2021 Audi Q5 45 TFSI Tested: Decent Luxury And GTI Mixture
Some cars in the brand's line-up are very, very important for a brand to get right. Even when they're not top of the line products. They embody both a hefty part of the sales volume as they do form a big part of branding. The 2021 Audi Q5 is such a car, so the Ingolstadt-based brand has every reason to get it right. I've spent five days with the Q5, no pun intended, and will run you through my findings as follows: first up is a summary of what the facelift is, then we'll get to the opinion bit about the quality of the drive, the cabin and also the practicality part, and of course ending with a well-constructed opinion. Last but not least are the shots I took, all taken with the car's urban nature in mind.
Audi has more so changed the engines available for the Q5 than anything else, they did this with the introduction of MHEV and the addition of PHEVs. New bodywork looks like a subtle change at first but once you move closer, the details show how extensive the rework is. Rather than most competitors, Audi kept a friendly look for the Q5 and this is a warm alternative to what's on offer. Sadly, the fake exhaust remains but the fresh new OLED units pull away your eyes to compensate. New colors are available for the exterior and interior, along with some new rims. Inside the 2021 Q5, there's a new infotainment system measuring 10.1-inch, accompanied by a 12.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit.' Also included in the update are improved safety features such as the Audi pre sense city system that comes as standard now.
GTI powerplay
Hooking up a crossover to an engine that can be found in a VW Golf GTI a good idea? For fun yes, not so much for fuel economy. Throughout my time with the Audi Q5 45 TFSI, I managed an average consumption of 10 liters per 100 kilometers. A poor figure but the Quattro setup plays a hefty part in the economy too. All that is trivial though, as the power train is a very refined and fitting one for the Q5. Why? Because the torque curve is flat beyond a low point in the rev range, thus taking away the need to speed up the engine when accelerating. That rich amount of torque allows for easy cruising and gives the drivetrain a premium feel. Almost like you're driving a 3-liter engine. Combined with the adaptive air suspension (a € 2.000 option here in Belgium) which soaks up imperfections in the road brilliantly, the Q5 offers a serene experience in the city.
Besides the comfortable cruising, the Audi Q5 45 TFSI allows for spirited driving thanks to its GTI genes. Switch the car to 'Sport' (a physical button) and the whole package changes. Steering sharpens, the suspension does so too, and so does the character of the engine. Sounds from the powerplant are now predominantly more present, not to be confused by an always missing exhaust note. But in the 45 TFSI trim, the pop and bangs wouldn't be fitting, this car emits a sort of class for the rest of the world and such an exhaust note would be wrong. But due to that Quattro drivetrain, the driver can enjoy zero to a hundred well below 7 seconds in any road condition. As with the majority of crossover, the Audi Q5 does have a lot of suspension travel during heavy cornering. Steering isn't all too direct either, but that all is forgiven as it isn't an SQ5. For being the entry petrol option, this car is more dynamic than I thought it would be.
Caught in between
I wish the facelift Audi Q5 had the luck of getting the new interior Audi is using, but then again I don't. Why? The latter comes from the fact that there are still physical buttons left in this interior for things like the climate control, a BIG plus. The first mentioned is because their new A1 and A3 have interiors of the latest sort. In those two cars, we found Audi taking the lead again in terms of interior design (not infotainment, that's still Mercedes-Benz). But since the Q5 is a facelift rather than a whole new car, there wasn't any room left to adapt the car so it could take the new interior.
Don't get me wrong, Audi is good at interiors and the S-Line in the test car is immaculate. Knowing something better exists simply warps the perspective. Seating is excellent, both in terms of the position as in terms of the support and comfort it offers. A multiple-hour drive didn't give me sore bottom or any sore muscles. Upholstery is great throughout the cabin, and with the psychical buttons remaining, the cabin feels premium almost everywhere you touch it. Even the haptic feedback from the infotainment adds to that. The same does the metal on the gear lever. Audi appeals to sense and emotion in this way, something other brands could learn from.
Practicality in Q5 hasn't changed that much with the facelift. This is logical since there are no new dimensions involved. Seating in the back remains a tiny bit tight for the segment it works in, but the storage space is good at a decent 520 liters. Another very welcome addition is the tri-zone climate control, allowing those rear passengers to reside at a temperature of their own choice. Safety options new to the Q5 work in the background and work well, hardly any glitches passed during my time with the car.
Ingolstadt dominates if you want them to
Audi didn't stray far from what the Q5 recipe is with this facelift. And why would they? As mentioned in the beginning, getting this car right is a necessity for the brand. The newest generation of the interior would have made this car an absolute hit, but that interior sadly hasn't found its way into the car. In terms of the cabin, the Q5 is still as premium as it should be with the right options. Fresh exterior looks make the car a friendly yet a premium whole to look at. Driving the 45 TFSI with QUATTRO and S Tronic ranges from excellent cruising to decent sporty driving, all well-composed. Even the shifts of the S Tronic are always on point.
However a hefty € 80.700 (BE starts at € 56.710) might be too much for some, it's all a matter of how much your willing to pay to drive a well-dressed Audi. If you're willing to, Audi has created yet another sale hit with this facelift. Very comfy, sporty if desired, very premium if optioned so.
