2025 Audi Q5 Initial Drive Review: An Elegant Favorite

      Chris Tsui

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      If you were to calculate the average of all new cars on the market today, you'd likely land on the 2025 Audi Q5. With a starting price of $53,000, a compact yet spacious crossover design, and a high-end yet accessible brand reputation, the Q5 seems like the go-to choice for anyone looking to buy a new car without breaking the bank. It might be a luxury vehicle, but I would argue that, aside from a few exceptions, simply being able to afford a new car comfortably today is a luxury in itself.

      In both concept and performance, the Q5 feels like the quintessential 2025 new car. It offers a sportier feel without sacrificing comfort. The interior features a blend of large, modern screens along with practical physical controls—a light bar on the dashboard that reflects turn signal activity is just the kind of quirky but innocuous feature that you might see in a satirical take on modern luxury cars.

      Its broadly pleasing qualities make the new Q5 versatile. It's quick and nimble, stylish yet comfortable, fancy without being flashy—Audi’s latest SUV remains a strong contender for those who have the means to seek a crossover that can do it all.

      Chris Tsui

      The Essentials

      Positioned between the midsize Q7 and the subcompact Q3, the Q5 is Audi’s compact crossover and their best-selling model. This 2025 iteration has undergone a complete redesign, marking its third generation with a sleeker, more modern aesthetic. The headlights are more angular, the grille is wider, the taillights form a continuous bar across the back, and the slightly redesigned fenders evoke Audi's vintage rally cars, plus all exhaust tips are now functional.

      Compared to its predecessor, the new Q5 has seen slight growth: it measures 1.4 inches longer, 0.2 inches taller, and 0.6 inches wider than the previous model.

      Inside, Audi’s latest control system and infotainment setup now relies more on touch-sensitive interfaces, which is pretty standard in this class (and others). While I’m not a fan either, after some adjustment, Audi's system isn’t too bad. It still includes a traditional volume knob with track navigation, and the OLED screens in front of the driver are bright, clear, customizable, and well-organized. The steering wheel’s touch-sensitive buttons are effectively designed—they click and have grooves to help use them without needing to look.

      Audi

      In terms of style and materials, I’d rank the Q5’s cabin very high, though the competition isn’t especially fierce these days. The primary screen’s bezel looks slightly awkward, as if someone drew it while tipsy, but overall, the aesthetic is clean, upscale, and uniquely styled. I particularly like the wooden edge under the screens (which turns into carbon fiber in the sportier SQ5), the build quality feels solid throughout, and the A-pillars are noticeably thinner than those of its main competitors, enhancing outward visibility.

      The seats offer subtle comfort, and the back bench has ample space for the class. It can slide four inches forward and backward and recline, plus rear passengers enjoy their own set of climate controls and vents as standard. The cargo area in the Q5 is larger than in the previous generation: it offers 1.7 cubic feet more with the seats up (27.6 total) and 3.4 cubic feet more with the rear seats down (56.9 total).

      Driving Dynamics

      As a vehicle to drive, the new Q5 is best characterized as agreeable. The ride is comfortable, its powertrain—a 268-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four with all-wheel drive—is smooth and reasonably proficient, and it handles confidently on the road. The steering is light yet precise (with stiffer components providing a more direct feel at lower speeds and a relaxed sensation at higher speeds), while the brake pedal is satisfyingly solid and responsive for a vehicle of this nature.

      Although it features Quattro branding, the Q5 is ultimately a luxury grocery hauler, feeling user-friendly and manageable around town. On the highway, it remains stable and relatively quiet, and it offers off-road settings that lift the optional air suspension by 1.2 inches. During an early test that included significant dirt road driving, I found that Audi’s compact crossover can confidently handle an unpaved trail.

      The SQ5

      Upgrade to the $66,000 SQ5, and you will find the turbo-four replaced with a robust 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque—an increase of 13 hp and 37 lb-ft compared to the previous SQ5. Engage Sport mode, deactivate stability control, and simultaneously depress the brake and gas pedals to activate launch control. Releasing the left foot results in