The wait for the Audi Q5 facelift has been a long one. The SUV stopped sales in India before the BS6 transition and the pandemic delayed the arrival of its replacement. The year 2021 has seen a strong resurgence from the German brand when it launched in all segments except the Q series. This facelift fills that gap. The SUV is being assembled at the Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra and is being offered in two trims – Premium Plus and Technology and it is the latter that I have to drive.
design
The face gets a new grille, redesigned bumper and new LED headlamps with LED DRLs.
The updated Q5 gets a whole new face here. The single frame grille has now been flattened and widened while the bumper has also been redesigned, both of which enhance the look of the car. The SUV also gets a brand new set of LED headlamps and attractive looking LED DRLs which add to the appeal of the car. The air inlet has come up slightly as compared to the car before the facelift and you also get a silver skid plate. On the profile, you get 19-inch double spoke star style alloys but only on the top trim. The Premium also gets the same size wheels but they will look slightly different. Overall the car looks quite modern and fits into the urban lifestyle quite easily.
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Contrary to expectations, the new Q5 doesn’t feature OLED taillights.
The aluminum roof rails and side skirts on the profile also grab your attention. The highlight at the rear are the LED combination lamps with dynamic turn indicators which pretty much match the shape of the car. The redesigned tailgate with heavy skid plates along with smartly integrated exhaust tips adds a dose of freshness to the SUV. Altogether there are 5 color options to choose from and I spent my time with Navara blue. Overall, the look of the SUV is attractive but subtle and the job is well done.
tech and interior
There are 2 interior themes to choose from – Okapi Brown and Atlas Beige.
Inside the Q5 you get a nice clutter free cabin. The buttons are well laid out, there aren’t too many of them and I love it. The combination of black on the dash and okapi brown on the seats looks quite premium, with the second option too light and the Atlas beige hard to maintain. The updated 10.1 multi media interface is just as responsive and easy to use as ever if not more.
Read also: Audi India starts local production of the new Q5 facelift
The updated touchscreen system delivers impressive clarity and responsiveness.
Audi’s smartphone interface provides features related to My Audi Connect in the Q5. And then of course in Audi cars the Virtual Cockpit Plus is always one of the highlights. It is great to look at, offers amazing clarity and is quite functional as well. Lastly, a 3D 19 speaker B&O sound system is also being offered on the SUV but this and Virtual Cockpit are available only on the Technology trim.
The SUV is so wide that it can seat 3 people.
The ergonomics are well in place as there are several storage options around the seats while overall the cabin feels quite spacious. The Q5 also gets power adjustable front seats, 30 color options with ambient lighting, 3-zone climate control and a wireless charger. You get both Type A and Type C charging slots. A large panoramic sunroof extends to the second row and adds to the sense of space. The second row itself is a comfortable place to stay for 3 people, despite the floor tunnel. For added practicality, the new Q5 comes with sensor controlled boot lid opening.
dynamics
Unlike earlier, the Q5 will now be offered with just one petrol engine.
We now know that Audi is moving towards petrol and electric cars globally, which also means that India’s portfolio is now devoid of any diesel options. The Q5 gets a familiar mill that does duty on many cars in the huge VW family. This 2.0-litre TFSI engine makes around 247 bhp but an even more impressive 370 Nm of torque which is available from 1600 rpm to 4300 rpm. This means that there is no perceptible gap here. The engine has been refined and the setup is quite responsive as well. The 7-speed Stronic Dual Clutch gearbox keeps things attractive, while Sport Mode and Paddle Shift give you added excitement in that case.
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Audi is claiming a healthy 17 kmpl on the new Q5.
The Q5 accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 6.3 seconds and that’s impressive for a car of this size and shape. But what can bring a big smile to your face in times of high petrol prices is the fuel efficiency figure as Audi is claiming a healthy 17 kmpl here. This is partly due to the 12V mild hybrid setup that comes with the car. According to Audi, the car reaches a top speed of 237 kmph. And then you also get a quattro all-wheel drive system as standard, so power and more grip is a department that ticks now!
ride and handling
The crossover shape of the SUV certainly helps in better maneuverability.
Two things really work for the Q5 when it comes to ride and handling. Firstly it is not a very tall car and at the same time it is wide. So, its crossover shape definitely helps in better maneuverability. You can throw this car around with complete confidence and it will run really well. Then there is the suspension with damper control which ensures a smooth ride for all the passengers. I had my share of bad roads during the drive and this feature helped the car gliding over bumps and potholes and hardly felt anything inside the cabin. If you are investing in a car like the Q5 then it makes all sense to go for the high tech trim as only the comfort it offers.
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Suspension with damper control which ensures smooth ride for all passengers.
You can choose between Comfort, Dynamic, Off-Road, Individual and Auto modes on the Q5 and each one ensures that the character of the SUV changes to some extent. They come to your aid when you have to face different types of driving conditions and different terrains. Engine and steering feedback changes to give you a more favorable drive. It is very easy to drive in tight conditions so passing through traffic will not be difficult at all in Q5. It is an agile car and you can spend a long time driving it without getting tired.
security and judgment
The price range between ₹ 55 to 60 lakhs will really turn up the heat in the segment.
The Q5 gets 8 airbags which include rear side airbags. It also has Park Assist feature for easy parking. Historically almost half of the total sales of Audis in India have come from the Q category only, so the Q5 is a hugely important product when it comes to regaining its lost ground in India. With all the changes, the car has the potential to do exactly that. But the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3 and Land Rover Discovery Sport stand in the way. But we will have to see if the Audi Q5 will be priced competitive when Audi launches the car in mid-November. I think the price range between ₹ 55 to 60 lakhs will really turn up the heat in the segment.
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