Nimble yet powerful, small enough to be agile enough for city driving - 2016 Audi Q5 Review
3The 2016 Audi Q5 has athletic handling, a wide range of potent engines, and a roomy and upscale interior. Unfortunately, it's pulled toward the bottom of our rankings by a low reliability rating, mixed crash test scores, and a ride that can be rough over broken roads.
The 2016 Audi Q5's #11 ranking is based on its score within the 2016 Luxury Compact SUVs category. It is a finalist for our 2016 Best Luxury Compact SUV for Families award. Currently the Audi Q5 has a score of 7.6 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 64 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
The Q5 isn't the best luxury compact SUV money can buy, but it’s a decent option for many people. The Q5 balances sharp performance with a high-end, feature-filled cabin that has ample space for adults in both rows. All-wheel drive is standard in every Q5; it’s a costly extra with most rivals.
Our goal is to make shopping for your next car as easy as possible. You'll find everything you need to know about the Audi Q5 in our comprehensive review. It combines concrete data (like fuel economy estimates, horsepower specs, and cargo space dimensions) with 64 professional Audi Q5 reviews.
The Best Cars team – a division of U.S. News & World Report – has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007. With more than 75 years of combined automotive experience, our editors, writers, and analysts rank a wide variety of new and used cars and issue three annual awards: Best Cars for the Money , Best Cars for Families , and Best Vehicle Brands . To keep our recommendations unbiased, we decline expensive gifts from carmakers, and a third party handles our advertising.
The Q5 tends to be more expensive than most of its rivals. On average, you can expect to pay around $34,900 for a 2016 Q5 and $44,000 for a 2016 SQ5. Prices vary based on the number of miles on the vehicle, its condition, and its options. Overall, Q5 prices range from $28,000 to $50,000, based on 400 listings for the 2016 Q5 on our site.
Want to trade-in or sell your current car? Get an instant cash offer that can be used toward the purchase of your next car.
You'll typically spend a little more than $30,000 over five years to fuel, insure, maintain, and repair a 2016 Q5. That's on the high side when it comes to these expenses. In comparison, the 2016 Volvo XC60 ’s costs are around $25,300.
The 2018 Audi Q5 , which marks the first year of a new generation, is a much better SUV than the 2016 model. The new generation earns higher scores in almost every category. The Q5’s new turbo engine has not only a higher horsepower rating, but a better fuel economy rating as well. This will save you around $250 in fuel costs every year. Higher crash test ratings elevate the 2018's safety score, and far more features now come standard. These include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a suite of advanced safety features. Altogether, these improvements vault the Q5 from the bottom third of our rankings to the top third. Despite all of these gains, there is one significant caveat that comes with the newer model: price. With the 2018 model’s base MSRP of $41,500, shoppers will need to decide if a new Q5 is worth the extra $6,600 over the 2016 model.
If the idea of buying new appeals to you, but a $40K-plus price tag does not, there are other options. A few new-SUV alternatives with good scores and starting prices close to the average price of a 2016 Q5 (based on our used car listings) include the Infiniti QX50 and the Lincoln MKC . If you don't mind stepping down to the smaller subcompact SUV class , you may want to consider a BMW X1 (which is very spacious for its class) or a Mercedes-Benz GLA .
The Audi Q5 isn't expected to be very reliable. Its reliability score of two out of five is one of the lowest in our rankings of the best luxury 2-row SUVs. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the Lexus RX , Lexus NX , and BMW X3 .
There are four recalls on the 2016 Q5 as of this writing. Select models powered by the 2.0-liter engine may encounter an overheating coolant pump, which increases the risk of a fire. Additional issues addressed by recalls include a fuel leak (due to a crack in the fuel pump flange), corroding wires for the auxiliary heater that may melt, and corrosion that affects components of the air bag system. Before you buy a used Q5, check to see that any applicable recalls have been appropriately repaired.
The Q5’s first generation began in 2009 and includes all model years through 2017. There are few differences in features between the 2014 and 2016 models (though the 2016 Q5 comes standard with a panoramic sunroof), and all have similar scores in our ranking. By picking a 2015 or older model year, you can save around $4,500 or more.
The base Q5 2.0T trim is well-equipped and provides excellent bang for your buck. It comes with leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate,