Audi Q5

You are greeted by a highly logical layout inside the Audi Q5. The German manufacturer’s engineers did not compromise on material quality and comfort for the car.

Cabin Layout and Quality

The dashboard avoids unnecessary clutter, as the buttons are placed exactly where you expect them to be. Audi offers different upholstery options, but the black and tan mix looks particularly nice to us.

As Shams mentions,

“The touch of piano black trim throughout the cabin makes it feel quite premium.”

Meanwhile, the 10.1-inch touchscreen sits neatly on top of the dash, with the famous Audi Virtual Cockpit as enjoyable to use as ever.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

Both front seats get power adjustments for ease of use. The cushioning is firm but supportive enough for long drives, and visibility out the front is great. You also get plenty of storage spaces around the centre console, and these really come in handy.

Second Row

The rear bench is comfortable and supportive. Three adults can fit in here, though the floor tunnel eats up the middle passenger's legroom. As for headroom and knee room, the given space is generous for average-sized adults.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• A 10.1-inch multimedia interface with smartphone connectivity
• The clear and customisable Audi Virtual Cockpit
• A crisp multi-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• A large panoramic sunroof that brightens the cabin
• Ambient lighting with 30 colour options
• A wireless charger, alongside Type-A and Type-C USB ports

Audi has kept the pricing somewhat aggressive to stay relevant, and much of the car’s overall value is balanced out by the fact that it’s assembled on home soil. While the exact prices are difficult to pinpoint, the base variant is no doubt an attractive entry point for the price tag it comes with.

Ex-Showroom Prices (India)

Note: There’s another one besides the three main trims: a ‘Bold’ edition, which is technically another limited-units variant of the Technology trim, besides the Signature Edition. It costs around Rs. 69.80 lakh.

Buying a heavy, petrol-powered luxury SUV usually means frequent fuel stops, and things are no different for the Audi Q5. In cities, expect the mileage to drop as low as single digits, while if ridden efficiently on the highways, those numbers may see a slight bump.

Observed Fuel Efficiency During Testing

In our tests, city driving returned numbers in the single digits. The constant jostling in traffic takes a toll on efficiency, but once the roads open up, the car easily crosses the 11 kmpl mark.

Audi rarely cuts corners when it comes to keeping passengers safe, so it’s expected that the Q5 was going to pack a solid list of safety features as standard.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

The SUV boasts eight airbags, some of them providing rear-side protection. The body shell is strong as well, and you get ISOFIX child seat mounts for securing younger passengers. Euro NCAP previously awarded the Q5 a full five-star safety rating.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

The standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system constantly monitors the car’s traction. It quickly sends power to the wheels with the most grip. The car also features electronic stability control and hill hold assist, while a handy park assist feature helps you steer into tight spots. But even for a car that goes past Rs. 50 lakh, it misses out on a full suite of Level 2 ADAS features that rivals usually offer.

Safety Verdict

The lack of advanced driver aids might bother some buyers, but the core safety net is quite strong in the vehicle. Most importantly, it has some confident braking capabilities, too.

Audi’s layout brings fresh ideas into the car’s interior, aiming to simplify the daily driving experience. The screens look great, and the whole system responds quickly to touch inputs.

Infotainment and Interface

• A 10.1-inch touchscreen sits at the centre of the dash.
• The driver also gets a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, something we know as the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus.
• The Bang & Olufsen sound system ensures loud, clear audio performance across all seats.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• The cabin uses sustainable materials like Dinamica microfiber, giving a soft and rich feel.
• Three-zone climate control is there to keep the temperature steady across both rows.
• There are also ventilated front seats and a standard, large panoramic sunroof.

You get a very usable 520 litres of boot space in the back. The loading lip sits at a decent height, making it easy to slide heavy bags inside. A great new touch we need to point out here is the rear bench, which now gets a slide and tilt function. If you need more room for luggage, sliding the seats forward helps balance passenger comfort with cargo capacity. Fold the rear seats down by 40:20:40, and the space further unlocks 1,440 litres; quite a lot.

Underneath the fresh styling, the SUV’s suspension is highly sorted, managing to deliver a calm and quiet ride over rough patches.

Shams specifies,

“Because it’s wide and not overly tall, the driving dynamics are excellent.”

City Driving

Around town, the steering is light and nimble, making U-turns and tight parking spots fuss-free. There is no lag in the lower revs, meaning you can conveniently cut through corners and maintain bumper-to-bumper distance in heavy traffic. All the trims available in India currently get a standard, steel-sprung suspension that filters out the nastiest bumps.

Highway Driving

Out where the congested traffic ends, the 2.0-litre petrol engine stretches its legs. With 370 Nm of torque, it gathers speed with steady, confident pushes as you keep pushing the gas pedal down to the floor. The seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly during the process, without any annoying jerks.

Shams observes,

“You can also throw this car into corners with a lot of confidence.”

True, because body roll is kept well in check while doing that. As for the suspension, it irons out uneven expansion joints, making long road trips incredibly relaxing.

There are three (or four, if you keep the ‘Bold’ edition in mind) variants available in the Indian market right now. They are all slightly different from each other, looks and features-wise, intentionally made so by Audi to widen the preference gap for buyers.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• A punchy diesel engine option
• Physical buttons for the climate control system
• Customisable layouts for the digital dials

The choice here mostly circles back to how much technology you want inside the cabin.

Best for Daily Driving: Premium Plus

If you want a comfortable luxury SUV for the daily office run, this variant offers plenty. You get the large infotainment screen and the soft interior materials without paying the highest premium.

Best for Tech and Safety: Technology

This trim boasts a superb audio setup. It is the obvious pick if you do a lot of highway driving and your family loves listening to music while out on that weekend trip.

Best for Styling: Bold Edition

If you want your SUV to stand out in a crowd, the darker styling cues and special wheels on this trim give it an edgy, aggressive stance on the road.