Audi Q5 (2017-2024) - Interior, design and technology
The Q5 cabin is smart, functional and beautifully finished, with an excellent level of standard equipment
Just so you know, this is an older review of the 2017-2024 Q5. If you are interested in information about the latest Audi Q5, or news about the current Audi models, please follow the links provided.
The Audi Q5 is well resolved, with decent proportions, and the 2020 facelift offered only a few minor tweaks to the already classy exterior. These included revised LED headlamps, a reshaped radiator grille, and a restyled front bumper with larger air intakes. Audi has also fitted a pair of reprofiled side skirts, while at the rear, there's some updated trim.
Audi also offers a few trim-specific exterior differences for the Q5. For example, the Sport model has a chrome grille surround and silver skid plates, while the S line variant features a honeycomb grille and chrome strip for the rear diffuser. Audi has also added a pair of new paint finishes to the Q5’s colour palette – District Green and Ultra Blue.
You can choose from 18- to 21-inch wheels and nine paint colours. Arkona white is offered as standard on the regular petrol and diesel model; the plug-in hybrid TFSI e has a choice of two free colours – the white mentioned earlier and Brilliant Black. The other colour options are metallic or pearl effect, costing from £675 extra, or a range of Audi Exclusive colours for a fairly hefty £3,330 more.
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Inside, the Q5 builds on the dashboard architecture that we’ve seen on the A4 by using a similar design, featuring even higher-quality materials. You’ll have to poke around pretty hard before you start finding any unpleasant plastics; everything that’s visible or regularly touched looks and feels superb.
A 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the dashboard, while a storage compartment has replaced the previous Q5’s centre console rotary control knob. It’s an ergonomic set-up but doesn’t look as sleek as the same screen integrated into the dash on Audi’s newer models like the Q4 e-tron.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
Audis no longer come with a trackpad and control wheel to operate the MMI Navigation system, and the set-up in the Q5 is mostly controlled via the touchscreen – voice activation is also included. The display offers a clear layout with useful shortcut buttons, and decent graphics, although the mapping looks a little dated.
The touchscreen is used for almost everything, and responds to your inputs with a click each time you touch it. The system is easy to navigate and offers lots of information, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a three-year connected services subscription.
Also included is Audi’s Virtual Cockpit 10.25-inch digital dash, which still delivers a hi-tech edge to the interior and impressive functionality. We appreciate that the climate controls (which are laid out below the central touchscreen) are still physical controls, which is a real bonus, because it makes it easy to adjust the temperature while driving.
DAB radio and Bluetooth are standard, along with two USB ports for charging up your devices. For around £1,900 you can add Audi’s ‘Technology Pack’, which consists of LED headlights, LED interior ambient lighting, an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system, wireless charging, park assist and a rear USB charging port.
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