2021 Audi Q5

2021 Audi Q5 Review byMark Takahashi Correspondent Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews. Pros Quiet, comfortable cabin features top-notch interior craftsmanship Standard all-wheel drive Wide array of technology options Cons Firm ride quality can get a little uncomfortable on rough pavement Infotainment interface is distracting to use What's new Revised exterior styling Larger touchscreen with a new infotainment system More powerful four-cylinder engine Part of the second Q5 generation introduced for 2018 Overview From outward appearances, it'd be easy to think that the Audi Q5 had been redesigned for 2021. Instead, it has undergone a substantial refresh, with sharper styling than before. Underneath the sheet metal, the four-cylinder engine gets a power increase and a new infotainment system debuts. Unfortunately, that new infotainment system loses the dial controller from previous models and goes with a slightly more distracting touchscreen instead. Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi Q5 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.09 per gallon for premium unleaded in Montana. Monthly estimates based on costs in Montana $202/mo for Q5 Premium Q5 Premium  vs $191/mo Avg. Midsize SUV Calculate my fuel costs Audi is continuing to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the Q5. It's more powerful than the base Q5 and can go an EPA-estimated 19 miles on all-electric power on a full battery. It could be worth checking out if you can frequently recharge to help save on gas. Otherwise, the Q5 is a competent small luxury SUV that doesn't really stand out against the likes of the Acura RDX, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60. Read our Expert Rating below to get our full in-depth take. Edmunds Expert Rating Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. Theyre based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience. Average 7.5 out of 10 edmunds TESTED The revamped Q5 is unremarkable in nearly every aspect. The only standout quality is a roomy cabin. Otherwise, it comes up short in regards to comfort, performance and ease of use. The small luxury SUV class is full of overachievers, but the Q5 is merely competent. Rated for you by America's best test team. Performance 7.0/10 How does the Q5 drive? Our Q5, which had the base 45 TFSI powertrain, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds at our test track. That's a respectably quick time for a small luxury SUV with a base engine. Out in real-world driving, however, the engine sometimes feels overworked and there's a noticeable delay when you press the gas pedal. Braking is the opposite it feels good on the street and makes it easy to bring the Q5 to a smooth stop. But in our track performance braking testing, our Q5 needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average. The antilock braking system is pretty noisy too. Other downsides include overly vague and imprecise steering (you don't get a good feel for the road) and an engine stop-start system that's overly jarring when it fires the engine back up. The Q5 does have good grip and poise when you push it hard arou