Plug-in hybrids are nonetheless are heavily-contested dialogue level at CarExpert, as for some they meld collectively having the ability to drive on electrical energy within the metropolis with the benefit of use of utilizing a combustion engine for longer drives.

For others nevertheless, they discover it laborious to look previous the way you’re lugging round both a petroleum engine or massive battery pack for no motive other than including weight and complexity to the automobile.

On check right here is the 2024 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line which has technically been round since 2019 in pre-facelift guise however solely launched regionally final 12 months.

It spearheaded the corporate’s reintroduction of plug-in hybrid expertise to the Australian market, following the 2015 Audi Q3 e-tron and 2017 Audi Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrids which each had quick runs Down Underneath.

Is the Audi Q5 at its finest with a plug-in hybrid powertrain? Learn alongside to search out out.

How does the Audi Q5 fare vs its opponents?

View an in depth breakdown of the Audi Q5 towards equally sized automobiles.

Audi

Q5

How a lot does the Audi Q5 price?

2024 Audi Q5:

• 2024 Q5 35 TDI: $73,400
• 2024 Q5 40 TDI quattro Sport: $87,000
• 2024 Q5 45 TFSI quattro Sport: $89,400
• 2024 Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line: $106,600
• 2024 SQ5 TDI quattro: $119,700

2024 Audi Q5 Sportback:

• 2024 Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro S line: $89,900
• 2024 Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S line: $97,600
• 2024 Q5 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro S line: $114,600
• 2024 SQ5 Sportback TDI quattro: $125,400

Costs exclude on-road prices.

Together with all of the elective extras geared up to our tester nevertheless, this brings the full to $119,190 earlier than on-roads.

To see how the Q5 compares to its rivals, line it up with any of its rivals utilizing our comparability device.

What’s the Audi Q5 like on the within?

Strolling as much as and unlocking the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid is fairly particular, as our tester was fitted with the elective Technik bundle that provides matrix LED headlights, together with dynamic entrance and rear indicators.

The headlights and tail lights have an unlocking sequence that’s hypnotising to look at. I notably preferred watching the tail lights as completely different sections activate sequentially.

Hopping within the Q5 55 TFSI e there’s a little bit of a excessive lip which suggests you’ll must elevate your ft a bit to get in with out brushing your footwear on the facet sills.

When you’re in you’re introduced with sport seats up entrance which have black leather-appointed upholstery. If you need Nappa leather-based upholstery you’ll need to go for the coupe-like Sportback model.

Regardless of not being Nappa leather-based, the common Q5 55 TFSI e’s leather-appointed upholstery continues to be very gentle. The driving force’s seat can be very comfy, making you’re feeling such as you’re hugged in and supported from each angle.

Each entrance seats are electrically adjustable with a manually extendable thigh assist, whereas the motive force’s seat additionally receives four-way lumbar and reminiscence.

As well as, the entrance seats are heated which is useful on cool Melbourne mornings. What’s fascinating nevertheless is the entrance seats aren’t ventilated, and the characteristic can’t even be optioned. That’s one thing that doesn’t sit effectively with me given our tester prices nearly $120,000 earlier than on-roads.

Forward of the motive force is a steering wheel that has a skinny rim but is surprisingly massive. It’s a leather-wrapped unit that’s very nice to carry.

All of the buttons and scroll wheels on the steering wheels are so tactile and damped. They’re most likely probably the most rewarding steering wheel switches I’ve ever used.

What may throw folks at first are all of the cruise management features are on a standalone stalk. I’ve grow to be so used to seeing the cruise controls on the steering wheel and it’s considerably refreshing to see minimal buttons on the Q5’s steering wheel.

Like nearly all cruise management stalks its operation could be very intuitive. My favorite operate was the slight and full flicks of the stalk leading to both single-km/h or multiple-km/h velocity modifications.

Behind the steering is a 12.3-inch Audi digital cockpit that’s crystal clear and excessive decision. There are such a lot of completely different views to select from that regularly make the driving expertise really feel contemporary.

I preferred having the ability to have the satellite tv for pc navigation map take up the total width of the digital instrument cluster, although I want it displayed my navigation route when utilizing smartphone mirroring. It’s price noting in case you use the in-built satellite tv for pc navigation, the route will present up.

Above the dashboard is a head-up show that’s additionally part of the elective Technik bundle. Disappointingly this head-up show doesn’t venture a lot data onto the windshield other than a digital velocity readout. It could actually show cruise management information and built-in navigation directions too, however that’s about it.

Shifting throughout, the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that in 2024 is beginning to look slightly on the smaller facet, particularly given its competitors and value level.

Regardless of being slightly small the touchscreen seems to have loads of processing energy. This implies it boots up extremely quick and is basically snappy at loading new content material.

Not each automobile infotainment touchscreen is like this, however the Q5’s is rather like utilizing a smartphone or pill. Scrolling is extremely simple and also you don’t need to put an excessive amount of strain for it to recognise a contact enter.

As commonplace there are wired and wi-fi types of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I elected to make use of wi-fi Apple CarPlay with my iPhone 15 Professional Max for almost all of my time with this tester.

Like quite a few Volkswagen Group automobiles, I skilled some points with wi-fi Apple CarPlay. There could be moments the place it could stutter and different factors drop out for a second or two. For one specific journey wi-fi CarPlay refused to attach in any way, forcing me to resort pulling out a USB cable.

On the centre console there’s a wi-fi telephone charger, which is pretty widespread. What’s uncommon nevertheless is that this wi-fi charger is on a sliding shelf that may both cowl the cupholders or go below the centre console armrest.

Much more uncommon was the wi-fi charger truly charged my telephone. Loads of vehicles wrestle to cost my telephone, sometimes leading to my telephone overheating.

Trying across the cabin the Q5 is a good instance of understated luxurious. There aren’t any actual flashy bits of expertise, however moderately fantastically designed finishes that really feel effectively thought out and premium.

One among these finishes consists of the local weather management setup which is fortunately nonetheless a bodily setup with dials and switches, moderately than being a sub-menu within the touchscreen. I really like how tactile and satisfying the switchgear feels to make use of, and likewise how the switches show extra data as soon as it detects a finger on it.

As commonplace the Q5 55 TFSI e doesn’t include any type of piano black trim. You’re in a position to choice it however I feel you’d need to have rocks in your mind to spend $520 on one thing that can look soiled and get scratched inside every week.

The vast majority of the primary contact factors are gentle, although when you enterprise down additional within the footwells and nearer to the windscreen there are more durable plastics. I used to be notably shocked at how low cost the glove field opening mechanism felt.

On the flip facet nevertheless, the ratcheting centre console lid feels modern and premium. It’s very nice having the ability to dial in your driving place to perfection.

The elective 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system is incredible. It’s amongst my favorite sound methods I’ve skilled thus far. The sound system can ship booming bass, but additionally crystal clear treble that seemingly doesn’t distort irrespective of how loud you dial up the amount.

Shifting to the second row there’s an sufficient quantity of house for myself at a leggy 182cm behind my very own driving place. Leg, head, shoulder and toe house aren’t earth shattering, however sufficient so that you can get comfy. Children could have oodles of house.

The second-row bench could be very comfy and squishy, with the backrest reclining a contact. You possibly can go to sleep within the second row very simply.

When it comes to second-row facilities there are centre console-mounted air vents with a devoted third-zone of local weather, heated outboard seats, in addition to a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

Regardless of the Q5 55 TFSI e having a largely darkish cabin, it comes commonplace with a panoramic glass sunroof that helps to brighten it up and add a little bit of atmosphere.

On the again there’s a powered tailgate with a hands-free kick operate. That is useful in case you’ve acquired your fingers full and may’t attain the button to open the tailgate.

Our tester was geared up with the elective air suspension that means that you can decrease down the rear finish an inch or two. Though this doesn’t sound like lots, it may imply you don’t need to elevate heavy objects fairly as excessive.

Boot house within the Q5 55 TFSI e is sufficient however nothing to telephone house about. Audi formally quotes 460 litres of boot house with the rear seats, upright and 1400 litres with the rear seats folded down.

A portion of the boot house is taken up by the charging cables as there’s nowhere else to retailer them. There’s no underfloor storage as that’s the place the high-voltage battery is. Facilities within the baggage space embody bag hooks, tie-down factors, in addition to hooks to fold the second-row seats down.

Like nearly all plug-in hybrids, the Q5 55 TFSI e doesn’t include a spare tyre in any respect. As a substitute there’s solely a tyre restore package. That is one thing to remember in case you plan to enterprise out of town and away from tyre outlets.

What’s below the bonnet?

To see how the Q5 compares to its rivals, line it up with any of its rivals utilizing our comparability device.

How does the Audi Q5 drive?

Like I’ve talked about in earlier plug-in hybrid evaluations, there are various other ways to drive this sort of automobile. All of it is determined by the way you cost it.

All through my time with the Q5 I attempted out as many various methods to drive, cost and expertise it as attainable, which suggests it won’t be immediately corresponding to how an proprietor would use their automobile.

Beginning up the automobile is often a silent affair with a press of the beginning button producing a chime or two. It could take only a bit to really discover the place the beginning button is, because it’s positioned on the entrance of the centre console and never on the dashboard.

As you go to set off you’ll additionally must acquaint your self with the gear selector. Its operation, together with urgent the button on the knob for park, could be very intuitive when you get used to it.

Takeoff within the Q5 55 TFSI e is finest described as docile in its commonplace Auto driving mode. That’s to not name it sluggish in any way – the automobile is extra highly effective than an SQ5 – nevertheless it’s positively geared extra in direction of effectivity in on a regular basis driving.

When you’re that approach inclined the Q5 55 TFSI e could be correctly quick, particularly in Dynamic mode. With system outputs of 270kW and 500Nm, you’ll be leaving the vast majority of the site visitors behind from the lights.

Relying on the battery cost degree, the automobile will fortunately potter round on EV mode as a lot as attainable. It could actually journey at speeds of as much as 135km/h on electrical energy alone.

I additionally truly beat the EV-only vary declare and achieved 60km in the true world. Whereas this may sound like a reward, quite a few extra reasonably priced PHEVs supply extra EV vary.

Like quite a few Volkswagen Group plug-in hybrids, the electrical motor is mounted between the engine and the transmission.

This implies the electrical motor technically shifts by means of gears. For probably the most half it’s seamless, although there’s the odd event the place you may really feel a gear shift. This is usually a little grating when it occurs.

One thing that took a bit to get used to is the automobile’s adaptive regenerative braking system. It’s in a position to gauge how a lot regenerative braking ought to be utilized main as much as an intersection through the use of the automobile’s sensors and satellite tv for pc navigation knowledge.

The automobile may ship a pulse by means of the accelerator telling you to let the automobile coast. It is a trippy feeling, nevertheless it’s a very good assist and reminder to drive as effectively as attainable.

When the battery cost runs out the Q5 55 TFSI e will act like extra like a Toyota-style hybrid and swap the petrol engine on to help the electrical motor.

You’ll barely hear or really feel when the two.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine activates, thanks partially to the stellar noise insulation across the cabin, although there can typically be a tiny lull in energy supply when accelerating.

The engine may rev out the primary couple of gears to nearly 3000rpm, which feels pointless however is in the end an indication it takes some encouraging for the two-tonne SUV takes a bit to get transferring at a brisk tempo.

As commonplace there’s a Kind 2 charging port that may solely AC cost at a most charge of seven.2kW. This isn’t the tip of the world nevertheless as at this charge it solely takes 2.5 hours, or 8.Zero hours utilizing a 2.3kW home wall plug to totally recharge the battery pack. You’ll be capable to plug the automobile in in a single day and get up with a completely charged battery.

You can too cost up the Q5 55 TFSI e’s battery pack through the use of the cost mode. That is by far probably the most inefficient strategy to cost up the automobile and is finest at freeway speeds.

I’d advocate not utilizing this mode in any respect if you wish to preserve a low gas financial system determine. It’s additionally a part of the rationale why my noticed gas financial system was a lot increased than the declare.

The Q5 has gentle steering which makes low-speed manoeuvring very easy. As commonplace there are entrance, rear and facet parking sensors, in addition to a surround-view digicam.

There’s additionally a semi-autonomous parking help operate that makes parallel and perpendicular parking simpler.

Our tester was fitted with the elective air suspension that ought to actually be commonplace given the asking value. I can’t advocate it extra nevertheless as a result of it irons out so many tough bumps and makes the automobile glide on the street.

The Consolation mode dials this as much as 11. It’s actually like driving on a cloud, which is so stunning given the automobile has 20-inch alloy wheels and weighs 2.Zero tonnes.

For some added novelty you may manually increase and decrease the automobile at low speeds. There are additionally Allroad and Offroad drive modes that jack the air suspension as much as make it extra prepared to go off the crushed path.

Build up velocity within the Q5 55 TFSI e comes simply, although acceleration does begin to taper off a tad at increased speeds. It’s additionally price noting sustained freeway speeds is when the electrical motor is at its least environment friendly.

With a view to negate this there’s a maintain mode that retains the petrol engine working to take care of the battery’s cost degree. When you’re strategic with how you employ this mode you may maximise the full quantity of distance you may journey on a battery cost and gas tank.

On the security and help entrance, the adaptive cruise management system works effectively. Once you change the set velocity utilizing the stalk it accelerates or slows down at a gradual charge, which makes for a extra comfy driving expertise.

The lane-keep help operate can be incredible at protecting the automobile centred within the lane, even with light lane markings. I don’t typically like to make use of these sorts of methods, however I truly wished to make use of it on this automobile.

Lastly, the elective matrix LED headlights are nice. These are so useful when travelling alongside rural and regional roads at the hours of darkness as you don’t have to fret about dipping your high-beams. As a substitute you may correctly deal with what animal may wander onto the street forward.

What do you get?

Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line highlights:

• S line exterior bundle
  • S line entrance, rear bumpers
  • S line entrance grille
  • S line rear spoiler
• 20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED cornering lights
• LED tail lights
• Panoramic sunroof
• Rear privateness glass
• Comfort key
• Aspect mirrors
  • Heated
  • Auto-folding
  • Auto-dimming
  • Reminiscence operate
• Roof rails in aluminium
• Leather-based-appointed seats
• Electrical entrance seats incl. 4-way lumbar
• Driver reminiscence operate
• Heated entrance seats
• Sliding rear seats, 40:20:40 break up
• Tri-zone local weather management
• 30-colour ambient lighting
• Illuminated entrance door sills
• 10.1-inch MMI navigation plus
• 12.3-inch Audi digital cockpit
• Audi join plus on-line providers
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 10-speaker Audi sound system, 180W
• Audi telephone field gentle (wi-fi charger)
• 2 x entrance, 2 x rear USB ports

The $4900 Technik bundle, as fitted to our tester, provides:

• Matrix LED headlights
• Dynamic entrance and rear indicators
• 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system
• Head-up show

Different elective extras fitted to our tester embody the $4400 adaptive air suspension, $1300 black exterior styling bundle, and the $1990 Daytona gray pearl impact paint.

Is the Audi Q5 protected?

The Audi Q5 and SQ5 vary acquired a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing of the pre-update mannequin, however this score expired on January 1, 2024.

It scored 93 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 86 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 73 per cent for pedestrian safety, and 58 per cent for security help.

Normal security options embody:

• Eight airbags
  • Twin entrance
  • Twin front-side
  • Twin curtain
  • Twin rear-side
• Energetic bonnet
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • as much as 85km/h
  • Pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot monitoring (facet help)
• Collision avoidance help
• Exit warning
• Automated high-beam
• Hill descent management
• Lane-keep help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Tyre strain monitoring
• Flip Help
• Swerve Help
• Predictive Effectivity Assistant
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Rear view digicam

Q5 Sport provides:

• Park help
• 360-degree cameras

How a lot does the Audi Q5 price to run?

The Audi vary is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.

Audi gives five-year Real Care Plans that cowl as much as 75,000km. As with the common Q5 TDI and TFSI vary, the service plan prices $3520.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 mightn’t be as overtly flashy as a few of its different premium German rivals, however there’s positively an attraction in having a automobile that has understated luxurious tones.

Perceived construct high quality within the Q5 is among the many finest I’ve skilled thus far, and all of the switchgear you work together with contained in the cabin is basically tactile and satisfying to make use of. I want extra carmakers would take notes from Audi.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain on check right here is refined and could be fantastically fast in order for you it to be. That apart, it should solely actually be just right for you in case you’re trying to go inexperienced and have the means to have the ability to cost it.

When you can’t cost the automobile nevertheless, it’s actually laborious to justify the $17,200 value premium over the 45 TFSI, particularly when the 2 vehicles have the identical EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine as a base.

With this in thoughts, until you actually need a plug-in hybrid I’d counsel trying on the Q5 45 TFSI could be optioned as much as be nearly an identical spec-wise. You’ll even be saving hundreds within the course of.

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