The Q5 received major changes in its current form and is one of the best-selling compact SUVs selling in the U.S. Its beefy looks and a decent set of features are something we have always appreciated. So should you get one for yourself? Is the 2022 Audi Q5 worth its asking price? Well, it's certainly not a bad choice.

Overview

Well, you can guess that the Q5 is not the most dynamic SUV to drive, but it is certainly a very important vehicle in Audi’s lineup. We have a craze for the compact SUV segment in the country which will not only be a comfort machine but also a bit luxurious. And that is why we think that the Q5 is a great SUV to consider. Over the years, we have come to love how Audi has managed to stay in line with other popular German competitors yet keeping the price a little low and pushing the products with loads of features. The outgoing model of the Q5 got a major makeover with the new front and rear design. All models have LED lightings, newer wheel designs, and an integrated toll module. The interior saw an upgrade to the infotainment display which is now a 10.1-inch unit and runs the latest MIB 3 system. The powertrains have upgraded components, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot now gets a slight power bump and a 12-volt mild-hybrid system for better efficiency. The PHEV Q5 now makes more power (13 hp) and has an enhanced 17.9 kWh battery pack. The default driver assistance features now add blindspot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and frontal collision mitigation. The Premium Plus adds adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. With a starting price of $44,100 it not only competes with its arch-enemy the BMW X3 and other thriving luxury compact SUVs like the Genesis GV70 and the Acura RDX.

Trims and Features

Similar to other Audi vehicles, the 2022 Q5 is divided into three trims: Premium Premium Plus, and Prestige. As for the engine options, there are two: 45 TFSI and 55 TFSI e. The base 45 TFSI features a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine coupled with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, driving all four wheels via a seven-speed automated manual. The higher 55 TFSI has the same 2.0-liter engine but it joins hands with an electric motor and a 17.9-kWh battery pack. Yes, the 55 TFSI e is a plug-in hybrid. The drivetrain remains the same. A detailed trims and features list is just below for your reference.

Premium. } }

Price: $44,100 for the 45 TFSI and $52,900 for the 55 TFSI.

- 18-inch alloys.

- LED headlights, DRLs, taillights.

- Automatic high-beam (headlights) and dynamic turn signals (taillights).

- Power tailgate.

- Rain-sensing wipers.

- 8-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat.

- Triple-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather upholstery.

- Heated front seats.

- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration.

- Integrated toll collection section.

- 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.

- 10.1-inch touchscreen display.

- Remote monitoring via a smartphone app.

Advanced driver aids available as standard would be:

- Lane-departure warning.

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Front and rear parking sensors.

- Frontal collision mitigation.

Convenience Package. } }

Price: $1,100.

- Passive keyless entry.

- SiriusXM.

- Driver’s seat memory functions.

- Power-folding exterior mirrors.

- Heated steering wheel.

Premium Plus. } }

Price: $49,100 for the 45 TFSI and $57,000 for the 55 TFSI.

- 19-inch alloys.

- Panoramic sunroof.

- 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus.

- Power-adjustable steering wheel column with hands-on detection.

- Faux-leather trim on the door panels and center console.

- Wireless charging pad.

- 360-degree camera system.

- Lane-keeping assist.

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Traffic jam assist.

A few of the standalone features of the Premium Plus would be:

- Navigation system.

- Enhanced connected services.

- Flagship Bang & Olufsen 3D sound.

Warm Weather Package. } }

Price: $1,450.

- Ventilated front seats.

- Manual window shades at the rear.

- Front sport seats.

Prestige. } }

Price: $54,800 for the 45 TFSI and $62,350 for the 55 TFSI.

- Matrix LEDs at the front.

- Ambient interior lighting.

- Acoustic insulated front windows.

- Heated and cooled cup holders.

- Heated rear seats.

- Heads-up display.

- Bang & Olufsen premium sound.

- Navigation system.

- Traffic sign recognition system.

- Automated parking assistance.

Exterior: Just an RS6 Avant but in an SUV guise

The new 2022 Q5 is a true level-up from the pre-facelift model year. It looks promising and modern, and I would prefer it more than the Mercedes-Benz GLC any day. The facelift brought changes to the front and the rear bumpers including the headlights and taillights. The grille is more compact and has either a honeycomb or a vertical chrome stripe design according to the trim selection. The LED headlights are sleek and can be equipped with the matrix ones but that is limited to the top-tier Prestige. As standard, you will have a set of 18-inch alloys, automatic high beams, a power tailgate, automatic rain-sensing wipers, and dynamic turn signals. The rear fascia has full LED taillights and the start-up animation looks cool from behind too. Sadly, Audi couldn’t get the fake exhausts out of the way but they do give a sportier touch. If you go up the trim list, you will have a panoramic sunroof, a set of 19-inch alloys, and even headlight washers. The Q5 indeed looks quite attractive for an SUV and for all that, it is what we recommend apart from the GV70 and the RDX. We feel that the BMW X3 hasn’t changed much and the GLC needs a refresh.

If you are wondering about the Q5’s dimensions, it is very much identical to the GV70 and the X3. An overall length of 184.3 inches has been measured while the X3 and the GV70 are about an inch longer. The curb weight matches the X3 with 4,079 pounds. The Q5 is 74.5-inch wide and about 65.5 inches tall. The wheelbase measures about 111 inches, which is the shortest among the competition. You can make good use of the 8.2-inch ground clearance and take it for mild off-roading. Don’t underestimate the power of Quattro. The GLC-Class and the Q5 are among the most compact options available but like the GLC, the interior of the Q5 is spacious but more on that later.

2022 Audi Q5 Exterior Dimensions

Interior: Posh, spacious, you name it

The interior of the 2022 Q5 checks all the boxes for its design and comfort. Yes, you might not get everything out of the box, not as standard but will be more than sufficient for most of you folks. If you compare the present model year’s cabin to the pre-facelift model, you will hardly find any difference apart from the bigger 10.1-inch infotainment display. The dashboard layout is the same and so is the center console. The materials used inside the cabin are soft-touch ones. Leatherette door panels and center console along with wooden trims are available on the higher trims and even as optional features. The steering wheel is all leather-wrapped and so is the driver selector. However, the instrument console, a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus is available with the Premium Plus and Prestige. This is a bit of disappointment as a lot of cheaper VW cars have it as a standard fitment.

Moving forward to the other standard cabin features which include three-zone climate control, eight-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats along with leather upholstery. Yes, both the X3 and the GLC-Class skip on that along with the three-zone automatic climate control. However, if you wish to spend $1,100 extra, Audi will provide the Convenience package that will unlock features like heating functions for the steering wheel along with driver-seat memory functions. We strongly recommend the Premium Plus trim as it has features like a power-adjustable steering wheel column and a wireless charging pad with a signal booster.

Seating comfort could be a deal-breaker when it comes to the compact SUV segment. Well, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. The Q5 is spacious and in fact better than almost all the other leading competitors if you pay attention to its interior dimensions. The seats come leather-covered as standard and that is a green flag already. The front seats are power-adjustable with up to eight levels and come with multi-level heating options. The rear heated seats are available only with the Prestige trim. The cabin can easily give space to five passengers. Got taller members in your family? No problem. The headroom on both the front and rear row is 39 inches which are more than enough.

The legroom is ample too with the front row having 40.9 inches while the rear is set with 38 inches. The RDX and Q5 are the only SUVs to have such big rear row dimensions. The GLC-Class, GV70, and the X3 are not uncomfortable or anything but they do not lead the competition. However, the cargo capacity of the Q5 is on the lower side at 25.8 cubic feet while the RDX has a leading 31 cubic feet.

You can easily fit two big suitcases and two duffels if that is okay with you. That said, here are the important interior features for your reference.

- Three-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather-wrapped steering wheel.

- Ambient interior lighting.

- Power-adjustable and heated steering wheel.

- Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with multi-level heating options.

- Leather upholstery.

- 12.3-inch fully digital instrument console.

- Leatherette trim door panels and center console.

- Front sport seats. (Optional)

2022 Audi Q5 Interior Dimensions

Audi’s MMI system has improved to a level where it barely faces criticism. As mentioned earlier, the facelift brought us a bigger 10.1-inch touchscreen display sitting on top of the dash. Some of you might get bugged by its usability since it has no physical dials and it is placed quite high but nothing deal-breaking. The response from the screen is great along with the haptic feedback which works well. As standard, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are present along with Bluetooth, USB, and WiFi connectivity. There is a ten-speaker audio unit fitted as standard but if you feel that is not enough, there is a 19-speaker B&O sound system available as an option. A few of the optional features would be the:

- SiriusXM.

- Navigation system.

- 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. (Standard with the Prestige)

- Heads-up display.

Performance and Handling: A slight power update and the undeniably good Quattro system

Just like the outgoing model year, there are two engine options available with the Q5. Now, the base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine which got a 13-pony update over the existing power figures and even gets a 12-volt mild-hybrid system with the facelifted 2021 model year. It puts out a considerable 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. However, Audi claims that the boost in power figures happens to be non-related to the mild-hybrid system. This engine gets mated to a seven-speed automated manual transmission and drives all four wheels. If you compare the Q5 to the X3 or even the GLC-Class, both of them are underpowered and do not come with AWD as standard.

The RDX and the GV70 are more powerful than the German trio and all that but the GV70 and the Q5 are the only AWD-equipped SUVs as standard. There is a more powerful Q5 powertrain that uses the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and is paired to an electric motor. The electric power comes from a 17.9-kWh battery pack and the power figures stand at 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet combined. Like the base engine, this plug-in hybrid variant comes mated to a seven-speed gearbox and the Quattro system.

The Q5 was never slow and the latest model year makes sure of that with the slight power increase. The base Q5 does 0-60 in claimed 5.5 seconds and a standing quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds. The X3 takes 6.2 seconds to go 60 miles per hour while the GLC-Class takes 6.1 seconds. The more powerful plug-in hybrid does fasten up the accelerations: five seconds to 60 miles per hour and 13.7 seconds to a quarter-mile.

The GV70 with its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 does the same with 4.9 seconds and 13.5 seconds. We do want to point out that the Q5 is not the happiest when you push its limits while taking corners. Yes, the Germans prioritize handling dynamics over comfort but in this case, it is quite the opposite. This doesn’t mean that the Q5 is lazy of any sort. The suspension is quite softer compared to the GLC-Class but switching on the dynamic mode does change the feel a bit. We recommend the RDX or the X3 if you want good handling capabilities under the sub $45,000 price bracket. If you have the money then you are free to opt for the Sport Plus package which will add adaptive air suspension and you will be set. If not, then the Q5 will offer a good laid-back experience with added comfort and driveability for the price.

2022 Audi Q5 Performance Stats

Fuel Economy

The Q5 is an economical SUV even with the Quattro. All thanks to its hybrid powertrains that helped achieve good EPA ratings. The base 45 TFSI Q5 gets 23/28/25 for city/highway/combined while the plug-in hybrid 55 TFSI Q5 gets a massive 29/27/25 for the city/highway/combined. However, you can get up to 50 miles per gallon combined in the hybrid mode. You can even drive up to 19 miles in EV mode. As for the base engine, the competitors have similar ratings but the differentiating factors would be the lower power figures and also the default drive type, which in their case is either FWD or RWD. As for the plug-in hybrid, it is unbeatable and it is quite expected from it. The 45 TFSI model gets an 18.5-gallon gas tank that can get you 460 miles combined. The 55 TFSI gets a smaller tank of 14.3 gallons and that is understandable.

2022 Audi Q5 Fuel Economy

How safe is the 2022 Audi Q5?

Nah, you don’t have to worry about the Q5 when it comes to overall safety. This bad boy has bagged a full-on 5-star rating from NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS. Apart from the numbers, there are a few advanced driver aids available as standard such as blindspot monitoring, a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, and frontal collision mitigation. However, its Asian counterparts are way ahead in the who-provides-more game, especially the RDX which comes with a whole suite that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more. However, you can get them with the Q5 but not as standard. Let’s check out the other features available with the higher trims.

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Traffic sign recognition.

- Lane-keeping assist.

- 360-degree camera view.

- Traffic jam assist.

- Rear cross-traffic alert.

Should you consider the 2022 Audi Q5?

Yes, if you want to have snappy performance, good cabin comfort, and most importantly a slightly cheaper German compact SUV. For its sub-$45,000 price tag, it would be a great choice for commuting daily to your office or dropping your kids off at school. But if you look outside the whole German SUV segment, there are two incredible value for money options: the Acura RDX and the Genesis GV70. The latter has a more powerful engine and is loaded with tech but it is Genesis and people will eventually build trust over the moniker. The RDX, on the other hand, is a great compact SUV and its $40,000 price tag makes it a true value king among the whole bunch.

How much does the Premium Plus trim of the Q5 cost?

Is Q5 a reliable option?

How efficient is the Q5?

Should I buy the Genesis GV70 over the Q5?

FAQ

Q: How much does the Premium Plus trim of the Q5 cost?

The mid-trim will cost you about $49,100 for the 45 TFSI and about $57,000 for the 55 TFSI e.

Q: Is Q5 a reliable option?

It gets a reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, ranking it 11th among the 14 luxury midsize SUVs.

Q: How efficient is the Q5?

The base mild-hybrid engine gets an EPA rating of 23/28/25 while the PHEV variant gets 29/27/25 for the city/highway/combined.

Q: Should I buy the Genesis GV70 over the Q5?

Absolutely yes, if you prefer more luxury and brand name does not matter to you. Also, Genesis is a great luxury brand with good reliability.