The Audi Q5 SUV has been one of the most popular vehicles in the mid-size SUV segment in Europe for over 15 years. Audi is now presenting the latest generation of this bestseller. This new model is the first SUV based on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), and the efficient gasoline and diesel engines have become even more fuel-efficient thanks to MHEV plus technology. The new Q5 features a completely redesigned interior with a modern infotainment system and control concept, as well as digital light signatures and second-generation OLED taillights.
A standout feature of the Audi Q5 is its fully adjustable rear seats, which can slide and recline, increasing either trunk volume or passenger comfort. The cargo cover can be stored in a specially designed compartment under the trunk floor.
Other practical features include several small storage compartments for sunglasses, keys, and everyday items, an inductive and cooled mobile charging pad with 15 watts of charging power in the center console, and two USB-C ports at the front and two at the back (with up to 100 watts as an option).
The Q5 boasts a sharper and more modern design, including a sportier front and a three-dimensional light band across the width of the vehicle.
The exhaust pipes are functional, with their placement and shape depending on the engine. The diesel variant features a dual square exhaust pipe located under the diffuser on the left side, while gasoline variants have rectangular exhaust pipes on both sides. The S model features the four iconic double round exhaust pipes.
A selection of eleven colors is available for the new Audi Q5 models, including Arkonah White and metallic colors such as Glacier White, Mythos Black, Floret Silver, Navarra Blue, Grenadine Red, District Green, and the new Tambora Gray. Ultra Blue metallic, Daytona Gray pearlescent, and Sakhir Gold metallic are exclusively available for S models or cars with the S line. Additionally, customizable paint options from Audi exclusive can be selected.
The interior design of the new Audi Q5 is based on four characteristic fundamentals of Audi’s interior design, similar to those seen in other models on the PPE and PPC platforms (Q6 e-tron, A6 e-tron, and A5).
First and foremost, the interior is designed to be “human-centric,” consistently focusing on user needs. The clear layout of the interior provides an overview and represents the second characteristic, “visual clarity,” where functionality and aesthetics are combined down to the smallest detail.
The central component of the interior is “the digital scene,” represented by Audi MMI displays, including the curved MMI panoramic display, which features an 11.9-inch virtual Audi cockpit and a 14.5-inch MMI touch display, as well as a 10.9-inch MMI passenger display available for front-seat passengers. The MMI passenger display includes an Active Privacy Mode that prevents the driver from seeing its content while driving, minimizing distractions.
The fourth characteristic, “Material Driven Design,” ensures that materials are selected from a functional perspective while maintaining clear design differentiation between various areas of the interior. Comfort-oriented areas are highlighted with soft materials, while control elements are crafted in high-quality black gloss.
As an option, customers can choose the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D surround sound and Vehicle Noise Compensation (VNC), which compensates for cabin noise.
The Audi Q5 is available with an optional configurable Head-Up Display that can show a wide range of information such as speed, driver assistance systems, navigation instructions, or media data. For the first time, drivers can control vehicle and infotainment functions via the head-up display, allowing them to scroll through lists, such as recent destinations or calls, using the steering wheel buttons.
With the new Audi Q5, the brand emphasizes its leadership in light design and lighting technology while taking it a step further. The second generation of digital OLED taillights and projection lighting in the spoiler above the rear window (used for the first time in Europe) enhance safety by projecting graphics onto the upper part of the rear window, thus enlarging the brake light area.
The digital OLED taillights feature six digital OLED panels with a total of 266 segments that create a new image multiple times per second using a specially developed algorithm. At the front, the active digital light signature is created through the interaction between the algorithm and fifteen segments that dim up and down. The individual light segments interact in such a way that the overall appearance of the light signature remains consistent in terms of light intensity.
“Thanks to the perfect symbiosis between our light design and new technology, the light in the Q5 appears more vibrant and intelligent. We have given the light signature its own personality while simultaneously creating an aesthetic for the digital world,” explains César Muntada, Head of Lighting Design. “With the active digital light signature, the new Q5 continues an era of unique design and aesthetics that can only be found at Audi.”
The second generation of digital OLED taillights with communication lights interacts with the vehicle’s immediate surroundings (Car-to-X) to warn other road users of accidents and breakdowns.
The new Audi Q5 family is based on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), a platform architecture designed for vehicles with longitudinal combustion engines. PPC enables gradual electrification in the form of mild hybrids.
All models in the Q5 family will be equipped with the high-efficiency MHEV plus technology at market launch. The new MHEV plus system with a 48-volt electrical system supports the combustion engine, reduces CO2 emissions, and allows for limited electric maneuvering and parking.
In Europe, the Audi Q5 will be launched with three engine variants, with additional powertrain options, including plug-in hybrids, to follow later.
The new Audi Q5 offers enhanced comfort thanks to an optimized suspension and steering system. The dynamically tuned steel spring suspension, combined with the passive damping system FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) and a more agile front axle, provides the Q5 with firmer driving characteristics. Compared to its predecessor, it offers a more noticeable distinction between comfort and sport modes. The new Q5 comes with improved progressive steering as standard.
Like its predecessor, the new Audi Q5 family will be produced at the Audi plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico. The plant is characterized by resource-efficient production and serves as a model for sustainable water usage. It is the first car manufacturing facility in the world to be certified under the standards of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) for its effective water management. This certification results from various initiatives aimed at resource-saving water consumption, including a reverse osmosis system and rainwater collection in a dedicated lagoon.
Thanks to efficient waste management, the recycling rate for waste generated at the plant exceeds 90%. In addition to reusing materials such as metal scraps from the press shop, the plant also focuses on minimizing plastic waste by packaging components. Experts at the plant have developed alternatives to conventional plastic packaging to reduce the use of single-use materials.
The new Audi Q5 and Audi SQ5 will launch in the first quarter of 2025, but orders will be accepted in the autumn of 2024. Danish prices, consumption, and equipment details have yet to be determined.
