Audi’s Q5 SUV was launched here in the second quarter of 2009 and ever since it has been very successful, rightly perceived as a very serious contender to BMW and Mercedes in the mid-sized luxury SUV category. Audi is well-known for producing the classiest interiors of all manufacturers, in terms of both design, materials used and fitment.
The latest range had its introduction here in mid-2017, with a model re-shuffle and re-name occurring in November 2018. At that time the model nomenclature was changed to refer to engine power output rather than engine displacement. So, for example, the Q5 2.0 TDI quattro became the Q5 40TDI quattro. Similarly, the 2.0 TFSI quattro became the 45 TFSI quattro. This is a naming policy that Audi has since introduced on its other ranges too.
Current range
The current Q5 range consists of nine models, if one includes the top-line performance model, the SQ5.
The model line-up features four models using the 2,0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine and four models fitted with the 2,0-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol four-cylinder motor. The diesel models use the TDI name and the petrol models are called TFSI. All four-cylinder models use a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, which Audi refers to as an S-tronic transmission. All-wheel-drive (quattro) is standard across the range.
Related: 2017 Audi Q5 2.0TFSI Quattro Sport (Car Review)
Diesel model performance
All four 40TDI models have identical power outputs of 140 kW and 400 Nm of torque. This provides a manufacturer- rated acceleration time of 0-100 km/h in 7,9 seconds and a top speed of 212 km/h, which Audi claims for all four diesel models. Average fuel consumption is claimed at 4,9 litres/100 km, which is optimistic, and likely to translate to around 6,2- 6,5 litres/100 km in real-time driving.
Petrol performance
The performance of the 45TFSI petrol models is substantially quicker. With a power output of 185 kW and 370 Nm from the excellent petrol four-cylinder, the 0-100 km/h sprint time is achieved in 6,3 seconds, and top speed rises to 237 km/h. The downside of this performance comes at the expense of heavier fuel consumption. The claimed average is 6,8 litres/100 km, but owners will be doing well to average 8,2 litres/100 km in general use. The reason is that smaller turbocharged petrol engines fitted to larger-sized SUV bodies tend to operate on higher turbo-boost conditions in stop-start urban conditions, and the more boost, the more fuel is needed to balance the additional air-charge.
Related: How to change wiper blades on an Audi Q5
The SQ5
Fuel consumption won’t be high on the priority lists for those opting for the potent SQ5 version. This model uses a 260 kW 3,0-litre V6 petrol engine, which produces 500 Nm of torque. Allied to a 7-speed S tronic transmission, the SQ5 romps to 100 km/h in 5,4 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Average consumption is a claimed 8,3 litres/100 km, but this is likely to rise to the 11,0 litres/100 km range in urban usage.
Related: Top 3 Audi Q5 trims head-to-head.
Pricing
Be aware that list prices with luxury German cars like the Audi rarely reflect the actual price paid at point of sale, because so many extra-cost options are normally fitted. This is also reflected in used prices of low-mileage examples for sale. In the case of the Q5 and similar luxury cars with long options lists, it is often confusing to see a used model being advertised for sale at substantially more than the new list price!
Related: Shop for new and used Audi Q5 cars for sale here
Q5 List prices
- Audi Q5 40TDI quattro. R 711 500
- Audi Q5 40TDI quattro Off Road Edition. R753 141
- Audi Q5 45TFSI quattro. R758 500
- Audi Q5 40TDI quattro sport. R762 000
- Audi Q5 40TDI quattro sport S-Line sports. R787 139
- Audi Q5 45TFSI quattro Off Road Edition. R800 141
- Audi Q5 45TFSI quattro sport. R809 000
- Audi Q5 45TFSI quattro sport S-Line sports. R834 139
- Audi SQ5. R1 053 000.
Which Audi Q5 model has least depreciation?
It is interesting that the TDI versions of the Audi Q5 are by far the most popular versions amongst customers. Perhaps one of the reasons is that the diesel models are less expensive to buy, trim-for-trim, than the petrol versions. This is reflected in our used car listing for the Q5, where the overwhelming majority of models listed for re-sale for 2018-2019 model years was the TDI quattro sport variant. Next most popular was the base TDI. In fact petrol (TFSI) versions for this time period represented less than 10 % of the total number of Q5s currently listed on AutoTrader.
In light of this, we have to conclude that the model with the least deprecation is the Audi Q5 40TDI sport, followed by the Audi Q4 40TDI. Please note that in or used car section these models are often still listed by traders as 2.0 TDIs, rather than under the latest 40TDI nomenclature.
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