Audi Q5 Estate Review 2023
The Audi Q5 Estate is a luxury compact SUV that appeals to families who need a practical motor for the school run but want to look good while doing so. Coming with advanced tech and good performance, the Q5 Estate is one of the best compact SUVs on the market.
Rivals to the Q5 Estate include the Volvo XC60, Mercedes GLC, Land Rover Discovery Sport, and Jaguar F-Pace.
Our Audi Q5 Estate review covers:
- Minimalist design with a wide front grille and a curved rear end
- A high-class interior that's built to last
- 550-litre boot
- Five engines available: two mild hybrids, two plug-in hybrids, and a performance engine
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Smooth and fast engines
- Comfortable to drive
- Interior is one of the best around
Cons:
- No seven-seat option
- Optional extras are expensive
- Rivals are more exciting to drive
The Q5 Estate has a pretty minimalist design, and I feel like whatever situation it finds itself in, it can fit in. Up front, there are LED headlights and a wide black front grille, while at the rear, there's a silver strip running across the rear and a new bumper design.
Climb inside the Q5 Estate, and there's plenty of space. In the front, there's enough room for a pair of six-footers, while three adults should be able to fit in the rear, even though it's not as spacious as the Volvo XC60. Unfortunately, the Q5 Estate isn't available with seven seats like the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Boot space comes in at 550 litres, which is exactly the same as the Mercedes GLC. You'll find loading heavier items a breeze thanks to its low-load lip and square shape, and it can also be extended to accommodate larger items by splitting and folding the rear seats 40/20/40.
The inside of the Q5 Estate is classic Audi. All the materials are high-quality and feel fantastic. They also feel very well-built and will be sure to last the duration of your lease. It's that good, it beats the Volvo XC60 for quality, which is some statement.
On the dashboard, you get a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, navigation, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It's an easy-to-use system, displaying sharp graphics and is responsive to touch. However, it doesn't have a rotary controller that can control the screens, meaning it falls slightly short of the BMW X3.
There's also a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit behind the steering wheel that displays all the required information and has three different layout designs.
Three trims are available: Sport, S Line, and Black Edition.
Sport has 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, LED headlights, a rear spoiler, aluminium roof rails, heated front sport seats in twin leather, three-zone climate control, a three-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a reversing camera, and various safety systems.
S Line adds to this with 19-inch alloy wheels, aggressive-looking bumpers, matrix LED headlights, privacy glass, S Line sports suspension, and front sports seats in microfiber dinamica leather.
Black Edition has 20-inch black alloy wheels, a black styling pack with black Audi rings, roof rails, door mirrors, and a three-spoke flat-bottomed multi-function leather steering wheel.
Five engines are available for the Q5 Estate, two mild hybrids, two plug-in hybrids, and a performance-based SQ5. All come with Quattro four-wheel drive and are paired to an automatic transmission.
The 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel is the entry-level unit and is our pick of the range. Coming with 204hp and achieving 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, performance is superb for an entry-level unit, and it also returns a very good fuel economy of around 45mpg.
The next option is the 2.0-litre turbo petrol 45 TFSI, which has 265hp and shoots from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. Although much more powerful than the diesel, fuel economy drops to around 34mpg.
Go for the plug-in hybrid 50 TFSI e, and you'll get 299hp, achieve 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, and get a fuel economy of 156 - 188mpg. It can run on electric power for 38 miles and fully charge using a home charger in two and a half hours.
Upgrade to the 55 TFSI e, and you get a slight power boost and can achieve 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds.
The range-topper is the performance-based petrol SQ5, a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 349hp and bolts from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds.
On the road, the Q5 Estate comes with good balance, precise steering, and a composed ride. Its Quattro all-wheel drive system enhances traction and stability, making it capable in various road conditions.
Around town, the Q5 Estate's steering is nice and light, and its high driving position means you get a great field of view when manoeuvring a tight car park or road. It also deals with bumps in the road well, albeit not as good as the Volvo XC60.
As you increase to motorway speeds, the Q5 is superb. It's easy to drive, and the engines accelerate in a smooth and relaxing fashion. There's minimal wind and road noise, meaning you can talk or listen to music with no issues whatsoever.
On a country road, put the Q5 Estate into 'Sport' mode, and it adds a bit of weight to the steering, and the throttle is more responsive. Although it's nowhere near the performance of a sports car, you'll find it corners with ease and there's plenty of road grip.
Prices for the new Audi Q5 Estate start from £48,440.00 OTR* or to lease from £459.61 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Audi Q5 Estate? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
