The Q5 is Audi's best-selling model in the United States. It's not the most desirable car in the company's lineup or the most high-performing, but it's a sales phenomenon. Therefore, releasing a new version of Audi's five-passenger compact SUV should not be done lightly. No surprise, then, that for 2025, Audi isn't radically changing the formula. However, with more room, power, and tech, the new Q5 is more desirable than the outgoing one.
Photo: Tim Stevens
It starts with a change of dimensions, with the new 2025 Q5 growing about 1.5 inches in length and a little more than half an inch in width. The same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Q5, now making a bit more power: 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, specifically.
The most significant changes are on the inside, though, with a new sweeping set of displays that Audi calls the Digital Stage, connecting the gauge cluster and infotainment display to form a single pane. And if that's not enough, you can get a third display way over on the right for the passenger.
The new 2025 Audi Q5 is available in the standard SUV and slightly cropped Sportback shapes. Three trim levels are available: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige, with prices starting in the mid-$50,000s and going up to the low-$60,000s, including the destination charge.
Read our full 2025 Audi Q5 and SQ5 preview for more background and details.
For this 2025 Q5 review, Audi provided a test vehicle equipped with Prestige trim and the following options:
The test vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) was $63,290, including the $1,295 destination charge to ship the Audi SUV to your local dealership from the San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, assembly plant.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Subtle improvement is the theme with most aspects of the new Q5, including the styling. From a distance, if you're not intimately familiar with the look of the outgoing model, you might not spot much new. However, the new Q5 has a sharper, more modern look, mainly from the shape of the lights.
Both the headlights and taillights are significantly slimmer than the outgoing model, relying on LEDs and OLED sections on some trims to create small yet intricate and effective lighting surfaces.
You’ll find much bigger changes on the inside, primarily the displays, which I'll discuss in a moment. Beyond the giant sweeping wedge of OLED panels, the rest of the Q5’s interior is subtly improved, the most significant change being the literal shift to Audi's new, smaller shifter, opening the center console for bigger cupholders and some storage cubbies.
The gray woodgrain insert on either side of the display is nicely curved and provides a visual flair for a dashboard swimming in unfortunate glossy black plastic. Materials are pleasant to touch, and while I loved the look of the Pearl Beige upholstery, it may not be the best choice for those with families or pets. (Brown or black are also available.)
The seats are well-positioned for easy entry and offer good support and comfort. Fronts are heated and, if you go with the Prestige, ventilated with a basic massage function. The rear seats are heated on the Prestige trim as well. The rear legroom is far from generous, but at least there's plenty of headroom back there.
Those rear seats are split 40/20/40; they all offer sliding and reclining adjustments, making them a step above the accommodations you get in the back of your average compact crossover SUV. With the rear seats folded, you're looking at 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space; 27.6 cubic feet of space remains with the seats up.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Regarding tech upgrades in the 2025 Audi Q5, the big story is the displays. The gauge cluster consists of an 11.9-inch OLED panel mated to a second OLED panel—a 14.5-inch unit that handles primary infotainment duties. Go with the Prestige trim, and you get a third display on the far right reserved for passenger use.
If that's not enough, there's also a head-up display on the Premium Plus trim and above. This unit is bright and easy to view, even with polarized sunglasses, and includes a wealth of information—everything from your car's position within the lane to altitude and inclinometer.
The OLED gauge cluster incorporates panels on the left and right, displaying things like current efficiency or details on your next turn. You can cycle through those to your heart's content, but there's a disappointing lack of customization here. You can toggle the information panels on and off, but sadly, that's about it.
The central display offers the latest version of Audi's familiar MMI interface, which provides a bit more visual flair than before and a bit of customization thanks to a panel of button shortcuts you can drag around to get to where you need to quickly. It's all basic but functional and bolstered by wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.
Like many modern vehicles, finding the right series of sub-menus is challenging. Thankfully, the Q5's voice assistant is generally snappy and can handle a wide range of tasks. It can also find restaurants or other POIs quickly.
The optional third display on the far right is reserved for passenger use, which means a few additional multimedia options, such as YouTube and games. However, when you use these apps, it looks like a black box from the driver's seat. It's nifty tech, but it's hard to imagine a passenger not preferring to use their smartphone instead. The passenger screen also got disconcertingly hot during my test drive.
Regarding safety, the 2025 Q5 includes a comprehensive set of standard active safety features, including adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, and automatic emergency braking.
The ACC had no issues identifying traffic ahead on the highway and adjusting speed accordingly. The lane-centering assistance kept the SUV planted in the middle, even when paint markings on the road were badly broken.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The Q5 doesn't exactly make an evocative sound when you poke the Engine Start button. It’s more of a utilitarian buzz. But slide the tiny new shifter back to slot into D, and the SUV pulls away smoothly from a stop. All 2025 Q5 SUVs have the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Sadly, there's no hybrid option—at least not yet—but that base power plant gains a little power and torque over the previous Q5 S line 45 TFSI model (seven hp and 22 pound-feet, to be exact).
The bigger change, though, is how that power gets to the wheels. Gone is the old seven-speed automatic, replaced by a new, dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) that feeds power to Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Dual-clutch transmissions allow for lightning-fast shifts in high-performance cars but can sometimes be clunky and rough at low speeds. That's absolutely not the case here. Clearly, Audi tuned this DCT for comfort. The Q5 eases forward smoothly and slips between gears beautifully.
Conversely, those hoping for those instantaneous shifts found in those sportier cars with dual-clutch units will likely be disappointed. Even in the Q5's sportiest mode, Dynamic, it's usually a moment or two after you tap on the paddle that the DCT executes the shift.
But that's perfectly fine. Buyers wanting a sportier drive can step up to the $64,800 SQ5, which offers 362 hp from a 3.0-liter V6 and has a far sportier feel. Still, while the Q5 is far more relaxed, it offers surprisingly sharp steering and even decent steering feel, which is sadly lacking in many modern cars.
The Q5's outright power is more than adequate, if not eye-opening, but the biggest issue is the throttle response. The turbos on that 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine take a beat or three after you put your foot to the floor before they start developing maximum power. That, again, points to driving this car generally being a relaxed affair.
Those driving in a relaxed way will see the best fuel economy too. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Q5 at 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. I did slightly better during my testing—25.8 mpg, despite a fair bit of climbing and sporty driving.
I crossed many stretches of broken asphalt and concrete on that drive, and my Q5, equipped with the larger 20-inch wheels and the optional air suspension, handled it all without fuss. The ride quality was quite good, and I figure it would be even better with the standard 18-inch wheels.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Audi's new Q5 compact crossover doesn't do anything substantially different than before, but it does just about everything better. That's good because Audi's sales powerhouse is competing in an ultra-hot segment, and the recently refreshed BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC are all out for blood. The Q5 is up to the challenge, with sharper handling, improved interior tech, and plenty of safety features to match.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with over 25 years of experience covering everything from smartphones to supercars. In addition to JDPower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets, including print, online, and broadcast television.
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