Five Things to Know About the 2019 Audi Q5

Audi’s most popular model in Canada, the Q5 compact SUV continues year after year to charm luxury-vehicle shoppers. Second in sales in its segment after the first quarter of 2019, right behind the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Q5 is nonetheless ahead of the BMW X3, the Cadillac XT5, the Lexus NX and the Acura RDX, among many others.

Redesigned for the 2018 model year, it soldiers on virtually unchanged for 2019. Here are five things to know about the 2019 Audi Q5, which grabbed The Car Guide’s Best Buy title in the compact luxury SUV category.

• Also: The Car Guide’s 2019 Best Buys: Audi Q5
• Also: Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain for Audi A6, A7, A8 and Q5

Fast or Very Fast

The Q5 is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 248 horsepower, good for 0-100 km/h dashes in 6.3 seconds. It’s matched to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automated transmission and an all-wheel drivetrain. However, the performance-infused SQ5 gets a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 that belts out 349 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing it to blast from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.

Reactive or Full-time All-wheel Drive

The Q5 relies on a reactive-type all-wheel drivetrain that’s called quattro ultra. It feeds the front wheels under normal driving and, in 220 milliseconds, can redistribute up to 50% of available torque to the rear wheels when slippage is detected. By decoupling the rear axle under light loads, fuel economy is reduced. In the case of the SQ5, the company still counts on the conventional, full-time quattro system that has a front/rear torque split of 40/60 in normal driving conditions.

Optional Air Suspension

As standard, the 2019 Audi Q5 is fitted with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, Offroad and Individual drive modes, the latter allowing the driver to tune throttle response, transmission shift mapping and steering effort according to his or her liking. In the Technik trim level, an optional adaptive damping suspension varies damper firmness in order to enhance both comfort and handling. Lastly, the air suspension—also an option on the Technik—can raise or lower the Q5’s body, improving driving dynamics or providing greater ground clearance during off-road stints.

Wide Array of Materials and Colours

The Q5, available from $45,300 before freight and delivery charges, offers six interior trim combinations, including those of the S line Sport and S line Black packages. Three types of wood trim as well as brushed aluminum or piano black accenting are also available. As for the SQ5, which starts at $67,200, it can be dressed up with one of four interior trim packages.

Luxury Features

The 2019 Audi Q5 is available with a vast selection of optional features, including the Audi virtual cockpit digital instrumentation, head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats.