2020 Audi Q5

For 2020, Audi is continuing to offer the Q5 in a total of 3 trims, namely Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. While features may differ on all the 3 trims, mechanically, all the 2 trims come powered by the same motor and Quattro AWD as standard. The differences have been tabulated below.

Trims	Premium	Premium Plus	Prestige
MSRP	$43,300	$49,950	$53,700
Key Features	Audi Connect Care	Adds/upgrades from Premium Trim	Adds/Upgrades from Premium Plus
	18" 5 Arm Design Alloys	19" 5 Spoke partly polished Alloys	20" Alloy wheels
	Apple Car Play, Android Auto	Audi virtual cockpit and MMI Navigation plus with MMI all-in-touch and Audi connect PRIME and PLUS	Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, 19 speakers, 16-channel amplifier and 755 watts
	Xenon Plus Headlights with High Beam Assist, LED DRL's	Full LED Headlights	Heads Up Display, Top view camera system, and park steering assist
	Leather Seating Surfaces	Panoramic Sunroof	Audi adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam assist and active lane assist
	Audi Pre Sense Basic and City	Audi side assist and Audi pre sense rear	Audi adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam assist and active lane assist
	Rearview Camera	Rear cross-traffic assist & Vehicle exit assist

Which trim to buy?

With a difference of $6,000 between them, the Premium Plus trim offers plenty of features over the base trim that justifies the massive price hump. You get Audi's digital cockpit, LED Headlights, Panoramic Sunroof and the others as standard and hence, the jump to the Premium Plus trim is a justified one.

The 2020 Audi Q5 comes powered by a 2.0L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder Motor that channels power to all the 4 Wheels via the Quattro AWD system. The Quattro system ranks as one of the best AWD setups in the industry because it amalgates power, handling and performance, in the best way possible. In the standard mode, the Quattro system powers the front wheels but when the terrain gets challenging or demanding, the system can channel almost the same amount of power to all 4 wheels equally or rearwards only.

Audi says that the Quattro Ultra system can fully disconnect the rear axle for better efficiency or seamlessly transfer power to all 4 of them. Passengers in the Audi, won't be able to see the transition in power and can help the Q5 maintain its composure in Snow, Ice or other harsher Terrain.

Models	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
MSRP	$43,300	$41,995	$41,695	$40,195
Engine	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0L Twin Power Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4 Turbocharged	2.0L Inline-4 Turbocharged
Transmission	7 Speed DCT	8 Speed A/T	9 Speed A/T	8 Speed A/T
Horsepower (hp)	248@5000rpm	248@5200rpm	241@5500rpm	250@5500rpm
Torque (lbs.-ft.)	273@1600rpm	258@1450rpm	273@1300rpm	258@1500rpm

*2019 Model Year figures used for comparison purposes only

Speaking of comparison with its rivals, there is not much separating all the SUV's listed here. Just in terms of pure numbers, the Volvo XC60 takes the top spot in the power figures while the Merc and the Audi are tied for the top spot in the torque department.

How fast is the Audi Q5?

The 2020 Audi Q5, does the dash to 60mph from standstill in just 6.2 seconds, which is quite a feat to achieve. The Slick shifting DSG and the standard Quattro makes for smooth and grippy start from standstill and helps the Q5, reach the 60MPH mark in no time at all.

Out on the road, the Motor is responsive to throttle inputs and there is very little effort required, to make overtaking maneuvers on both the city and on the motorway.

Model	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
0-60 MPH (sec)	5.9	6.3	6.4	5.4
Quarter Mile (sec)	14.5	15.2	14.8	14.9
Engine	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0L Twin Power Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4 Turbocharged	2.0L Inline-4 Turbocharged
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4057	4034	3891	4109
Emission (Tons/Yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/year)	7.4	6.8	7.3	7.7

The Volvo XC60 manages to top the charts in the 0-60 runs but misses out on the top spot, in the quarter-mile run. The Audi takes top honors in the same respect and is followed by the Merc and the Volvo.

How are the Ride quality and handling of the Audi Q5?

The 2020 Audi Q5 has a well-tuned suspension that offers a stable and planted ride, no matter the terrain or the conditions around. It's smooth sailing in the Q5 for most parts while the suspension does an excellent job of coping with tight bends and corners with utmost precision and confidence. What is impressive is that despite the chassis being tuned towards the stiffer side, the five-link front and rear suspension absorb anything that's thrown in front of it.

In terms of the Handling, the Audi Q5 doesn't disappoint irrespective of whether you take it to mountain roads or doing city commutes. The Steering weighs up well at speeds and the Quattro AWD makes for superb grip around the bends and on slippery or snow-laden roads. The 5 Driving modes, namely Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, off road and individual alter the steering settings and suspension settings accordingly. New drivers won't notice the ESC intervene in the driving but experienced drivers will feel the intrusion more. There is plenty of feedback from the steering while turning at speeds, while it becomes furthermore response rich while driving at city speeds.

What about the Braking performance of the Audi Q5?

The 2020 Audi Q5 brakes as well as quickly as it gathers pace. Courtesy of big brake rotors and a well-tuned ABS and ESC program, the Q5 comes to a dead halt from 60MPH in just 112ft. What is furthermore impressive is the fact there is little nose dive or loss of grip while braking and the ESC, makes the SUV's tail and body maintain a linear path rather than leaving a wobbly trail of burnt rubber.

The brakes offer good feedback and a great pedal feel at all instances. Despite being progressive, you will get the best of the braking performance under heavy braking or panic braking conditions.

Models	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
Front Brake Rotor(in.)	13.3	13	13.5	13.6
Rear Brake Rotor(in.)	13	13	12.6	12.6
60-0 MPH(ft.)	112	114	115	114
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4057	4034	3891	4109

Speaking of the competition, the rivals aren't any slouch either. All the SUVs in this comparison are separated by each other by the smallest of margins and that showcases the amount of importance, given to braking performance by all the brands.

How much can you tow with the Q5?

The average towing capacity in this class lies somewhere around 3,500 pounds. The Q5 can pull as much as 4,400 pounds and that's more than its own curb weight. The BMW matches the Audi in terms of the Towing capacity while the Mercedes and the Volvo can tow a max of 3500lbs each.

Models	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
Towing Capacity	4400	4400	3500	3500

Audi has tuned the Engine of the 2020 Q5 for both efficiency and performance and the same can be testified from the MPG figures as well. The Audi uses some clever technologies like active disengagement of the drivetrain from AWD to FWD or vice versa via the Ultra Quattro system. This allows Audi to gain both efficiencies and deliver performance, as and when needed.

Model	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
MPG (City)	22	23	22	22
MPG (Highway)	27	30	27	29
MPG (Overall)	24	26	24	24
Fuel Tank Capacity (gallons)	18.5	17.2	17.4	18.8
Range (City/Hwy)	407/499	396/516	383/470	414/545

The BMW X3 squeezes out the most from 1 Gallon of fuel while the other 3 showcase identical overall MPG figures. Where the Audi and the Volvo have the edge, is in the range as they manage to deliver a higher range courtesy of their bigger fuel tanks

The Q5 has a seating capacity of 5 people. The leather seats are well contoured and provide a good support for comfortable long drives. The driver and the front-seat passenger can get the precise seating position as per their requirements using the 12-way power-adjustable front sport seats. The interior also has 4-way power-adjustable lumbar support for the front row. There is ample room for legs, knew and head.

The front row is very spacious, so, getting in and out of the car is really easy. The rear row might get a bit congested but overall, Audi has plush and comfortable looking interiors.

Model	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front(Head/Leg/Shoulder) (in.)	41.7/57.7/41.0	41.1/57.6/40.3	37.8/57.3/40.8	38.0/58.2/41.5
Rear(Head/Leg/Shoulder) (in.)	39.3/56.5/37.8	39.1/36.4/56.0	38.5/56.5/37.3	38.0/56.3/38.0

The interior of the car feels spacious and the leather upholstered seats give the car a lavish vibe. The high tech virtual cockpit is easy-to-use. The controls are placed right and are responsive. Doorsill trim and Aluminum inlays on the dashboard scream luxury and all the detailing gives the car an upmarket feel.

What about the Infotainment system?

As with all Audi Cars, the Infotainment system of the Q5 comes loaded with features and doesn't skip on the same, despite its practical build.

• MMI Navigation Plus and All in Touch with Handwriting recognition technology
• 755W 19 Speaker B&O audio system with 3D sound with 16 channel amplifier
• 12.3" LCD Fully Digital Instrument Console
• 8.3" MMI Center Infotainment Screen
• Cruise Control with Coast, Resume and Accelerate feature
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play compatibility
• HD/SiriusXM/INRIX XD Radio and Traffic system
• SD Card slot with 64GB capacity
• Heads Up Display with Navigation and Assistance System Info
• Audi Pre Sense Basic and City
• Bluetooth Connectivity and 2 USB ports
• Audi advanced Key and Voice Control system

What features to expect on the inside?

Audi offers a lot of features as standard on all of their cars and the 2020 Q5, is no different either. Audi has ensured that you will be kept busy on the inside with the endless list of creature comforts on offer. Here are few of the highlights of the inside of the 2020 Audi Q5

• Leather Seating Surfaces, Covered Center Console and Door armrest
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Tilt and Telescopic adjust steering with Paddle Shifters
• High Gloss Dark Brown Walnut Wood Inlays
• Auto-Dimming RVM with Digital Compass
• Ambient LED lighting
• 8 Way heated and power front seats with 4-way power lumbar adjust and memory for driver
• Sliding, Split Folding 40/20/40 rear seatbacks with adjustable recline
• Leather-wrapped gear selector, center console and door armrest
• One-Touch Up/Down Power Windows

What is the Cargo volume of the Audi Q5?

While the Cargo Capacity of the 2020 Audi Q5 may not be the best in the class, it certainly isn't the worst. The Q5 offers a generous 25.1 cubic feet of space and can further liberate more space, courtesy of the flat-folding rear seats.

There are plenty of small cargo hooks on offer for hanging those small packages while the Cargo area lamp illuminates the same when the lighting isn't adequate or dark.

Model	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
Cargo Volume (Cu. ft.)	25.1	28.7	19.4	29.7

On comparing the Audi to its rivals, it becomes quite clear that the Audi has a lot to offer when it comes to cargo space. However, SUVs like the Volvo and the BMW, manage to offer a higher amount of space than the Audi. The Mercedes offers the least cargo space in our comparison and comes out on the last spot here.

Modern-day Audis have known to be sleek in their design and the 2020 Audi Q5, follows the same trend. In the front, Q5 boasts a single-frame grille with a protruding feel to it which reminds of the Q7. Almost all the sections feature some sort of character lines. From the side, the Q5 has a slant to the back, but it doesn't impede headroom or cargo space. The side profile remains unchanged other than a few sharp creases along the length of the car.

The rear of the Q5 is impressive, to say the least. The clamshell design of the taillights adds to the cohesive design. In the bottom, you get two horizontal exhaust outlets on the silver rear diffuser.

Model	Audi Q5 Premium AWD	BMW X3 sDrive30i*	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300*	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum*
Length (In.)	183.6	185.9	183.3	184.6
Width (In.)	74.5	74.4	74.4	78.7
Height (In.)	65.3	66.0	64.5	65.3
Ground Clearance (In.)	8.2	8.0	5.0	8.5
Wheelbase (In.)	111.0	112.1	113.1	112.8

Dimension wise, the Q5 isn't the longest, widest or the tallest in the segment but is identical to the others in the segment. The wheelbase of the new Q5 is small and the relatively small dimensions, give the Q5 an advantage in maneuverability in city traffic or tight parking spaces. The massive 8.2" of ground clearance adds to the off road credentials of the Audi and makes the underbody, less prone from getting hit by speed hump and while water wading.

The most attractive features on the Outside?

While the Q5, comes loaded to the hilt with features both on the inside and on the outside, we can just mention a very small portion of this enormous list of features. These include

• Full LED Headlights with High beam Assist
• 20" Alloy Wheels
• LED Taillights with Dynamic Turn Signals
• Power Adjust, Power Folding, Heated, Auto-Dimming ORVM's with memory
• Aluminum Roof Rails
• Power Tailgate
• LED Turn indicators integrated into the ORVM's
• Heated Windshield Wiper Nozzles

Audi doesn't skip on the safety of its cars and the 2020 Q5 is no exception. The 2020 Audi Q5 packs in a lot of safety features as standard and Audi takes it a step forward with the advanced driver aids on offer. For 2020, Audi has added many advanced features like cross-traffic alert, parking plus and a lot more as part of the standard package.

Standard safety features in the Audi Q5

• Front dual-stage, seat-mounted thorax airbags
• Side guard Head Curtain Airbags
• ABS with EBD and Brake Assist
• ESC with off-road mode, secondary collision brake assist and Traction control
• Anti-Theft Alarm with motion sensors and vehicle immobilizer
• TPMS with Electronic Parking Brake
• LATCH in rear seats with Integrated Child Door locks in rear doors
• Hill Descent Control
• Driver Assistance Package

Audi Q5 vs BMW X3

Picking between the Q5 and the X3 is troublesome. They are similarly valued, convey a satisfying driving background and offer a far-reaching set of highlights. If you want a feature-loaded cabin without paying a lot, the BMW will be the best. In case you're after a more pleasant interior and tech-laden cabin with the best in class Infotainment System, the Audi Q5 could be your SUV of decision.

Audi Q5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC

The Q5 and the GLC are the best from their respective brands in terms of what they offer. But on paper, it's the Q5 that clean sweeps the GLC in every parameter. The Q5 delivers better mileage, performance, towing capacity and interior space. The GLC, on the other hand, offers a more luxurious interior and should be your choice, if you prefer to be chauffeur-driven.

Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60

There is no separating the performance of both the Q5 and the Volvo as they both rake in the best figures in terms of the same. The Audi is slightly off the pace in terms of the braking performance and lacks the number of features on offer when compared variant to variant. In term of outright handling and build quality however, it's the Audi that has a clear edge over the Volvo, by being a better car to be driven and driving in.

 

The Audi Q5 is the Best Selling Model from the Ingolstadt based Manufacturer. The Q5 has stood the test of time, quite well and after the 2018 Refresh, it has further strengthened its reputation. With a sturdy build, great ride quality, stylish exteriors, feature-loaded cabin and a long list of driver assistance features, the 2020 Q5 certainly checks all the boxes in the minds of the prospective buyers. So, if you are in the market for a luxury crossover and want the best of everything, we strongly recommend you go to your nearest Audi dealer and check out the 2020 Audi Q5.