Review: Audi NZ refreshes its popular Q5 SUV
Launched 10 years ago, the Q5 medium SUV set the standard for premium vehicles here and now is steps up with new look and technology
While Audi may call it District Green, this facelift Q5’s new hue certainly divided people when they saw it with most calling it Camouflage Green; cue jokes of “I can’t see it!”.
Audi NZ has just launched its facelift Q5 medium SUV, with it boasting new features and design elements.
It also has an updated infotainment system and new drivetrains that should see existing Q5 owners seriously contemplating a trade-in, while wooing customers from Japanese brands.
The Q5 has new rear lights.
“The Q5 has been a standard-bearer in the premium midsize SUV market in New Zealand for more than ten years,” said Dean Sheed, General Manager, Audi New Zealand.
“Kiwis have shown that they are drawn to its combination of practicality, luxury, style, comfort and performance.
“This new Q5 dials up those characteristics even further in a comprehensive package that is luxurious, intuitive, stylish, efficient and sporty. I am confident that it will continue to resonate here.”
Audi’s designers have enhanced the Q5’s exterior appearance with an octagonal “Singleframe” grille that is now shallower and appears wider than before.
The side air intakes have grown in height and are now structured by trapezoidal insets. The upper section of the LED headlamps features new signature daytime running lights (DRL).
The designers have also focussed on the side appearance of the Q5, with it having a more muscular appearance with greater ground clearance thanks to a redesigned sill insert.
The side view of the Q5 has a more masculine appeal, says the designers.
A new diffusor insert with a horizontal fin can be found at the rear, along with a new trim element between the light clusters.
For the first time, next-generation lighting technology is available in the Q5. OLEDs are extremely efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes that generate a homogenous light surface.
LED headlamps come as standard across the Q5 range while the matrix LED headlamps are available as an option, and provide an adaptable high beam that offers greater safety and convenience without dazzling other road users. It’s amazing technology, especially when you see it in action and long gone are the days of having to flick off your high beam. It also means safer driving at night, especially if you live in the countryside with no street lights.
The Audi Q5 facelift had the hero colour of District Green.
“This new Q5 dials up those characteristics even further in a comprehensive package.”
The Audi Q5 facelift had plenty of storage in the rear, plus new exhausts.
The focal point of the new Q5’s interior is the new freestanding MMI touch display with acoustic feedback – which sees the previous rotary/push control replaced by a storage compartment on the centre console.
The central 10.1-inch MMI touch display is standard in the Q5 – its menu structure with flat hierarchies is easy to use, searchable and allows inputs to be made manually or via voice control.
Combined with the MMI navigation plus infotainment system including Audi Connect navigation & infotainment, the voice-control system can access the cloud for even greater flexibility.
Behind the new control setup is a new main unit – the third-generation Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB 3), which offers ten times the computing power of its predecessor.
The rear of the facelift Audi Q5 stood out thanks to the LED taillights.
The S line variants of the new Q5 feature Audi virtual cockpit plus – a high-resolution 12.3-inch digital display within the dashboard with a variety of different graphic layouts. The driver controls the displays via the multifunction steering wheel.
The Audi Connect navigation system offers high-resolution satellite images from Google Earth, lane-by-lane information on traffic flow and traffic forecasts.
Available as either a 2.0-litre turbo petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel, the new Audi Q5 arrives in New Zealand with a mild hybrid system (MHEV) that contributes to the low fuel consumption figures.
The MHEV system enables the Audi Q5 to coast with the engine off, and allows for start-stop mode at speeds below 22 km/h. A belt-driven starter/generator (BSG) supplies the 12-volt electrical system, which incorporates a compact lithium-ion battery. The BSG recuperates braking energy and stores it in the battery.
The Audi Q5 sits in the medium SUV segment and was launched 10 years ago.
The Q5 40 TDI has seen an increase in power to 150kW, while torque remains steady at 400Nm. The aluminum crankcase weighs approximately 20 kilograms less than that of the previous engine, while the crankshaft is around 2.5 kilograms lighter.
Overall, this results in improved acceleration, with 0-100km/h achieved in 7.6 seconds (0.3s less than the previous version.
The new diesel engine achieves a combined fuel economy figure of 5.4 l/100km.
The Q5 45 TFSI sees 183kW and 370Nm, with fuel economy of 7.5l/100km. All models come with a seven-speed S tronic transmission, sending engine power to Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system with ultra technology, which also contributes to efficiency. In normal operation, it sends all the power to the front wheels.
The Audi Q5 has a new infotainment system and new screens.
If all-wheel drive becomes necessary e.g. in slippery conditions or during dynamic driving, two clutches connect the rear wheels to the driveline in fractions of a second – in many situations, this happens predictively.
The updated Q5 also comes with a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems. The Audi pre-sense city system comes as standard, and helps avoid collisions with road users in front of the vehicle. Turn assist, collision avoidance assist and exit warning systems are also standard, further enhancing the vehicle’s commitment to overall safety, while adaptive cruise assist can largely relieve the driver of accelerating, braking and lane-keeping manoeuvres over long periods.
The Audi Q5 had a new grille in the facelift process.
AutoMuse had theQ5 S line 45 TFSI that started at $106,900 but was specced up to $117,700 due to the addition of those Matrix headlights, 21in alloys, and OLED rear lamps.
District (aka camouflage) Green is a hero colour for the facelift Q5 and was polarizing in opinion. I praised Audi NZ for opting for it, instead of standard grey exterior. But I had a friend message me as he spotted me drive by saying he wasn’t a fan, while the farmer at Parihoa didn’t like it.
For me, I liked the way the colour changed in different light or settings. For example, the photo shoot we did with automotive photographer Andrei Diomidov www.diomidov.com. As you can see from the amazing photos, the Q5’s exterior appearance changes.
The Audi Q5 had quattro four-wheel-drive system for tough off-road situations.
But what is it like to drive? It’s understandable why the Q5 is popular with Audi fans; it’s that Goldilock appeal for SUV fans - not too big and not too small.
The S Line 45 had a 2-litre petrol engine (183kW/370Nm) that I found ideal for around the city. It’s not enough oomph to hold its own on the motorway and handling on rough gravel roads was easy thanks to the quattro system.
On the farm, it handled some bumpy dirt tracks and we drove across Parihoa to catch the sunset for the shoot, and was sure-footed when we adventured to sloping paddocks without me having to apply hill descent.
It coped with four adults and luggage in the boot, and would easily suit as the weekend getaway vehicle.
The silhouette of the Audi Q5 appeals with the lights adding width.
The only problem is that the Q5 faces tough competition in this segment from its premium rivals at BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover.
For the price of $117,700 you have an array of new products to look at. Let’s start with the Jaguar Land Rover family. You have Jaguar’s F-Pace, Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Evoque plus Land Rover Discovery Sport.
BMW can offer you X3 and X4, while Mercedes-Benz has the GLC and GLE on offer.
