Used 2022 Audi Q5

The 2022 Audi Q5 premium compact SUV/crossover seems to be everyone’s favorite Audi. It’s the company’s top-selling model and even the experts here at KBB aren’t immune to its charms. We’ve given it a Best Buy award for its class every year from 2018 to 2021. That’s really something when the competition includes the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Lexus NX, and the Acura RDX.

The reason for this wild success is that the Q5 is a prime example of a compact luxury SUV. It has the manners, tech, safety, refinement, and (arguably) the style that appeals to a fortunate set of potential buyers who have a number of wonderful choices. The range includes a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the sporty SQ5.

We’re now in the second generation of the Q5, which made its debut for the 2018 model year and received a mild update last year. Which was also when the Q5 Sportback launched.

What’s the difference between the regular Q5 and the Q5 Sportback? Basically, a sloping roof. It’s the same kind of thing as the BMW X3/X4 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV/Coupe relationships. The 2022 Q5 Sportback is reviewed separately.

Both the Q5 and its Sportback variant have earned the Top Safety Pick+ accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their top scores in crash tests.

Whereas the BMW X3 has a definite driver’s edge and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class has a comfortable sophistication, the 2022 Q5 sits somewhere in between. Depending on an individual’s taste, that could be the best of both worlds or a missed opportunity.

The top two trims of the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid offer an optional adaptive air suspension to flit between greater suppleness or finer control. Alternatively, the 2022 SQ5 has its own suspension setup that’s more firmly in the sporting arena.

How fast is the SQ5? Its 349-horsepower V6 can send it sprinting from standstill to 60 mph in a fleeting 4.7 seconds. Although the Q5 55 TFSI e actually has 362 horsepower, it’s heavier and geared differently. So we’ll forgive it for being 0.3 seconds slower.

Not that the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine in the Q5 45 TFSI is a dud. It won’t attract the drag racing community to Audi dealerships, but it’s gutsy and entertaining enough in the real world with a respectable 261 horsepower.

An Audi cabin is invariably a demonstration of how ergonomics and design flair can work hand in glove. The Q5’s interior is a fine example.

A streamlined dashboard of high-quality materials plays host to a freestanding 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. Leather upholstery and wood trim are fitted right from the entry-level Premium trim. The SQ5 version receives carbon-fiber inlays for 2022.

The seats might seem a tad firm at first, but they become consistently comfortable and supportive traveling companions after a little time. This year, the Q5 55 TFSI e PHEV gains sport front seats.

Occupant space is perfectly adequate for four adults, and there’s always that smaller rear middle seat if necessary. The rear legroom of 38 inches is excellent for the class.

Cargo space goes from 25.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats to 54 cubic feet when they’re folded down. Not class-leading, but still useful. And there’s no compromise with the plug-in hybrid variant.

A while back, it seemed like Audi’s cool minimalism might devolve into a certain blandness. Fortunately, the marque has veered away from that direction and added several interesting details.

As mentioned, the previously optional S line exterior treatment is now standard, bringing larger air intakes, more aerodynamic side skirts, and aluminum scuff plates with an illuminated S line logo. The grille, meanwhile, is memorable for the right reasons, and there are standard-issue LED headlights on either side. LED taillights are also included.

Buyers can raise the stealth quotient with a new Black Optic package. The Q5 45 TFSI runs on 18-inch alloy wheels (another new design for 2022), while the Q5 55 TFSI e has 19-inch alloys. The SQ5 spins 20-inch alloys. All three variants are eligible for larger sizes.

VIRTUAL COCKPIT PLUS
Audi was one of the first marques to replace the usual driver instrument cluster with a user-friendly configurable digital display, showing things like navigation as well as typical functions. Now it’s taken another step by incorporating the temperature and fuel tank readouts. Standard from the Premium Plus level.

BANG & OLUFSEN AUDIO SYSTEM
We’re big fans of B&O systems. The setup offered in the Q5 is loud and clear, with 755 watts and 19 speakers. Standard in the Prestige trim.

All 2022 Audi Q5 variants (including the SQ5) come in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims.

Even the Premium has a substantial amount of standard equipment, such as a powered tailgate, aluminum roof rails, keyless entry/ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration (wireless for Apple CarPlay).

Driver-assistance features include forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, front/rear parking sensors, active lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams.

The Premium Plus trim adds a panoramic moonroof, Virtual Cockpit Plus, top-view/360-degree camera system, and adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist. The Q5 55 TFSI e adds a pre-entry cabin climate function.

Prestige trim brings matrix LED headlights, head-up display with road-sign recognition, navigation, heated/ventilated front sport seats, and the aforementioned B&O audio system. The SQ5 in Prestige trim also has heated rear seats.

Some higher standard features are available in lower trims as options. For example, Premium Plus can be ordered with the B&O setup. All Q5 models offer rear-seat side airbags as an option. Other extras include a heated steering wheel and window shades for the rear doors. The 2022 Audi SQ5 also is offered with a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension, variable-ratio steering, and diamond-stitched Nappa leather upholstery.

What does TFSI mean? The T stands for turbo — every 2022 Audi Q5 engine has a turbocharger. The FSI means fuel stratified injection, also known as direct fuel injection. It’s all in the service of greater fuel efficiency, extracting the most energy from every drop of gasoline. Premium gas is recommended for each Q5, by the way.

The 40 TFSI drivetrain employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The 45 TSFI setup has the same engine developing 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.

This unit is also used in the Q5 55 e, but that little “e” signifies electrification — a plug-in hybrid, in this case. So there’s an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery, which this year has been beefed up from 14.1 to 17.9 kWh. In the electric vehicle (EV) mode, the Q5 PHEV has a maximum range of 19 miles.

All Q5 variants have a 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The SQ5 has an 8-speed automatic transmission with the more traditional planetary gearset. It also has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generating 349 horsepower.

Every Q5 has all-wheel drive (known in Audi-land as Quattro) as well as paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel for greater driver involvement. Maximum towing for the Q5 and SQ5 is 4,400 pounds. The Q5 55 TFSI e is rated to tow a maximum of 2,000 pounds.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a way of calculating miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) figures for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (40 TFSI)
201 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
236 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/29 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (45 TFSI)
261 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/28 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4/permanent-magnet electric motor (55 TFSI e)
362 horsepower @ 5000 rpm (combined)
369 lb-ft of torque (combined)
EPA combined fuel economy: 61 MPGe (gasoline & electric), 26 mpg (gas only)

3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (SQ5)
349 horsepower @ 5400 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1370 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg