2021 Audi Q5

Audi sells a wide range of sedans and SUVs with luxurious interiors and lots of technology. Several of its SUVs and sedans have earned CR’s recommendation for balancing driver and passenger comfort with smooth power and nimble handling. In most cases, buyers shopping for sedans and SUVs in the luxury category should consider Audi’s options. Fit and finish quality reaches even the lowest-priced models. However, like most luxury cars from European brands, maintenance and repair costs can be expensive, making used Audis difficult to recommend. Typically, Audi identifies sedans with the letter A, SUVs with the letter Q, and numbers that increase according to size. The Q3 is a compact crossover while the Q8 is a three-row SUV. Models that start with S or RS are tuned for performance and have more power, stiffer suspension, and more aerodynamic exterior details. All-electric models have the E-tron suffix.

The redesigned Q5 gets new styling, increased performance promise, and a growing list of advanced safety features. The new Q is also available with Audi's Virtual Cockpit, which lets you expand the cluster between the instrument panel's large gauges into a larger color screen that can display audio, phone, navigation, and travel information. The standard audio system includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Like the A4, the Q5 is powered by an updated 252-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard. Available advanced safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Changes for the 2020 model year include standard high-beam assist, and greater availability of lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. A plug-in hybrid version, with a claimed electric range of 20 miles, is also new. For 2021, the Q5 got a freshening with a modest power boost. Coupe-like Sportback versions are added to both Q5 and SQ5. It also brought wireless Apple CarPlay and more standard advanced safety features.