2017 Audi Q5 (2nd Generation)

Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro 2021 UK review

Should I buy one?

This latest shiny new SUV 'thing' is a quiet, smooth, swift, precise, assured, luxurious modern Audi right down to the bottom of its (optional) 20in alloy wheels.

Let's be honest, though: it’s filler. A bauble to dangle in front of someone before the music of their monthly PCP deal stops and they chip off to dispose of their 'disposible' elsewhere. It's not the only new car you could describe in those terms, granted, but I can't think of another that I've driven in a long time that has felt quite so much like it.

The Q5 Sportback exists because people buy cars on fairly short, fixed-term finance agreements. Sure, it's a nice car, but underneath it all, it's hardly different from a regular Q5. When it’s no longer the shiny new showroom arrival, I wonder how much will really be left to recommend it.


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Facelifted Audi Q5 range arrives in South Africa. We have pricing!

The facelifted Audi Q5 range has arrived in South Africa. Revealed last year, the new range provides a multitude of visual enhancements both inside and out together with a catalogue of new features. Consistent with the pre-facelifted model, the new offering maintains its turbopetrol and turbodiesel engine options.

Starting the range off is the Audi Q5 40 TDI Quattro with a price tag of R852 000. In this state, the brand’s turbodiesel 2,0-litre four-cylinder mill is fitted with an output of 140 kW and 400 N.m of torque. In this trim, the facelifted Audi Q5 sports the brand’s updated modular infotainment platform 3 control setup which offers ten times the computing power of the previous system. This is applied to a 12,3-inch digital display with three graphic layouts. On the dash, a 10,1-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard fit.

Two additional trim levels are available for the facelifted Audi Q5 40 TDI. The Advanced package, at R871 000, comes with chromed vertical ribs in the singleframe grille, along with under-ride guards beneath the front and rear bumpers in silver finish instead of black. The S line model, at R897 000, comprises a sportier honeycomb structure in the grille and a chrome strip framing the rear diffusor.

Both Advanced and S line models also include the high gloss styling package as standard which adds more distinctive design elements to the exterior look of the cars with the roof frame and window slot strips in anodized aluminium.

The facelifted Audi Q5 45 TFSI Quattro is only available in S line-guise at a price of R947 000. This model uses the brand’s turbopetrol 2,0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system which generates a combined power output of R183 kW and 370 N.m. Both petrol and diesel models transmit power to all four wheels via the brand’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

For the speed enthusiasts, the SQ5 TFSI Quattro has been brought into SA again at a price of R1 208 000. Here, the performance SUV retains its turbopetrol 3,0-litre V6 mill with a power output of 260 kW and 500 N.m. Using an eight-speed torque converter, the brand claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5,4 seconds. Key standard equipment on the Audi SQ5 a with self-locking centre differential, red brake callipers with “S” lettering, sports suspension system with damper control and connect navigation.

 
Facelifted Audi Q5 is here: SA pricing announced

The facelifted Audi Q5 SUV line-up has arrived in South Africa, sporting a sharper design and revised cabin, but unlike overseas models it does not receive the company’s new 2-litre diesel engine.

The Audi Q5 model line-up has been reduced from 11 variants to five, but all three engines carry over. Pricing now ranges from R852 000 to R1 208 000.

Thanks to its new bumper designs, the overall length of the Audi Q5 has grown by 19mm. Upfront the SUV receives a wider and more angular grille as well as redesigned headlights, which are optionally available with new generation digital OLED light diodes.

No new diesel for South Africa

As mentioned, the engine line-up carries over as before, with ‘40 TDI’ models powered by the familiar 2-litre turbodiesel unit that produces 140kW and 400Nm, and the 45 TFSI variant boasting a 2-litre turbopetrol that offers 183kW and 370Nm. Both four-cylinder engines are paired with a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox, and quattro all-wheel drive is standard.

Sadly, the revised 2-litre turbodiesel unit, which was announced in Europe last year with 150kW and mild hybrid technology, does not form part of the revised line-up in South Africa, most likely due to our fuel quality, or lack thereof.

At the top of the line-up, the Audi SQ5 TFSI soldiers on with its 3-litre V6 turbopetrol unit that pushes 260kW and 500Nm. This performance model can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, according to factory claims.

The 2021 Audi Q5 models will officially go on sale from 1 September, and all are sold with a five-year Audi Freeway Plan.

Audi Q5 prices

40 TDI quattro - R852 000
40 TDI quattro Advanced - R871 000
40 TDI quattro S line - R897 000
45 TFSI quattro S line - R947 000
SQ5 TFSI quattro - R1 208 000

 
Join the Q: New Genesis GV70 faces Audi Q5

Genesis has been snapping at premium players’ heels and is now trying to conquer Europe. Is the GV70 SUV the car to do it?

It has been a long time coming. Genesis as a brand, I mean. We know why it exists: premium means profit. Manufacturers of ordinary cars look at the space that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz occupy with envious eyes. And it was as long ago as 2004 that Hyundai first developed posh car aspirations of its own.

It took until 2008 for it to happen, with a car badged Hyundai Genesis, the second generation of which came to the UK from 2015, in right-hand drive and small numbers. Small, because while sales of the original Hyundai model in the US were good enough to prompt the establishment of the name as a brand in its own right, we’re a bit sniffy about that sort of thing in Europe.

Lexus was launched 31 years ago with a car – the LS400 – that did things unlike any other luxury saloon. And yet three decades later, its sales in the UK of posh Toyotas hover between 10,000 and 15,000 cars a year. Mercedes sells nearly five times that many A-Classes alone, because it’s easier to go downmarket than up. Ford’s Vignale models will show that. Likewise DS. Infiniti gave up entirely.

But, well, look: the Genesis brand is going to do well in the US, in China and likely elsewhere. Genesis and Hyundai have design, engineering and development centres in South Korea, the US and Europe, so it’s a global range. Even if it doesn’t do huge numbers in Europe, we’ll contribute a bit.

This, then, is a GV70. G for Genesis, V for Versatile, billed in some markets as a ‘premium urban SUV’, but it’s quite a big car here. It’s 4.7 metres long, which puts it at the same length as a BMW 3 Series, while prices start from £40,000. This one, a Luxury Line, starts at £42,820, but this test car sits at £50,620 including options. And although there are electrified Genesis models around or coming, this one, curiously, is launched as a petrol or diesel only. This one’s a diesel.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/join-q-new-genesis-gv70-faces-audi-q5

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Audi Q5 (2021) Specs and Price

Audi’s popular mid-size SUV has come in for a facelift and is ready to be launched in SA, here’s what it’s offering and how much it costs.

Following the introduction of the Q3 Sportback, Audi is introducing a coupe-roof styled Q5 called the Q5 Sportback with the facelifted Q5. This gives Audi a natural competitor to the X4 and GLC Coupe from its German rivals. You could also consider the Range Rover Evoque in the segment too, but there are loads of premium rivals from the likes of Lexus, Porsche and Jaguar that buyers would also consider in this segment.

The front end design features new air intakes and a more distinctive front grille. The Q5 Sportback has a slightly different front grille design to that of the normal Q5. The headlight design has been modernised and can optionally be fitted with Matrix LED lights that automatically adjust to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.

The rear light has its own signature and if you’re following it, you may notice that the design and brightness of the rear lights changes depending on what drive mode is selected. The rear lights also become brighter if someone gets a little too close to the rear of the car, warning them to ‘back off’ if you will.

Audi Q5 engine range

There are three engines to choose from in the Q5 model lineup. All the engines are available in both body styles. The range starters with the 40 TDI, a 2-litre turbodiesel with 140 kW and 400 Nm of torque and is equipped with a 7-speed S tronic gearbox. Next up is the 45 TFSI 2-litre turbopetrol which produces 183 kW and 370 Nm, also equipped with a 7-sped S tronic gearbox. This engine is also equipped with a 12V mild-hybrid system that shuts down the engine when coasting in order to save fuel. It’s claimed to improve efficiency by around 0.7L/100 km. The SQ5 is currently pinned as the performance derivative and features a 3-litre turbopetrol engine producing 260 kW and 500 Nm with an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox.

All models feature Quattro all-wheel-drive, but the system can automatically disconnect the rear wheels when not needed, improving efficiency and effectively making the car front-wheel-drive at times when you don’t need the extra traction of Quattro.

Audi Q5 lineup

Audi Q5 – 19-inch wheels.

Audi Q5 Advanced – 19-inch wheels, Advanced Line bumpers, high gloss package.

Audi Q5 S Line – 19-inch wheels, S Line bumpers, high gloss package, sports suspension.

Audi Q5 Sportback Advanced – 19-inch wheels, Advanced Line bumpers in full paint, high gloss paint, sports suspension.

Audi Q5 Sportback S Line – 20-inch wheels, S Line bumpers, high gloss package, sports suspension.

Audi Q5 Price in SA

Q5 40 TDI quattro – R852 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro Advanced – R871 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro S Line – R897 000

Q5 40 TFSI quattro S Line – R947 000

SQ5 TFSI quattro – R1 208 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro Advanced – R960 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro S Line – R1 000 000

Q5 Sportback 40TFSI quattro S Line – R1 050 000

SQ5 Sportback TFSI quattro – R1 355 000



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PRICING: Audi Q5 Sportback touches down in SA, ready to take on X4, GLC Coupe

Just like their German rivals, Audi’s product planners would not be able to sleep at night if they found out there was some SUV niche that they hadn’t yet covered. And so, following the coupe-inspired Q3 Sportback and the Q8 flagship, we now have a midsize sloping-roof model in the form of the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Going up against the BMW X4, Mercedes GLC Coupe and Porsche Macan, the Audi Q5 Sportback is now on sale in South Africa, in a four-model range that’s priced between R960 000 and R1 355 000. With extra style, of course, comes extra outlay and as is the norm in this segment, the sportier body style commands a price premium of around R100 000 over the equivalent ‘normal’ Q5 SUV models.

In size terms, the new Audi Q5 Sportback is exactly the same height as the regular Q5, although it is seven millimeters longer. Thankfully that swoopy tail doesn’t sacrifice too much in the way of luggage space, with the Q5 Sportback still swallowing 510 litres, which is just 40 litres less than the regular Q5.

As per the recently facelifted Audi Q5, the Sportback variant is optionally available with Matrix LED headlights and new digital OLED taillights.

Under the bonnet of the most accessible model (the 40 TDI quattro) is the familiar 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 140kW and 400Nm. While that makes the most sense from a pricing and efficiency perspective, buyers can also opt for a pair of more potent turbopetrol variants. These include a 2.0-litre unit in the 45 TFSI, which produces 183kW and 370Nm, and a 3.0-litre V6 in the SQ5 variant that boasts outputs of 260kW and 500Nm; as well as a 4.9-second claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time.

All models are equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive and as for the gearboxes, the four-cylinder models come with a seven-speed dual-clutch unit and the SQ5 ships with an eight-speed torque converter autobox.

Audi Q5 Sportback pricing

40 TDI quattro Advanced - R960 000

40 TDI quattro S line - R1 000 000

45 TFSI quattro S line - R1 050 000

SQ5 TFSI quattro - R1 355 000

 
DRIVEN | Piloting the V6-powered Audi SQ5 as refreshed line-up launches in SA

• The facelifted Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback are now available in South Africa.

• The updated line-up is priced from R852 000 and is headlined by the SQ5 model.

• Diesel and petrol engines power the range.

In summary

The Q5 has always been a mainstay in Audi's line-up and has become a very popular model locally. The facelifted SUV is bound to continue with the same sales success as the pre-facelift model and should put Audi in a very good position going forward. What could hamper Audi is the global microchip shortage that's been hampering every automaker. To counter this, Audi South Africa says that they have a contingency plan in place and will support customers looking to purchase a new Q5.

The new Q5 line-up is priced aggressively priced and comes standard with Audi's five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.

Pricing:

Q5 40 TDI quattro - R852 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro Advanced - R871 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro S Line - R897 000

Q5 45 TFSI quattro S Line - R947 000

SQ5 TFSI quattro - R1 208 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI Advanced - R960 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro S line - R1 000 000

Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S Line - R1 050 000

SQ5 Sportback TFSI quattro - R1 355 000

 
DRIVEN | Piloting the V6-powered Audi SQ5 as refreshed line-up launches in SA

• The facelifted Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback are now available in South Africa.

• The updated line-up is priced from R852 000 and is headlined by the SQ5 model.

• Diesel and petrol engines power the range.

In summary

The Q5 has always been a mainstay in Audi's line-up and has become a very popular model locally. The facelifted SUV is bound to continue with the same sales success as the pre-facelift model and should put Audi in a very good position going forward. What could hamper Audi is the global microchip shortage that's been hampering every automaker. To counter this, Audi South Africa says that they have a contingency plan in place and will support customers looking to purchase a new Q5.

The new Q5 line-up is priced aggressively priced and comes standard with Audi's five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.

Pricing:

Q5 40 TDI quattro - R852 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro Advanced - R871 000

Q5 40 TDI quattro S Line - R897 000

Q5 45 TFSI quattro S Line - R947 000

SQ5 TFSI quattro - R1 208 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI Advanced - R960 000

Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro S line - R1 000 000

Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S Line - R1 050 000

SQ5 Sportback TFSI quattro - R1 355 000

Nice car, price, eh, not nice, but no new car is.

Hope they give you something in return for this long running Audi Q thread.
 
Audi Q5 (2021) Launch Review

Summary

The arrival of the facelifted Q5 comes shortly after the local introduction of its archrival – the facelifted BMW X3, which also received a rather mild update. Quattro all-wheel-drive is standard on all Q5s, which is a boon, but the updated model’s standout feature is the pliant ride quality that it delivers in conjunction with the optional air suspension. It gives buyers the chance to specify bigger alloy wheels, which we know South African motorists are rather fond of doing, but without suffering the penalty of a harsh ride quality that usually comes part and parcel with the fitment of low-profile tyres.

The interior has been updated with new infotainment software and a more responsive touchscreen, but it dates the Q5 compared with its Audi siblings, which feature more modern and integrated designs.

Models in the Executive SUV segment (effectively the entry point to premium family cars) have become rather expensive – their asking prices have climbed up the R1-million mark within a worryingly short passage of time. The newcomer is, therefore, unlikely to sell up a storm, but for those looking for a prestigious badge in a medium-sized luxury SUV, the Q5 compares perfectly well with the competition.

 
DRIVEN: Audi Q5 Sportback adds some flair, but is it the pick of the bunch?

Out on the roads the Q5 offers a compliant driving experience, this is further enhanced thanks to the different suspensions on offer. Customers have a choice of the standard, sports as well as adaptive air suspension. The latter fitted to the SQ5 at the media launch returned a comfortable ride, even in dynamic mode.

Both the SQ5 and the diesel, being the two I sampled at the launch, returned a driving experience that left me impressed. Both felt refined and with enough performance, especially the SQ5, for any situation. The diesel would be my preferred pick of the bunch but, surprisingly, not in Sportback guise. One must also consider the price premium of more than R100 000, which the sportier-looking variant commands.

 
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