Audi Q5

Upmarket family SUV ramps up the technology as it moves into a new generation On sale Spring 2025 Price from £49,000 (est)

- Stuart Milne

"SIMPLIFY AND ADD lightness," Lotus founder Colin Chapman once said. And in one regard, Audi has taken the latter part to heart with the new Q5. That's because the latest generation will trip the light fantastic with headlights and tail-lights that are able to create intricate 3D patterns, plus interior illumination that creates a range of different ambiences.

Yet far from simplifying, the new Q5 will be among the brand's most sophisticated cars yet. It's based on new underpinnings shared with the upcoming A5 executive car and will initially be powered by petrol and diesel engines featuring fuel-saving mild hybrid electrical assistance. A plug-in hybrid model will arrive later, but there won't be an electric Q5; the new Q6 e-tron assumes that role.

The mild hybrid system works slightly differently from those of most other models, in that it allows the Q5 to move for short distances, such as when parking, under electric power alone. More conventionally, it assists the engine when accelerating and can run the climate control when the engine is off.

Producing 201bhp, the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol engine is available with front or fourwheel drive and, like the rest of the range, comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The 2.0-litre diesel is related to those found in the current Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan, among others, and is four-wheel drive only. Official average fuel economy stands at 44.1mpg for the most efficient petrol version and 47.9mpg for the diesel. A sporty SQ5 will once again top the range with a 362bhp 3.0-litre petrol V6.