 5
Based on 79 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.7
Interior 4.7
Performance 4.7
Value 4.5
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 4.7

Most recent

Engine Issues

I have spoken to other Audi owners and there is a problem with the engine, the heads melt and it leaks oil. I go through a quart of oil a week. There is a lawsuit on on these models. I can't wait to see the result.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 4.0
20 people out of 22 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

Great and Reliable Car!

Having now over 202,000 miles I can say this is a great car to own and drive. Friends never believe the mileage that is on the car because it rides and drives so amazing. The interior quality of materials and fitment are also exceptional and have held up perfectly over the years. These cars do require maintenance but if properly taken care of they will last a long time and be very reliable!
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 4.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
6 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No
Photo of David Thomas

2014 Audi Q5 review: Our expert's take

By David Thomas

The Audi Q5 moves into 2014 with a few upgrades to what was already a good all-around compact luxury SUV.

A luxury car can overcome shortcomings by offering a high level of comfort, amenities, materials and performance, but the Q5 is on the higher side of the price equation for what you get. You can compare the 2013 and 2014 versions here.

What you can get in 2014 is an all-new diesel variant called the Q5 TDI. It joins a pair of available gasoline engines, including a turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder. I tested both the TDI and the 3.0 for this review.

Exterior & Styling
The Q5 perfectly embodies Audi’s current design theme in SUV form. The large grille looks more subtle on a higher-riding vehicle than it does on its sedan siblings. The headlights have also been updated, and most trim levels house standard LED running lights and xenon headlamps.

Relatively little else has changed for 2014, but the Q5 looks perfectly modern and seems even less generic when you line it up next to the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK or Volvo XC60.

How It Drives
Audi continues to release impressive engine after impressive engine. The latest is a new turbo-diesel offering. While not an S-Line powerhouse, the 3.0-liter, turbocharged V-6 produces 240 horsepower and an amazing 428 pounds-feet of torque. That’s more torque than the 5.0-liter V-8 in a Ford Mustang GT, with the added bonus of standard quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD).

Getting all that power to hit the wheels requires a bit of finesse. There’s a delay in accelerator response from a standing start that I found slightly annoying, but I assume it helps prevent wheelspin and spares everyday drivers from whiplash. The Sport mode is activated with a simple shift downward from Drive via the eight-speed automatic transmission’s shifter. That gives you more immediate acceleration and will certainly satisfy the speed demon in the family … who needs to drive a somewhat family-friendly vehicle.

The gas-powered V-6 didn’t slack in the acceleration department, either. With 272 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, it’s more than powerful enough for most drivers. The standard V-6 in the RDX is similarly powerful, and the turbocharged sixes in the X3 and XC60 are a step above both Acura and Audi.

The TDI quattro boosts mileage to 27 mpg combined, up from 23 mpg in the 2.0 and 21 mpg combined in the 3.0. Since you’ll be pumping premium unleaded into the latter two, the price of diesel fuel will generally not be a penalty for TDI buyers.

Past experience with the 2.0T quattro Audi Q5 always left me a bit flat in terms of exhilaration, but it proved to be competent versus other base engines in the class.

The Audi Q5’s power may be a standout — and braking response is above average, as well — but other vehicle details, like steering and handling, are much more of a mixed bag.

Audi’s speed-sensing steering has been a benefit and a bane for some time. In some vehicles, especially high-performance Audis, it’s nice to have the lighter response in the steering wheel during slow maneuvers, like in parking lots, with a firming up when you increase speed. But the variations in more pedestrian vehicles like the Q5 often seem too lax to me in all situations.

The Q5 also exhibits more body lean than I’ve noticed in other SUVs of this size in this class. Taking curvy highway off-ramps, tight U-turns and one unexpected emergency reaction were tumultuous affairs in which I dramatically felt the SUV’s body tilt to the outside of the turn.

Interior
I’m regularly reminded how well Audi executes its interiors — not when I get into the latest redesign, but into a model that’s a few years into its shelf life, like the 
Q5. The materials are top-quality and the cabin layout sophisticated. Getting this mix right isn’t easy, and Audi has figured it out.

The sporty nature of traditional Audi sedan and sports car cabins is here, too. It feels like a “cockpit,” a descriptor thrown about too easily these days. And visibility all around is quite good.

The driver and front passenger have plenty of room, and the comfortable leather seats in both of my test models offered plenty of support. In back, where the seats slide back and recline, there’s “enough” room that an average-sized adult male won’t be cramped, even with the optional sunroof. The middle seat, however, is too tiny even for a teenager squeezed between two others.

Ergonomics & Electronics
The word “cockpit” is good not just for the design and feel of the cabin but also for the complicated nature of some of its controls. Newcomers to Audi will take several days to get used to the placement of certain buttons and how to use common features like climate control and the stereo.

Audi’s multimedia system is on par with those from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and other luxury automakers. None provide a perfect interface, and Audi’s is no exception. The knob controller on the center console clicks as you turn its outer ring to select various functions, displayed on a 7-inch screen in the center of the dashboard. It’s a nice feel. However, with a new directional button in the center of the knob, it’s become a little harder to simply enter the command you’ve selected. Competitors like BMW also have significantly larger screens in their latest models.

The knob itself is for moving the cursor on the navigation screen. That’s an expected function for many GPS users, especially those accustomed to smartphone and Bluetooth applications.

Audi continues to offer optional Bang & Olufsen stereos with 14 speakers, some of which bear good-looking metallic casings, but I didn’t find the sound quality stellar enough in the Q5 to justify the cost, even though it’s a relatively affordable $850 option.

Cargo & Storage
In the past I’ve always thought the Q5’s cargo area was a bit small compared with the competition. I was surprised to discover while researching that it exceeds most of the class at 29.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. The cargo area with them folded is 57.3 cubic feet.

I found that the low load floor was a benefit in real-world testing, hauling the family’s gear for a week. It might also be an aid to the family dog that has to jump in the back.

Safety
The 
Audi Q5 was rated four stars overall in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. It also scored the top rating of good in four tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It has not been through the organization’s new frontal small-overlap test at this time, which would determine if it is a Top Safety Pick.

In addition to a standard array of airbags, there are optional seat-mounted airbags for the rear seats at a cost of $350.

Blind spot monitoring, called Audi Side Assist, is available, but frontal collision warning systems aren’t offered.

The Q5 performed exceptionally well in our child-safety seat testing. You can view the full Car Seat Check here.

Value in Its Class
The 
Audi Q5, in gasoline and diesel forms, impressed me in terms of acceleration, luxury feel and practicality, but besides my handling qualms there are also issues of price.

At $38,195 (all prices cited include destination charges) for the base 2.0 model, the Audi Q5 base price is significantly more than the RDX, which has a standard V-6 and optional all-wheel drive for $36,815. Quattro All-wheel drive is standard on the Audi. The BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK-class 350 both start higher than the Q5 with similar engines and AWD, but you’d likely have to move to a more expensive Q5 trim to get similar equipment. You can compare all four here.

If you’re purchasing outright, the Acura or Volvo will be better values, but if you’re leasing, the playing field may be evened more in the Audi Q5’s favor. The TDI version, however, pushes prices much higher, starting at $47,395.

In the end, the styling and excellent powertrains give the Q5 enough weapons for a very competitive fight.

Send David an email  

 

Read more

The Audi Q5 moves into 2014 with a few upgrades to what was already a good all-around compact luxury SUV.

A luxury car can overcome shortcomings by offering a high level of comfort, amenities, materials and performance, but the Q5 is on the higher side of the price equation for what you get. You can compare the 2013 and 2014 versions here.

What you can get in 2014 is an all-new diesel variant called the Q5 TDI. It joins a pair of available gasoline engines, including a turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder. I tested both the TDI and the 3.0 for this review.

Exterior & Styling
The Q5 perfectly embodies Audi’s current design theme in SUV form. The large grille looks more subtle on a higher-riding vehicle than it does on its sedan siblings. The headlights have also been updated, and most trim levels house standard LED running lights and xenon headlamps.

Relatively little else has changed for 2014, but the Q5 looks perfectly modern and seems even less generic when you line it up next to the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK or Volvo XC60.

How It Drives
Audi continues to release impressive engine after impressive engine. The latest is a new turbo-diesel offering. While not an S-Line powerhouse, the 3.0-liter, turbocharged V-6 produces 240 horsepower and an amazing 428 pounds-feet of torque. That’s more torque than the 5.0-liter V-8 in a Ford Mustang GT, with the added bonus of standard quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD).

Getting all that power to hit the wheels requires a bit of finesse. There’s a delay in accelerator response from a standing start that I found slightly annoying, but I assume it helps prevent wheelspin and spares everyday drivers from whiplash. The Sport mode is activated with a simple shift downward from Drive via the eight-speed automatic transmission’s shifter. That gives you more immediate acceleration and will certainly satisfy the speed demon in the family … who needs to drive a somewhat family-friendly vehicle.

The gas-powered V-6 didn’t slack in the acceleration department, either. With 272 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, it’s more than powerful enough for most drivers. The standard V-6 in the RDX is similarly powerful, and the turbocharged sixes in the X3 and XC60 are a step above both Acura and Audi.

The TDI quattro boosts mileage to 27 mpg combined, up from 23 mpg in the 2.0 and 21 mpg combined in the 3.0. Since you’ll be pumping premium unleaded into the latter two, the price of diesel fuel will generally not be a penalty for TDI buyers.

Past experience with the 2.0T quattro Audi Q5 always left me a bit flat in terms of exhilaration, but it proved to be competent versus other base engines in the class.

The Audi Q5’s power may be a standout — and braking response is above average, as well — but other vehicle details, like steering and handling, are much more of a mixed bag.

Audi’s speed-sensing steering has been a benefit and a bane for some time. In some vehicles, especially high-performance Audis, it’s nice to have the lighter response in the steering wheel during slow maneuvers, like in parking lots, with a firming up when you increase speed. But the variations in more pedestrian vehicles like the Q5 often seem too lax to me in all situations.

The Q5 also exhibits more body lean than I’ve noticed in other SUVs of this size in this class. Taking curvy highway off-ramps, tight U-turns and one unexpected emergency reaction were tumultuous affairs in which I dramatically felt the SUV’s body tilt to the outside of the turn.

Interior
I’m regularly reminded how well Audi executes its interiors — not when I get into the latest redesign, but into a model that’s a few years into its shelf life, like the 
Q5. The materials are top-quality and the cabin layout sophisticated. Getting this mix right isn’t easy, and Audi has figured it out.

The sporty nature of traditional Audi sedan and sports car cabins is here, too. It feels like a “cockpit,” a descriptor thrown about too easily these days. And visibility all around is quite good.

The driver and front passenger have plenty of room, and the comfortable leather seats in both of my test models offered plenty of support. In back, where the seats slide back and recline, there’s “enough” room that an average-sized adult male won’t be cramped, even with the optional sunroof. The middle seat, however, is too tiny even for a teenager squeezed between two others.

Ergonomics & Electronics
The word “cockpit” is good not just for the design and feel of the cabin but also for the complicated nature of some of its controls. Newcomers to Audi will take several days to get used to the placement of certain buttons and how to use common features like climate control and the stereo.

Audi’s multimedia system is on par with those from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and other luxury automakers. None provide a perfect interface, and Audi’s is no exception. The knob controller on the center console clicks as you turn its outer ring to select various functions, displayed on a 7-inch screen in the center of the dashboard. It’s a nice feel. However, with a new directional button in the center of the knob, it’s become a little harder to simply enter the command you’ve selected. Competitors like BMW also have significantly larger screens in their latest models.

The knob itself is for moving the cursor on the navigation screen. That’s an expected function for many GPS users, especially those accustomed to smartphone and Bluetooth applications.

Audi continues to offer optional Bang & Olufsen stereos with 14 speakers, some of which bear good-looking metallic casings, but I didn’t find the sound quality stellar enough in the Q5 to justify the cost, even though it’s a relatively affordable $850 option.

Cargo & Storage
In the past I’ve always thought the Q5’s cargo area was a bit small compared with the competition. I was surprised to discover while researching that it exceeds most of the class at 29.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. The cargo area with them folded is 57.3 cubic feet.

I found that the low load floor was a benefit in real-world testing, hauling the family’s gear for a week. It might also be an aid to the family dog that has to jump in the back.

Safety
The 
Audi Q5 was rated four stars overall in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. It also scored the top rating of good in four tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It has not been through the organization’s new frontal small-overlap test at this time, which would determine if it is a Top Safety Pick.

In addition to a standard array of airbags, there are optional seat-mounted airbags for the rear seats at a cost of $350.

Blind spot monitoring, called Audi Side Assist, is available, but frontal collision warning systems aren’t offered.

The Q5 performed exceptionally well in our child-safety seat testing. You can view the full Car Seat Check here.

Value in Its Class
The 
Audi Q5, in gasoline and diesel forms, impressed me in terms of acceleration, luxury feel and practicality, but besides my handling qualms there are also issues of price.

At $38,195 (all prices cited include destination charges) for the base 2.0 model, the Audi Q5 base price is significantly more than the RDX, which has a standard V-6 and optional all-wheel drive for $36,815. Quattro All-wheel drive is standard on the Audi. The BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK-class 350 both start higher than the Q5 with similar engines and AWD, but you’d likely have to move to a more expensive Q5 trim to get similar equipment. You can compare all four here.

If you’re purchasing outright, the Acura or Volvo will be better values, but if you’re leasing, the playing field may be evened more in the Audi Q5’s favor. The TDI version, however, pushes prices much higher, starting at $47,395.

In the end, the styling and excellent powertrains give the Q5 enough weapons for a very competitive fight.

Send David an email  

 

Read more

Safety review

Based on the 2014 Audi Q5 base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
4/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
4/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
5/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4/5
Overall side crash rating
5/5
Rollover rating
4/5
Side barrier rating
5/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
15.1%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
15.1%
Risk of rollover

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