- Redesigned SUV retains the identical proportions, lights up the outside
- 2025 Audi Q5 makes use of a 268-hp turbo-4 with normal all-wheel drive
- 2025 Audi SQ5 employs a 362-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with an air suspension
Audi unwrapped the 2025 Q5 and SQ5 SUVs over Labor Day weekend, illuminating a brand new design, extra environment friendly engines, and a software-driven structure. Of the 20 new or redesigned autos Audi will launch within the subsequent two years, there is no such thing as a extra essential one than the redesigned third-generation Q5.
Audi’s bestselling car within the U.S. additionally makes up 44% of world Q5 gross sales,, nevertheless it might be the final of its variety. It’s the primary Audi SUV to embrace the model’s new Premium Platform Combustion platform, following the associated 2025 Audi A5 revealed in July.
2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5
That serves as one of many shorter tines in Audi’s two-pronged strategy within the subsequent decade because it goes absolutely electrical by 2033.
“Till then, we may have this parallel technique step-by-step, and ultimately we’ll cut back ICE autos,” Audi CEO Gernot Döllner defined at a press briefing in July. “For now, and the subsequent two to 3 years, we’re introducing all-new ICE vehicles after which we’ll determine if we’ll have a subsequent technology. We’ll have to cut back our portfolio as we gained’t be capable of deal with that complexity as an organization.”
The longer prong extends down Audi’s Premium Platform Electrical technique that launched earlier this summer time with the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron electrical SUV.
How lengthy these platforms run and what number of autos they’ll underpin actually is dependent upon market forces as a lot as political ones.
“We’ve a worldwide technique and possibly we’ll have a Western world and Chinese language technique, however for now we’ll have a robust hyperlink between Europe and the U.S.,” Döllner mentioned. “We’ll see extra vehicles influenced by North American market necessities, particularly on the SUV aspect.”
2025 Audi SQ5
2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5 engines
The brand new PPC permits for many varieties of electrification however the Q5 “55” plug-in hybrid gained’t return to the U.S., but, and the 18-kw mild-hybrid system normal in European markets gained’t come to the U.S. An Audi rep informed Motor Authority that U.S. clients don’t need it and the EPA positive aspects could be minimal. Most new BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes SUV fashions have some sort of mild-hybrid system.
For now. When Döllner was requested if hybrids had been deliberate for the U.S., his reply was unequivocal. “Sure.”
It might be the Q5. What we all know for positive is the Q5 and SQ5 will get the identical engines within the A5 and S5. The 2025 Audi Q5 comes with a 268-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 that runs cleaner than the outgoing turbo-4, whereas the SQ5 runs cleaner with a stronger turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 362 hp versus 349 hp within the outgoing V-6. All-wheel drive with torque vectoring comes normal, and the 7-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission carries over.
Stiffer steering and suspension mounts on the entrance axle ought to assist button down the steel-spring suspension, and adaptive dampers might be accessible. A four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers might be normal on the SQ5.
2025 Audi Q5
2025 Audi Q5 infotainment and tech
Audi’s new software-defined electrical structure runs 5 computer systems meant to maintain the car and its choices as updatable as a smartphone. It helps the model evolve what it’s already finished nicely with a cutting-edge infotainment system and crystal clear interfaces. These interfaces streamline throughout the sprint as a substitute of overwhelming it, as in sure rivals.
This “Digital Stage,” in Audi’s phrases, runs in a horizontal line with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a 14.5-inch touchscreen that curves towards the driving force. Then there’s a ten.9-inch passenger display that the driving force can’t see. The passenger can stream out or assist with instructions and override navigation from the passenger display. With AI-backed voice instructions that be taught the driving force’s preferences and method of talking, you don’t must depend on the touchscreen a lot for something, although the local weather management panel integrates as a part of the display. Audi says the voice recognition system can register greater than 800 instructions, and that quantity grows with time. In restricted testing at a preview, it happy most simple navigation instructions and correctly adjusted the local weather management.
2025 Audi Q5
2025 Audi Q5
2025 Audi Q5 cabin consolation and dimension
The Q5 retains the identical footprint as its predecessor, seating 5 although 4 passengers might be extra snug. It’s sized extra just like the redesigned BMW X3 than the X5, and extra just like the Mercedes-Benz GLC than the GLE. It’s barely smaller in size and wheelbase than the Genesis GV70 and Volvo XC60.
Audi swaddles the cabin in accessible quilted leather-based and soft-touch supplies with distinction stitching from door to sprint. The entrance seats present normal energy changes and accessible massagers, and there’s loads of assist on the perimeters and bottoms. SQ5 fashions get a hexagonal steering wheel with a flat prime and backside. Audi tries to reinvent the door management panel with a haptic contact floor to unlock the doorways and management the home windows and aspect mirrors; conventional knobs or toggles work higher in our expertise with the panel. It feels an excessive amount of just like the Volkswagen ID.4.
In again, three passengers can match throughout with loads of headroom and good legroom, however that center passenger is finest reserved for youngsters. A panoramic sunroof cuts into rear headroom. The rear seats can slide and recline to optimize both passenger or cargo area, and the cargo flooring has a slot to cover the cargo cowl when not in use.
2025 Audi Q5
2025 Audi Q5 lighting
One different notable inside function connects to the outside design: A halo of lighting showcases the car’s software-defined structure. A lightweight bar ringing the cowl and spanning the size of the windshield discreetly flashes a flip indicator. The traditional flip indicators nonetheless blink within the cluster, however this accessible “dynamic interplay mild” may present upcoming navigation instructions along with what’s displayed within the head-up show or cluster. It’s delicate, and a mild reminder that additionally accentuates the ambient lighting framing the sprint, doorways, and console.
The emphasis on lighting carries over to the outside design, the place Audi goes all in on its headlights and taillights. U.S. regulators gained’t allow them to go full monty as in different markets nevertheless it’s nonetheless notable. Skinny daytime operating lights curve across the corners in slender slits, and they are often personalized in as much as eight totally different mild signatures programmable whereas in Park from the touchscreen. In again, a full-width taillight enhances 3D illumination on the outer taillights. In different markets, these taillights can flash a hazard triangle to raised warn drivers, and sequential flip lights may also be outfitted. In North America, the built-in rear spoiler holds a 3rd brake mild throughout its span. It displays into the glass, and might spell out “Quattro” for some free advertising and marketing of Audi’s all-wheel-drive system. The motive force can’t see it within the rearview mirror.
The outside lighting accentuates a brand new design for the Q5. The decrease grille ditches the faux skid plate and stretches broader and bolder, turned up on the corners into vertical air intakes. A brand new honeycomb grille design holds a 3D Audi ring brand that may illuminate on some fashions. Extra underbody panels cut back drag, and a personality line rides from the entrance fender to the rear. Wheel sizes vary from 18 to 21 inches, the latter solely accessible on the SQ5.
2025 Audi Q5
2025 Audi Q5 pricing
Pricing gained’t be introduced till late this 12 months, and Audi expects deliveries of the third-gen Q5 and SQ5 to start early in 2025. Premium, Premium Plus, and Status trims carry over, in base, S Line, and SQ5 grades. Pricing for Europe doesn’t present an equal comparability as a result of these fashions may have the mild-hybrid system, so we anticipate the 2025 Q5 to start out at lower than the $59,000 Q5 Quattro (primarily based on present alternate charges) in Europe. That additionally applies to the SQ5, which is listed as 82,000 euros, or about $90,000 {dollars}.
Audi paid for airfare and lodging for Motor Authority to current this firsthand report.
