The Audi Q5 has enjoyed tremendous critical and popular success internationally since it was first released way back in 2008. Across two generations to date, its perfect combination of size, appointment and performance across numerous variants have made it one of the brand’s most popular models and most successful SUV, and now the mid-sized luxury SUV enters its third generation with the first images released.

The new Q5 is the first SUV to be built on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) – the recently unveiled A5 models being the first Sedan and Avant models to make use of this platform. It will be built in Mexico at the brand’s San José Chiapa facility, which has been responsible for Q5 manufacture for nearly 10 years.

The official launch of this new model in Europe will not happen until the first quarter of 2025 and timing for the model’s Australian introduction is yet to be confirmed at this stage. But visually as seen in the accompanying images, the new design represents a departure in many respects, although there is no mistaking the new vehicle for anything but an Audi Q5. This evolution as opposed to revolution in terms of design makes sense given the continued success of the Q5 in all its incarnations since it first appeared. As the naming designation spells out, the Q5 sits between the Q3 and much larger Q7 variants and it is this sweet spot positioning as well as the fact that the Q5 was effectively the first premium, mid-sized SUV to market that first struck a chord with customers and has kept it very much at the forefront of the that segment it created ever since. 

To that end, Audi’s distinctive design language is evident from the first glance, refining certain aspects and reimagining others, but remaining true to what has been a winning combination.

The front end has received considerable attention and is more aggressive than before and the Singleframe grille has been significantly reworked, sitting higher and flatter and with a new grille treatment which varies from Q5 to SQ5 models. Sleeker headlights with distinctive active digital light signature create another point of difference and add to the aggressive look as do the large air intakes and a new front skirt treatment. The quattro blisters over the wheel arches remain a feature that adds to the sporty image of the Q5 and its S sibling, but the flanks are taunter and the familiar tornado line has been replaced by a more linear design.

The rear end too has been reworked with a cleaner layout, with narrower second-generation digital OLED rear lights joined by an OLED strip extending across the width of the vehicle for a sharper, cleaner design treatment. The new Q5 will also see the introduction of the projection light in the spoiler above the rear window, which will be used for the first time in Europe. This light projects a graphic into the upper rear window area, effectively enlarging the brake light for increased safety as well as playing its part in an elaborate coming home and leaving home light show when unlocking the vehicle.

But these lights are more than for just illumination and decoration, the second-generation digital OLED combination rear lights are also able to communicate with the vehicle’s immediate surroundings (Car-to-X) in what is another first. Proximity detection, which was first introduced in 2020, has been expanded in the new Q5 to include the communication light, which warns other road users of accidents and breakdowns up ahead. To do this, in addition to the regular tail light

graphic, it displays a specific static tail light signature with integrated warning symbols in the digital OLED combination rear lights in critical driving or traffic situations.

Wheel options will vary on the new Q5 models from 17-inches right through to 21-inches depending on the model variant and exterior and engine package selected.

At launch in Europe, the Q5 will come in three models – basic, advanced exterior and S line – as well as a new SQ5, with a mixture of petrol and TDI power plants all sporting MHEV plus technology. Both a 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI will be offered at launch mated to seven-speed S tonic transmissions, both delivering 150kW and with 340Nm and 400Nm of torque respectively. The TFSI variant will be available with front-wheel drive or quattro, while the TDI will drive all four wheels.

The SQ5 too will feature quattro all-wheel drive and will launch with a 3.0 V6 TFSI powerplant producing 270kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

With the addition of the new MHEV plus system with 48-volt electrical system, purely electric manoeuvring and parking are also possible to a limited extent. The lithium-ion battery of the MHEV plus is based on lithium iron phosphate chemistry (LFP) and has a storage capacity of 1.7 kilowatt hours, and regeneration is also possible with the powertrain generator able to feed up to 25kW back into the battery on deceleration. Given the use of the PPC platform, other drivetrains will follow, with the introduction of mild hybrid models in the future, while plug-in hybrid models with a large battery and external charging options are also planned in the future.

At its international launch the Q5 will feature suspension made up of steel springs and a passive damping system FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) suspension as standard. A sports suspension setup is which is standard on the SQ5 can also be optioned, and an enhanced progressive steering system is standard across the board.

Changes inside the cabin are also significant, with the MMI panoramic display which employs larger infotainment screens – 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with haptic feedback – as well as the 10.9-inch MMI passenger display with Active Privacy Mode so that the driver is not distracted by activity on the passenger’s screen.

Then there is the learning voice assistant, the Audi assistant, which can be used to control numerous vehicle functions. The digital assistant with AI support is integrated into the vehicle and is depicted for the first time by an avatar in the central touch display of the MMI and in the optional head-up display.

This new configurable Head-up display (HUD) displays a range of information – assistance

systems, navigation instructions to name just some of the functions – and for the first time allows the driver to scroll through lists with direct selection using steering wheel control. Even the likes of incoming calls can be shown in the HUD and answered directly by the driver using the steering wheel button.

All this makes for an even cleaner layout than before, indeed almost all controls have been removed with touch pads also employed on the steering wheel and door armrests for the cleanest Q5 interior yet.

Of the course the new Q5 and SQ5 feature a full complement of safety and driver assistance systems including cruise control and speed limiter, lane departure warning, efficiency assistant all standard from market launch, with additional assistance packages with numerous features available to be configured as an option.

The exact Australian specification and pricing will be confirmed ahead of the Q5 and SQ5’s Australian introduction.