Used 2019 Audi Q5

The Q5 was Audi USA’s best-selling model in 2018, the model year in which this compact SUV was upgraded with added power, better efficiency and improved looks. Because this compact-luxury SUV is still so new, little has changed with the 2019 Audi Q5, apart from some enhanced package and trim options. As before, there’s still a higher-performance Q5 called the SQ5, powered by a turbocharged V6 and fitted with tauter suspension for better handling. Q5 competitors include the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The Q5 and SQ5 stand out in this fiercely fought segment, helped by their laudable comfort and capability, plus its fine sense of style and lengthy list of standard safety features.

On twisty mountain roads, the 2019 Q5 feels more like a sports sedan than a crossover SUV. But that doesn’t mean it sacrifices comfort around town or on the highway, where we appreciate the quiet, well-controlled ride. Although most owners won’t get their Q5 dirty, this compact all-wheel-drive (AWD) SUV is competent on dirt trails. The Q5’s 252-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission are a good pairing, propelling this compact-luxury sport ute to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The SQ5, with 102 extra horsepower and sharper reflexes, adds tremendously to the sporting quotient while still maintaining a high degree of overall comfort.

Audi does interiors right, and the Q5’s is no exception. In this handsome 2-row/5-seat environment, Audi artfully blends contemporary design with the latest technology and premium amenities. It’s attractive, and refreshingly devoid of too many buttons. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, standard on the Premium Plus model, turns the Q5’s instrument cluster into a customizable 12.3-inch digital display that can show everything from speed and mpg to dazzlingly real Google Maps. Rear legroom, at 37.8 inches, is better than expected, and cargo volume increases to over 60 cubic feet when the 40/20/40-split rear seat is folded. The heated front seats are comfortable over the long haul.

The Q5 has the familiar Audi look, one characterized by a huge grille and nice details such as xenon headlights and standard LED running lights. Around back is a pair of exhaust outlets, along with a prominent Audi logo on the requisite power hatch. Standard roof rails remind us that the Q5 is an SUV, one that rolls on 18- (standard), 19- or 20-inch wheels. Ground clearance is 8.2 inches, respectable for a car-like SUV. The SQ5 is distinguished by its unique grille, roof spoiler and headlights.

AUDI DRIVE SELECT
Standard equipment on all 2019 Q5s, Audi Drive Select lets the driver choose among five different modes: Comfort, Automatic, Dynamic, Offroad and Individual. The throttle and suspension, along with the transmission and steering, are tailored for each setting.

AUDI VIRTUAL COCKPIT
With its 12.3-inch-color display and stunning Google Earth navigational images, the Audi Virtual Cockpit, now available in the Q5, is nothing short of a visual feast.

For 2019 the Audi Q5 arrives in three levels of trim: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Premium is nicely equipped, even for a luxury-crossover SUV, with standard features such as a leather interior, heated front seats and tri-zone climate control, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Premium Plus includes MMI Navigation and rear USB ports, while the opulent Prestige also boasts S-level exterior enhancements. Additionally, all Q5s are equipped with what Audi calls “Pre Sense Basic.” If this system determines that a frontal impact is imminent, it will close the side windows and sunroof, snug the seatbelts and preload the brakes for quicker response. Park Assist is now standard on the Prestige, as is a head-up display.

The available S Sport Package equips the 2019 Q5 with adaptive air suspension, which allows the driver, via Audi Drive Select, to raise or lower the Q5 chassis. The Sport Package also includes a Quattro Sport rear differential that helps the Q5 take corners by selectively splitting the torque between the rear wheels to minimize understeer. In other news, an updated Convenience package now includes Audi Side Assist and Audi Pre Sense Rear.

The Q5’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine comes standard with a 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission that routes power to all four wheels via standard quattro all-wheel drive. The sophisticated system enhances fuel efficiency by powering the front wheels most of the time, and will shift as much as 100 percent of the power rearward as needed. You won’t notice it working, but you will feel the added security, especially in slippery conditions. The SQ5, with its turbocharged V6, packs 102 more horsepower than a standard Q5; its transmission is a Tiptronic 8-speed automatic.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
252 horsepower @ 5,000-6,000 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/27 mpg

3.0-liter turbocharged V6
354 horsepower @ 5,400-6,400 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,370-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg