Introduction

The Audi Q5 is a luxury crossover with a great engine, terrific technology, and a classy cabin. For 2020, a powerful plug-in hybrid with about 25 miles of all-electric range joins the lineup. 

The base engine, ubiquitous in the Audi line, is a 2.0-liter turbo-4 making 248 horsepower, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic manual transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The acceleration is solid-but then you have scorching in the form of the Audi SQ5, with its 349-horsepower turbocharged V-6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

The Q5 is EPA-rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined on premium fuel. The EPA hasn't rated the new hybrid yet. The SQ5 gets 19/24/21 mpg, trading 3 mpg for 100 horsepower. 

The Q5 earns stellar safety marks, with five stars overall from the NHTSA and Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Every Q5 comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Available safety equipment includes a system that follows stop-and-go traffic and applies the brakes at higher speeds. 

Lineup

At about $45,000, the Q5 Premium comes with leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster screen, and infotainment screen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

For more than $50,000, the Premium Plus adds a larger 8.3-inch touchscreen, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, 19-inch wheels, and a few other features. 

The Prestige adds a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, fabulous Bang & OIufsen audio system, and adaptive dampers. 

The SQ5 comes in each of those models, for about $8,000 more. 

Walkaround

Very lightly restyled in 2018, the conservative Q5 looks familiar. The styling is clean if light on emotion. The details are sharp, especially in the complex headlight clusters. There are some new wheel designs for 2020. 

On the bright side, there's a beautiful palette of colors (including the interior). We like the shade of green, especially with brown leather. 

Interior

The cabin is high-quality of course, with soft leather, and handsome wood and metal trim. 

The available digital instrument cluster adds a tech-heavy look that rivals don't have. The large digital and touchscreens effectively display a lot of information, after some learning how they work. At least it's intuitive; the Google Maps satellite overlay, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, are great for those who prefer to plug in and let their phone do the work. 

The Premium Plus and Prestige trims have sport bucket front seats with more bolstering than the standard seats. We found them more comfortable. 

The sliding rear seats can yield nearly 38 inches of leg room; they're great for two, but a bit squeezed for three. 

There is about 27 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats,with more than 60 cubic feet when they're folded, although they won't go all the way flat, as we think they should. 

Driving Impression

The grunt is decent and the ride composed. The strong 2.0-liter turbo engine makes 248 horsepower, and the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission brings crisp and quick shifts; with Quattro all-wheel drive, traction is never an issue even on slick roads. 

The ride is most comfortable on the standard 18-inch wheels. The 19-inch wheels on the Premium Plus and Prestige are stiffer. 

The new plug-in hybrid is a rocket. It uses the 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine mated to a 141-hp electric motor and a liquid-cooled 14.1-kwh battery pack, to make 362 total system horsepower. It can go up to 25 miles on electricity alone, and takes just 2.5 hours to full charge using a Level 2 charger. The downside is the engine is loud; you definitely know it when the gas power kicks on with a growl. 

The SQ5 can challenge some sports sedans on a twisty road, with its 349-hp engine with all-wheel drive, and 8-speed automatic transmission. A tap of the throttle brings potent acceleration from the turbo-V-6. The SQ5 also rides about one inch lower, which lowers the center of gravity and improves the handling. And it's available with a special rear differential that shuttles more power to the outside rear wheel for even more grip. 

Summary

The Audi Q5 offers excellent safety and space in a luxury crossover. We're almost inclined to favor the SQ5, just because of its sporty strength--its power and handling-makes it special. For those who care about efficiency, the plug-in hybrid may be the better bet. 

 

-by Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.