The 2021 Audi Q5 SUV is ready to be launched wearing fresher details to the exterior and an updated engine under the hood. The luxury mid-SUV was pulled out more than a year ago when stricter BS 6 emission norms kicked in. After a year-long hiatus it’s ready to draw in more customers into Audi showrooms, starting November 23.
If you’re new to the Audi lineup, this is their luxury mid-size SUV offering that is based on the ‘MLB’ platform – same as the A4. The model for 2021 gets revised LED lighting elements that sit within the same headlamp casing. The octagonal grille is marginally larger, flatter and wears a bit of chrome for that added opulence. The bumper has been redesigned to accommodate the larger grille and the bigger air inlets.
New sill trim emphasizes high ground clearance, and the side remains identical to the outgoing model barring the newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels. The rear too has the same design, except a redesigned bumper, newer lighting elements for the taillamps and a newly added chrome strip between the tail lights.
Audi will be introducing the updated Q5 in two trim levels – Premium Plus and Technology. We’ll have to wait for Audi to tell us what differentiates the two trim levels. The cabin gets minor changes and the most noticeable of them all is Audi’s new MIB 3 infotainment platform with a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen sitting atop the centre console. The cabin continues to get likable features like the panoramic sunroof, twin-tone dashboard and the brand’s virtual cockpit. Passengers will also appreciate features like the three zone climate control, integrated rear window blinds and a 19 speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.
Unlike the previous model that was offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, the 2021 Audi Q5 will be offered solely with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that has 245bhp and 275Nm of torque on offer, and comes paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox – same as the Audi A6 currently on sale. In terms of performance, Audi claims that the 2021 Q5 can sprint from zero to 100kmph in 6.3 seconds. All models make use of the brands patented all-wheel drive Quattro system.
From five Q models a few years ago, Audi is down with just two - the Q2 and Q8 - as its only ICE SUVs in India. Despite that, almost half of Audi's sales in India come from the Q series models and with the launch of the Q5, Audi is expecting for these numbers to improve in the coming days.
The 2021 Audi Q5 goes up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace and the recently updated Volvo XC60. Pricing would be key in the 2021 Audi Q5’s success, and we expect Audi to price it in the range of Rs 56-60 lakh mark (ex-showroom, India). If you’d like to read more about how the 2021 Audi Q5 fares against its segments, you can do so by clicking on this link.