The Audi Q5 is a compact luxury crossover SUV that Audi has sold since 2008. The first generation was the third member of the B8 family after the A5 and the A4, and the model has since grown into three generations with the SQ5 as its sporting version.
Audi Q5 at a glance
| Class | compact luxury crossover SUV |
|---|---|
| Sold since | 2008 |
| Generations | 8R from 2008, FY from 2017, GU from 2025 |
| Platform | MLB, then MLB Evo |
| First shown | Beijing Auto Show, April 2008 |
| Size of the 8R | 4.63 m long, 2.81 m wheelbase, drag coefficient 0.33 |
| Suspension | aluminium double wishbone front, four-link rear |
| Drive | quattro, with front-wheel drive added in 2012 |
| SQ5 | 3.0 TDI biturbo with 313 PS, from 2012 |
| Second generation | FY, built in San José Chiapa, Mexico |
| Facelift | 2021, with new lights and a third-generation infotainment system |
| Third generation | presented in September 2024 |
History of the Audi Q5
8R (2008)
The Q5 was unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2008 and was the third member of the B8 family, after the A5 and the fourth-generation A4, all on the Audi MLB platform. Early cars used the 2.0 TFSI quattro with 211 PS, the 2.0 TDI quattro with 170 PS and the 3.0 TDI quattro, while the United States, Canada and Brazil took the 3.2 FSI. Shipments to Europe began in October 2008 and to North America in the first quarter of 2009. At 4.63 m long with a wheelbase of 2.81 m, the longest in its class, the 8R had a drag coefficient of 0.33 thanks to a partly enclosed underbody. Front-wheel drive was added in 2012, the same year as the SQ5, whose 3.0 TDI biturbo produced 313 PS and 650 N.m.
FY (2017)
The second generation was presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 2016 and entered production in 2017, now in a new Audi plant at San José Chiapa in Mexico. It was slightly smaller than the car it replaced and up to 325 kg lighter, and from this generation the range also included the Q5 Sportback with a flatter roofline. A facelift in 2021 brought new daytime running lights, a larger grille and a third-generation infotainment system with two touchscreens. The Q5 won the Golden Steering Wheel in the large SUV category in 2017.
GU (2025)
The third generation was presented in September 2024 and went on sale in 2025. It shares its base with the Porsche Macan and continued the Q5 line alongside the electric models of the range. Audi had already built a Q5 e-tron for China between 2022 and 2025, a sister model of the Volkswagen ID.6, and an earlier Q5 HFC fuel-cell concept with a 98 kW cell never reached production.
Design and features
- Aluminium suspension: the 8R used a high double-wishbone front axle with a virtual steering axis and a four-link rear, both in aluminium.
- Aerodynamics: a partly enclosed underbody helped the first Q5 to a drag coefficient of 0.33.
- Roof-load sensor: the ESP recognised a roof rack and intervened earlier because the centre of gravity had risen.
- Towing: the Q5 can tow up to 2.0 tonnes, with hill descent control below 30 km/h and a trailer stability programme.
- SQ5: the 2012 diesel version used a 3.0 TDI biturbo; a 3.0 TFSI petrol with 354 PS followed in 2013.
Audi Q5 versions
- 2.0 TFSI: 211 PS, with a seven-speed S tronic.
- 2.0 TDI: 170 PS with common-rail injection, manual or S tronic.
- 3.0 TDI: 240 PS V6 with S tronic.
- 3.2 FSI: the petrol V6 for North America and Brazil.
- SQ5 TDI: 313 PS and 650 N.m, 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds.
- SQ5 TFSI: 354 PS and 470 N.m from 2013, 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.
The Q5 followed the larger Audi Q7 and shares its platform with the Audi A4; more models are in our Audi collection.
Video: 2012 Audi Q5 Test Drive & Luxury Crossover SUV Video Review
Video by UsedCarsTV on YouTube.
Sources
- Audi Q5, English Wikipedia: 8R launch, engines, equipment
- Audi Q5, German Wikipedia: generations, Mexican plant, registrations
- Audi Q5, Italian Wikipedia: dimensions, suspension, SQ5, later generations
