By Otsile Kadiege

Audi’s updated Q5 premium mid-size SUV has officially arrived in Mzansi. It sports and updated exterior design with “a stronger Q identity”. Audi promises the Q5 will have a sporty character with excellent everyday usability and versatility. 

Exterior design 

The refreshed Audi Q5 has a sharper and more attractive exterior styling thanks to a shallower and wider singleframe grille with a honeycomb structure on the S Line grade, stylish new LED headlights with new signature for the daytime running lights and larger air inlets. The Q5 is now 19 millimetres longer – due primarily to its larger bumpers and boasts rear light cluster featuring optional digital OLED technology. 

As standard, the Audi Q5 is fitted with 19-inch wheels, while 20-inch wheels are optional. Two of the twelve available paint colours are new – district green and ultra blue. The black appearance package is available as an option on the Advanced, S line and S models.

Interior design and technology 

Inside, the new Audi Q5 gets a new freestanding 10.1-inch MMI touch display with acoustic feedback that’s powered by Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB 3) which offers ten times the computing power. The previous rotary/push control on the centre-tunnel console is absent, its place now occupied by a storage cubby. Customers can opt for a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster with the Technology package. 

Powertrains

The updated Q5 is available in South Africa in two engine offerings. The Audi Q5 40 TDI is powered by a two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine making 140 kW and 400 Nm of torque. The Audi Q5 40 TDI accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. 

The Audi Q5 45 TFSI is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI engine generates 183 kW and 370 Nm of torque. The Audi Q5 45 TFSI accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. The mild hybrid system (MHEV) available on this model contributes to the low fuel consumption. Both models employ a seven-speed S tronic that sends the engine power to the quattro all-wheel drive system. 

The sportier SQ5 is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 with an output of 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque. Audi claims it sprints from 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Pricing, availability and warranty 

The new Audi Q5 range will officially go on sale in South Africa from 1 September 2021 and is priced as follows (inclusive of all taxes) and comes standard with a five year Audi Freeway Plan:

Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro                          R852,000

Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro Advanced        R871,000

Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro S line                R897,000

Audi Q5 45 TFSI quattro S line              R947,000

Audi SQ5 TFSI quattro                            R1,208,000