Audi Q5 (2017-2024) Review

This second-generation Q5 arrived in 2017 at a point when the premium mid-size SUV class had become fiercely competitive. Buyers were no longer simply choosing between a few prestige badges and calling it a day. Cars such as the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Volvo XC60 had all become seriously accomplished in their own right, so the Q5 needed to do more than just rely on a smart image and an Audi badge.

Its answer was to lean into polish and quality. The Q5 was never the most extroverted or flamboyant SUV in this class, but it was one of the easiest to live with. It combined a very solid, high-quality cabin with strong refinement, tidy road manners and the kind of family-friendly practicality that makes a car feel genuinely useful rather than merely desirable.

That all-round competence remains the key to its appeal as a used car. The Q5 still feels expensive in the places that matter, it's quiet and comfortable on a long run, and it avoids the obvious weak spots that can make some rivals feel harder to recommend as an all-round family car.

Audi’s range has now moved on to a newer third-generation Q5 in the UK, but this 2017-2024 car still feels modern enough, still looks smart and now makes stronger financial sense than it did when new.

For most used buyers, we recommend the 40 TDI in Sport or S line trim. These offer the best balance of performance, economy and refinement, and suit the Q5’s relaxed family-SUV brief very well.

If your mileage is lower, the 45 TFSI petrol is also worth a look. It's smooth, strong and refined, even if it's harder to justify on fuel costs.

Trim matters here, too. Sport is the sensible place to start, while S line adds the visual punch many buyers will want without moving too far away from the Q5’s comfort-first character. Black Edition and Vorsprung cars can look tempting, but they also tend to push costs up quickly.

Used Audi Q5 prices now start from around £20,000 for earlier 40 TDI Sport or S line models, with later facelifted cars, better trims and plug-in hybrids sitting notably higher.

There's plenty of choice on the used market, which is helpful because specification makes a meaningful difference to how convincing the Q5 feels. Wheel size, options and engine choice all matter.

For many buyers, the best value sits in the middle of the range with a well-specced 40 TDI rather than in the more expensive plug-in hybrids or top trims.

The BMW X3 is the obvious alternative if you want a more driver-focused premium SUV, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC is the one to look at if you want a plusher-feeling cabin and stronger diesel performance.

The Volvo XC60 is another strong choice if comfort and Scandinavian design appeal matter most, while the Lexus NX and the Land Rover Discovery Sport offer slightly different takes depending on whether you value hybrid efficiency or seven-seat flexibility.

The Q5’s strength is that it still feels like one of the most rounded all-rounders in this class. It may not dominate any single area, but it's easy to recommend across the board.

The Q5 is a very useful family SUV. Up front, there's loads of room, a commanding driving position and enough cabin storage to make day-to-day life easy.

Rear-seat space is another strong point. Four adults fit with little complaint, and the outer rear seats are especially comfortable. The middle seat is less convincing, though, because it's narrower and the floor hump gets in the way.

The boot is a decent size at 550 litres in standard petrol and diesel models, and while that's not class-leading, it's still more than enough for family life. The shape is usefully square, the powered tailgate is standard, and the 40:20:40 split rear seats add welcome flexibility.

Sliding and reclining rear seats were available as an option, and they are worth seeking out on a used car if practicality matters to you. They make the Q5 even more versatile and let you prioritise passenger space or luggage room as needed.

The plug-in hybrid’s battery packaging cuts boot space in the TFSI e models to 465 litres, so if maximum carrying ability is important, the regular petrol and diesel versions make more sense.

The Audi Q5 measures 4,663mm long, 2,140mm wide and 1,659mm high. That makes it a sizable family SUV, but not an intimidating one.

In practice, it feels easier to drive and manoeuvre than something like a Discovery Sport, and its tidy proportions help make it an easy car to live with.

Infotainment is one of the more mixed aspects of the Q5. Early cars can feel a bit underwhelming unless they were specified with the upgraded screen, while facelifted cars from 2020 onwards brought a larger and sharper 10.1-inch touchscreen.

That facelift improved the look of the system, but also removed the old rotary controller, which means the newer setup isn't as intuitive to use on the move as the earlier one. It's a good example of something that looks more modern but isn't automatically easier to live with.

Even so, the overall tech offering is still competitive enough, and cars with the Virtual Cockpit digital driver display and the better infotainment options feel plusher and more current inside.

Material quality is exactly where you'd hope it would be in an Audi. The upper dashboard, steering wheel, switchgear and trim all feel dense and expensive, and the whole cabin gives off the sort of reassuringly solid vibe that Audi has long traded on.

There may be flashier interiors elsewhere, but few feel more carefully assembled. That's a big part of the Q5’s appeal, especially as a used buy.

Used buyers will mainly be choosing between the 40 TDI, 45 TFSI and the 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid, depending on year and trim, while earlier cars also broaden the picture with slightly older outputs and the SQ5 diesel sitting separately as the performance outlier.

The 40 TDI is the key engine in the range for most buyers. It has enough torque to suit the Q5’s size, feels relaxed at speed and still returns respectable economy for a four-wheel-drive family SUV.

The 45 TFSI is the smoother petrol alternative, while the 50 TFSI e makes the strongest plug-in hybrid case if your routine suits regular charging. Earlier cars also included a 55 TFSI e with more power, but the 50 is the more relevant used buy for most people.

The Q5 feels tidy and reassuring on the road. Around town, it's easy enough to manoeuvre, and while it's not especially compact, it never feels awkward or cumbersome.

On a faster road, the Audi settles into a cruise beautifully. Wind noise is very well suppressed, road noise is low, and the whole car gives off the kind of expensive, long-legged feel buyers in this class tend to want.

Ride comfort depends quite a lot on wheel and suspension choice. Sport, S line and Black Edition cars use the same broad comfort-biased setup, which makes life simpler than it once was, but bigger wheels still bring a firmer edge around town.

Top-spec Vorsprung cars with air suspension are more supple, but not enough to justify seeking them out at any cost. For most buyers, a sensibly wheeled Sport or S line is the smarter answer.

Handling is tidy and secure rather than fun. The steering is light and remote, but grip is strong, and the quattro system gives the Q5 a lot of reassuring traction in poor conditions.

The Q5 scored the maximum five stars when tested by independent safety organisation Euro NCAP in 2017, though its detailed safety-assistance score was not quite as strong as some rivals because more of the clever assistance technology was optional rather than standard.

Even so, the core safety package is solid, with autonomous emergency braking, parking sensors and a broad spread of passive safety kit. As always, it's worth checking the exact specification of any used example because assistance features varied depending on options.

Fuel economy is respectable rather than outstanding. The 40 TDI is the best all-round choice and gives the Q5 the strongest balance of economy and ease, with efficiency of up to 42mpg, while the 45 TFSI isn't notably thirstier.

The plug-in hybrid looks excellent on paper, but as always, the official figure only makes real sense if you charge it regularly and make the most of its electric running, which is up to 38 miles depending on the version. If not, you're carrying extra weight for very little reward.

Any remaining manufacturer warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Audi Approved Used examples remain the most reassuring place to start.

Audi Approved Used currently includes a minimum of one year of Audi Warranty, one year of roadside assistance and a 30-day exchange plan, which adds useful reassurance on a used premium SUV.

Audi servicing is generally straightforward, but on used examples it's still worth checking the history carefully, particularly on plug-in hybrid cars and highly specified versions with more complex optional systems.

Insurance varies across the range, but even the more mainstream versions sit firmly in premium-SUV territory.

The 40 TDI Sport is the sensible place to start, while plusher trims and higher-powered versions climb more quickly. As always, it's worth checking quotes before you buy.

For most Audi Q5s registered on or after 1 April 2017, the standard annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or road tax) rate is £200.

If the car’s original list price was more than £40,000, it also pays the Expensive Car Supplement for five years from the second licence. That takes the annual bill to £640. That's especially relevant here because most Q5s crossed that threshold when new.

A small handful of early Q5s were registered before April 2017, and they’ll be taxed under different criteria. Expect to pay between £200 and £275 a year, depending on the exact model.