Introduction to the 2025 Audi Q5
You might think of Audi as a maker of slick saloons and sleek coupes, but as with so many other car manufacturers these days it's primarily an SUV brand, with an ever-expanding lineup of Q-badged SUVs and crossovers. This, though, is the big one - the Audi Q5.
Not physically the big one, that would be the larger Q7 of course, but philosophically and in sales terms, the Q5 is definitely the biggie, as Audi has sold more than 2.7 million Q5s since the first version was introduced way back in 2008.
Now, for 2025, there's a new one, but it's not quite all-new. Under the skin, there's a good deal of carry-over parts and components from the previous Q5, while much of the interior is lifted from the low-slung Audi A5. That may not be a huge issue, given that Audi customers tend to stick with what they like, and they certainly liked the previous two generations of Q5.
We tried several examples of the Q5 SUV and Sportback at the car's international media launch in Spain. Here we focus on the popular 2.0 TDI diesel version with quattro four-wheel drive and the sporty-looking S line specification.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line
Pros: Handsome, high-quality cabin, engaging to drive, economical
Cons: Diesel losing its appeal, pricey, not massive in the back
Exterior & Design of the 2025 Audi Q5
• SUV body shape works better than Sportback
• 'Sakhir Gold' paint not to all tastes, but we like it
• Looks very similar to the electric Q6 e-tron
Just recently, Audi announced that it was back-tracking on its decision to split its model ranges into odd-numbered cars (with petrol, diesel and hybrid power) and even-numbered cars (with all-electric power) and you can see from the Q5's styling why this makes eminent sense. With its big 'singleframe' grille and ultra-slim LED lights at the front and rear, the new Q5 has a clear close visual relationship with the Audi Q6 e-tron, even though they don't share anything under the skin.
The Q5's dimensions are:
Length: 4,717mm
Width: 1,900mm
Height: 1,625mm
Wheelbase: 2,823mm
It's a very handsome car, the Q5, especially in this 'SUV' body style, which has a taller rear roofline than the Sportback model and which to our eyes looks more cohesive as a result. Special mention here has to go to the Sakhir Gold paintwork of our test car which certainly won't be to everyone's taste (it looks a bit like someone melted a Caramac bar into a cup of milky coffee) and it's a €2,300 option, but like it, and it sets off our car's optional Black Pack, with its dark-finished alloys and lack of exterior chrome, rather nicely.
Alloy wheel diameters start at 18-inch in some markets, but Ireland will get 19-inch rims as standard, and you can work up to 21-inch wheels as an option.
You could quibble with the Q5's big front bumper air intakes, which look a bit cheesy, but overall, the new Q5 looks sharp and appealing.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 Audi Q5
• Exceptional cabin quality
• Rear space could be better
• Excellent screens (but still needs more buttons)
While both BMW and Mercedes have recently assailed Audi's once-unassailable crown as the champion of high-quality automotive interiors, the Q5's cabin is a definite triumph for the four-ringed brand. Much of it is lifted from the A5 (no shame in that) and while it does fall prey, at times, to the too-much-black approach that has let down a few recent Audi interiors, for the most part this is a wholly successful cabin.
S line trim means you get high-backed bucket seats with soft, diamond-quilted material that's not quite suede; it's called Kaskade, and while it has some of the feel of both suede and wool, it's actually a synthetic substance made from recycled materials. The seats themselves are exceptionally comfortable and supportive. A long journey in a Q5 is going to cause no comfort issues whatsoever.
Storage space in the front is good, with a sloped tray under the dashboard that's home to a (quite powerful at 15-watt) wireless phone charger, and that's backed up by four USB-C connections, the rear two of which can pump out up to 100 watts of power (the front ones run at 60 watts). There are two cup holders, and a useful storage space under the front seat armrest, although the door bins are on the small side.
The Q5 gets the same combined curved screen setup as the Audi A5, meaning an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen angled just slightly towards the driver. The graphics on these look exceptionally crisp and expensive, but while the menu layout and on-screen shortcuts are fairly easy to find your way around, a few more physical buttons wouldn't go amiss. Thankfully Audi retains a proper stereo volume knob, which does help.
Equally, the Drive Select button, which changes the driving modes, is a bit low down and you have to look at the screen to see which mode you're selecting - a steering wheel button would be quicker and easier to use.
The Q5 benefits from some impressive tech, inside and out, including ChatGPT artificial intelligence embedded into the car's voice recognition software, along with Amazon Alexa, too. Of course, there's also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as the ability to have a digital car key added to your mobile phone.
While they are on the outside, the OLED lights are also part of the tech package. As with other recent Audi models, you can personalise, to an extent, the light signatures, while more cleverly - and more usefully - the rear lights can also project emergency symbols to traffic behind you, warning them if you've had to make an emergency stop.
Another handy feature is a light projection onto the ground beneath the rear bumper so that you can accurately aim your foot when using the hands-free electric tailgate.
Speaking of which, the boot is reasonably large, at 520 litres up to the luggage cover, and Audi has scooped out space under the floor for you to be able to stash that luggage cover neatly away when not in use.
The back seats are reasonably, but not exceptionally, spacious. Legroom and headroom are OK, but a little short of generous, although the rear bench can adjust back and forth through 100mm, which is helpful, and the backrests recline, which should keep rear-seat occupants happier.
There's an optional 11.9-inch touchscreen for the front-seat passenger too, which does allow them to alter the likes of the navigation destination and select music or podcast track but given that many front-seat passengers will be busily using their own phones or tablets, we'd have to question its ultimate worth.
The 'interactive light' setup - a strip of LEDs running across the back of the dashboard which flashes to warn the driver of any potential danger or obstacles - is a little more useful, and the acoustic glass which absorbs some of the noise coming from outside most certainly is welcome.
Performance of the 2025 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line
• Plentiful urge from 400Nm of torque
• Tidy and engaging handling
• Air springs get tripped up by sharp bumps
Even in a world full of instant-torque EVs, the TDI engine remains usefully punchy, aided by the extra torque and power boost of an 18kW electric motor embedded in the gearbox. This can chime in with as much as 230Nm extra when needed (albeit only for short bursts) but rather than in outright acceleration, it's more useful as a low-speed aid, allowing you to complete parking manoeuvres and the like on smooth, silent electric power.
With quattro four-wheel drive, you're never likely to break traction much in normal driving, although it's a faint disappointment to see Audi move further away from its classic Torsten-differential quattro system of old. This Q5 switches to the multi-plate, clutch-controlled 'quattro Ultra' system, which is better for economy (the rear wheels remain disconnected until needed) but arguably slightly less good for enthusiasm. That's cribbing on my part, however - in real world terms, this is a good system with ample traction, which remained entirely unfazed by slippery roads near Malaga, soaked by an unseasonable overnight rainstorm.
The TDI diesel model gets to 100km/h from rest more than a second faster than the identically powerful (but less torquey) 2.0 TFSI petrol model (which is only coming to Ireland with front-wheel drive, incidentally), and it certainly feels brisk and responsive.
Switching to the Dynamic driving mode helps with this of course, and it ups the steering weight quite noticeably, but the Sport setting for the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox has a tendency to let the engine drone on a bit at slightly too-high rpm, unless you take control yourself with the gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel.
Balanced mode is probably the best all-round option, especially with 3,300 worth of optional air suspension fitted. We haven't been given the opportunity yet to try a new Q5 with its conventional steel springs and dampers, but the air setup looks like it'll be worth the cash. Not only does it give the Q5 a nicely pillowy ride quality (aside from a habit of tripping noisily over short, sharp urban intrusions), but it also gives the Audi exceptional body control.
This is a big two-tonne SUV with a hefty diesel engine in the nose, but on tight and twisty mountain roads, the Q5 responds beautifully, with impressive steering feedback and near-perfect steering weight too. Is it agile? Not quite, but the Q5 does a good impression of being so, taking one particularly tricky tight hairpin with a big compression of adverse camber in the middle with utter equanimity and no little sense of fun.
The air springs also give you as much as 60mm worth of adjustable ride height, which is handy for lowering the back of the Q5 when loading up heavy items, but also good if you do want to raise up the suspension for a touch of off-roading. We didn't get a chance to prove that, though - the same overnight rain washed out a proposed off-road course, so we'll have to wait until we get the Q5 at home to try out its mild-plugging prowess. It's doubtful that any actual owner will do so.
One big tick in the Q5's dynamic favour is its braking system. Audi dubs this iRBS, and it's a braking setup that relies more heavily on its 'frictionless' regenerative braking system, sending power flowing to the 1.7kWh 48-volt hybrid battery. Apparently, you only activate the physical discs and pads when braking firmly, and unlike many regenerative braking systems, we simply couldn't detect the point at which one was switched for the other, which is impressive.
The system also includes brake-torque vectoring, which uses the inside brakes to help the Q5 turn more tightly into a corner. If only all regen braking systems felt so natural under the ball of your foot.
One area where the Q5 occasionally trips up, though, is in the low-speed switch from electric power to diesel and back again - there's sometimes a clumsy shunt when doing so, but it's hardly serious enough to be a deal-breaker.
Running Costs of the 2025 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line
• Solid economy
• Circa 900km on a full tank
• Only a three-year warranty
While diesel might seem old school in this increasingly electrified era, there's no doubting the delightful simplicity of sitting into a car displaying an almost-900km driving range on a full tank of fuel and knowing that when you reach the end of that long leash, you can top it all up again in a matter of minutes.
Audi quotes 5.9 litres per 100km fuel consumption, which seems about right and the little bursts of electric-only running from the hybrid system bode well for maximising your mileage. The Q5's CO2 emissions are on the high side, starting at 155g/km depending on the equipment level and alloy wheel choice, but that only results in an annual motor tax bill of €280, which seems a pittance in comparison to the Q5's hefty price tag.
It's a shame that Audi hasn't yet seen fit to extend its warranty beyond the standard three-year period, but it's not alone in the premium segment on that regard. The first two years of the warranty is for an unlimited mileage, while the third year is capped at 90,000km.
There is an Audi Service club, however, helping to make regular maintenance less of a shock; it starts from €23 per month. Audi buyers in Ireland get a potential discount on their insurance if they get a quote from Allianz as well.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 Audi Q5
• Competitive with rivals, but certainly not cheap
• Extensive and expensive options list
• Plug-in hybrids arrive in the summer
With a starting price of €71,115 for the entry-level, 2.0 TFSI front-wheel-drive petrol model in SE trim, the Q5 is bang on the money for this class, vying with the BMW X3 and undercutting the pricey Mercedes-Benz GLC. However, it's also notably more expensive than the very impressive Lexus NX, and almost up to the bigger Lexus RX in terms of price, which is worth bearing in mind.
It's also horrendously easy to spec the Q5 up to six-figure price levels, with a lengthy and expensive options list. Plumping for diesel power, sporty S line trim and the optional air suspension quickly nudges the price of our test car up to more than €86,000 and that's only gently brushing up against the options list. It's a bit galling to note that adaptive cruise control, standard on a Toyota Corolla, is an option here.
The high-performance SQ5 model starts at more than €111,000.
Later this year, the Q5's range will be bolstered by a pair of plug-in hybrids, one of which has the same 369hp as the SQ5. Iris prices aren't available for those Q5s yet, but they'll be significant models for the lineup, as last year 45 per cent of all Q5 sales were of the PHEV model. The new ones, with up to 100km of electric range, should prove even more popular, especially with PHEV sales across the board having taken off this year.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line?
Yes - absolutely you should. The latest Q5 is an exercise in slick and well-thought-out vehicle engineering, and while there is much under the skin that's familiar from the old Q5, this one not only looks sharper on the surface, but also drives with more verve and more engagement. While it might be worth holding off for the plug-in hybrid models, it would be hard not to succumb to the easy-going charms of this diesel version.
FAQs About the 2025 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line
Is the Audi Q5 all new for 2025?
Not quite; while it has been given an entirely new body and interior, the engines and much of the structure underneath the skin are carried over from the previous Q5.
Which Audi Q5 engine is the best?
It depends on what you mean by 'best'. We'd give the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine a swerve as it's not all that refined. The 2.0 TDI is an excellent all-rounder, but it would be hard not to be swayed by the snarling 3.0-litre V6 in the SQ5 if your budget stretches to it. We'll have to wait until we've driven the new plug-in hybrid models later this year before making a final decision of course.
How many child seats fit in the back of the Audi Q5?
There are three ISOFIX points in the Q5: two in the outer back seats and one in the front passenger seat. There's just about enough width in the central back seat for a slim booster cushion using the seatbelt.
Has the Audi Q5 been assessed for safety by Euro NCAP?
This latest Q5 hasn't yet been assessed by Euro NCAP, but we can extrapolate a little from other results. The previous Q5 scored a full five stars, albeit that was back in 2017. However, much of that car's physical structure is carried over to the new model, so that seems like a solid base from which to work. Meanwhile, the new A5, which shares the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) chassis with the new Q5, scored a full five-star rating last year from Euro NCAP, so the omens for the new Q5 are good.
Want to know more about the Audi Q5?
Is there anything else you'd like to know about the Audi Q5? Or anything you feel we haven't covered here? Then just head over to our Ask Us Anything section and, well, ask us anything. It's a free service and we'll do our best to answer your questions.
