Updated Audi Q5 declares war on BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC

Like parent company Volkswagen with the Touareg, and fellow Volkswagen Group stablemates Porsche (Cayenne), Lamborghini (Urus) and Bentley (Bentayga), kindness most certainly didn’t come Audi’s way when it announced a SUV back in 2003.

The road from Pikes Peak

At its eventual launch, the concept, called the Pikes Peak quattro, was billed as a vehicle custom made for the four rings’ rally-honed quattro four-wheel-drive system.

ALSO READ: Fresh-faced Audi Q5 and SQ5 priced

Just over two years later, and as a way of driving the point home about the now production model called the Audi Q7, a three-page advertising spread used in magazines got drawn up.

On the one side, it featured an airborne original quattro in rally livery with the tag line “we invented quattro for our cars”. On the other side, a double page depicting a Q7 splashing through water with the caption: “now we’ve invented a car for quattro.” 

Bulky, ungainly and famously described as “looking like a hippo stuck in a vice grip” by a British magazine, the plush seven-seat Q7 nevertheless became, and remains, a success for Ingolstadt.

Passing the mantle down

The knock-on effect was of course the introduction of a complete range of Audi Q SUVs; the Q5, Q3, Q2, Q8 and if recent reports are to be believed, an ultra-luxurious model called the Q9.

Including the S and RS derivatives, as well as the various coupe offshoots, the Q models have become the most popular Audi models with global sales last year seeing three in the top-five.

Unsurprisingly, a Q model heads the charts and following its world reveal last year, the facelift Q5, and its Sportback sibling, officially arrived in South Africa earlier this month. And the nation’s media descended on Cape Town to get a first taste.

What’s new Q?

With current global sales of 249 149 units, the Q5, while on track to retain its position as Audi’s best-selling model, faces a tough battle in a segment that has evolved dramatically.

Visually, the changes to the now-second generation Audi Q5, though small, have resulted in a more aggressive appearance that mirrors the Q8. This includes a new take on the Singleframe grille, new LED or optional Matrix LED headlights and new door sills.

At the rear, the tweaked taillight clusters now come with OLED technology as well as dynamic indicators, while a new faux diffuser inserts rounds the changes off. As before, the Q5 retains the optional black exterior package, with two new colours joining the palette; Ultra Blue and District Green.

The biggest addition however is the Sportback, which takes Audi’s coupe-styled SUV range to three after the Q3 Sportback and the Q8. Despite its lowered roof, the Sportback has the same height, wheelbase and width with the only difference being a seven-millimetre gain in overall length.

Similar to its outside, the Audi Q5’s interior has undergone a series of equally small but noticeable changes. Central is the new freestanding 10.1-inch touchscreen MMI infotainment system that replaces the old affixed display with its touchpad controller, and a revised 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Display instrument cluster.

The rest of the cabin remains unchanged with buyers continuing to have the option of a selection of materials and colours via the S line interior package offered only on said model.

The drive

On launch, the models available included the top-spec S line versions of the Q5 and Q5 Sportback, and the fire-breathing SQ5.

The first leg of the journey, which meandered around Worcester and Stellenbosch, included the stunning Du Toitskloof Pass and Hugenote tunnel behind the wheel of the Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI.

Unfortunately, the various faces of the Cape’s weather was anything but fair as the 200 km trek took place in appalling conditions. Thick mist eliminated any thoughts of spirited driving up and down the pass.

Settled to a cruise, the Sportback showed its mantle as the combination of the optional 20-inch Audi Sport 5 V-spoke alloys and adaptive air suspension made for a comfortable ride and compliant ride despite the conditions.

Aside from the new infotainment system being easy to use, the Sportback’s main drawing card was its powerunit. Now helped by a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, the 2.0 TFSI offers up 183kW/370Nm with drive going to all four corners via a seven-speed S tronic box.

It is a combination that pleasantly surprised as its suits the characteristics of the Sportback rather well.

With the Audi Dynamic Select system switched to Dynamic mode, the all-ready sharp response is taken up a notch. A faster spooling turbo and better throttle response had the Sportback live up to its name.

Surefooted and well balanced, the steering was quick with just enough feelback and the gearbox slick regardless of it being in left in D or clicked over to manual with the paddles in operation.

By contrast, the District Green Q5 40 TDI sampled for the second half of the trek from the launch stop to Stellenbosch itself was less dramatic.

In spite of lacking the hybrid system, the stalwart 2.0 TDI remains the civilised option with its 140kW/400Nm being suited to the more staid nature of the “normal” Q5.

Unlike the 45 TFSI, the 40 TDI, unsurprisingly, pulls a lot stronger from low-down. It also levels out a lot quicker as the obvious economical benefits take preference over fun.

Nonetheless, the oil-burner is likely to prove the more popular Q5 option with the model itself offering another benefit over the Sportback; a more capacious boot measuring between 520 to 1 520-litres versus 510 to 1 480-litres.

In fact, the main downside of the interior is the lack of rear headroom, which came in the form of the optional panoramic sunroof both model driven featured.

We did not get a chance to experience the combination of the SQ5’s 260kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 and eight-speed Tiptronic box at the launch. However, expect all to be revealed once it arrives on test.

Conclusion

Its launch coming not long after that of the updated BMW X3, the refreshed Audi Q5 doesn’t hold back. Its return from the surgeon has made it a more complete and better-suited offering than what it was before.

With the added addition of the Sportback and the halo model that is the SQ5, it now poses the biggest threat to the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Pricing

All models come as standard with a five year/100 000 km Audi Freeway Plan.

Q5

• 40 TDI S tronic – R852 000
• 40 TDI Advanced S tronic – R871 000
• 40 TDI S line S tronic – R897 000
• 45 TFSI S line S tronic – R947 000
• SQ5 – R1 208 000

Q5 Sportback

• 40 TDI Advanced S tronic – R960 000
• 40 TDI S line S tronic – R1 000 000
• 45 TFSI S line S tronic – R1 050 000
• SQ5 – R1 355 000

For more information on the updated Audi Q5, click here.