Audi details facelifted Q5 range

AUDI Australia has released the pricing and spec highlights of its new Q5 mid-sized SUV due here early next year with the range kicking off from $68,900 plus on-road costs for the 40 TDI quattro.

This marks a $2000 entry-price hike for the base model however the increase is offset by an extra 10kW of power, boosting its outputs to 150kW/400Nm.

The base model’s price increase largely sets the trend for the rest of the range with prices rising by between $1787-$4511 depending on the variant with the facelifted line-up consisting of seven different offerings compared to the current five.

Those two new variants are the 40 TDI quattro and 45 TFSI quattro Launch Editions ($78,300/$80,800) which go some way in bridging the $13,000 price gap between the Sport variants ($74,900/$76,600) and the top-spec 50 TDI quattro S line ($89,600).

As previously reported by GoAuto, the new model brandishes new bumpers front and rear and measures 19mm longer than its predecessor (4682mm) while still riding on the familiar 2820mm wheelbase.

According to designers, the facelift was inspired by the hi-po RS portfolio and so the new Q5 sports an altogether angrier look than before thanks to a reworked grille, bigger air intakes and revised LED running lights.

All variants roll on 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels as standard and all – as the quattro nomenclature denotes – come with Audi’s signature all-wheel-drive system.

Inside the cabin of the new model, the biggest change comes in the form of the new 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen which ditches the previous rotary dial in favour of a new storage cubby on the centre console.

As before, three powertrain options are being offered with the 40 TDI variants retaining their 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder mills albeit with a few enhancements to afford the aforementioned 10kW power increase.

These enhancements consist of a new aluminium crankcase and new crankshaft which shave 22kg from the weight of the engine and result a combined fuel figure of 5.3 litres per 100km thanks to the addition of a 12V mild-hybrid (MHEV) system.

Above the entry-level diesel is the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI petrol engine which now develops 183kW/370Nm – 2kW less than the old model.

Once again, at the top of the range is the 50 TDI quattro’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 which has been carried over unchanged for 2021, still developing 210kW/620Nm and now paired with a bigger 48V MHEV system.

In terms of transmissions, the four-cylinder variants retain the familiar seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission while the 50 TDI quattro boasts an eight-speed torque-converter unit.

Standard equipment on all variants includes keyless entry and start, a leather multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters and hands-on detection technology, leather-appointed upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, three-zone climate control with rear digital display, ambient lighting, frameless auto-dimming interior mirror, sliding rear seats, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Audi virtual cockpit, wireless smartphone charging, dual Bluetooth compatibility and DAB+ digital radio.

Safety tech meanwhile consists of autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, attention assist, eight airbags, side assist, active lane assist, exit warning system, hill descent control, cross-traffic assist rear, parking system plus with reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and pre-sense rear.

Compared to the base models, the Sport variants add heated sports front seats with driver memory function, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, traffic jam assist, power-adjustable steering column, collision avoidance assist, turn assist, surround-view monitor, park assist and a premium 10-speaker Audi sound system.

Above the Sports – for the time being at least – are the Launch Editions which boast “unique luxury and styling features” compared to the lesser variants including metallic paint, exclusive 20-inch bi-colour alloy wheels, black exterior styling package with black roof rails, carbon wing mirrors, privacy glass, black or ‘rock grey’ leather-appointed seat upholstery, extended upholstery package, illuminated front door sill trims and the colour ambient lighting package.

Finally, at the top of the range – until the SQ5 arrives a little later in 2021 – the 50 TDI S line boasts the most extravagant standard kit list of all the Q5s, adding easy entry functions, a head-up display and the S line exterior package (black honeycomb pattern grille, more aggressive front bumper with trapezoid elements and matt aluminium silver inserts, illuminated door sill trims with ‘S’ lettering and more aggro rear diffuser, not to mention the 210kW/620Nm powerplant.

According to Audi Australia customer and marketing officer Nikki Warburton, the new Q5 builds on its predecessor’s “remarkable reputation as one of the most successful SUVs on the market”.

“Well-known for its performance, striking design and clever versatility, the Audi Q5 now offers even more intelligent features that make it the most complete SUV in its segment,” she said.

So far this year ending November Audi has sold 2711 Q5s in Australia, accounting for 11.1 per cent of the $60,000-plus medium SUV market behind the Mercedes-Benz GLC wagon (4175/17.1%), BMW X3 (3978/16.3%) and Lexus NX (3043/12.5%).

2021 Audi Q5 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs