It was Audi’s Q SUVs that brought in numbers for the luxury carmaker in India and the Q5 was arguably the most popular of them all. After making a brief hiatus when the BS6 emission norms were enforced, the 2021 Audi Q5 is set to make a comeback, with prices starting at Rs 58.93 lakh (ex-showroom). In its latest iteration, the Q5 gets a facelift, subtle refreshes around the cabin and a petrol engine.
The Audi Q5 was always one of the nicer SUVs to be gawking at, and that hasn’t changed even with this facelift. The Q5’s design has evolved and now bears a level of sophistication and attractiveness that can be observed across Audi’s model lineup. The Indian-spec Q5 also wears a grille with vertical chrome slats to amp up the bling, being nestled between the Audi’s all-LED headlamps. Move over to the side and see the smart yet sporty looking 19-inch S-Design twin-spoke alloy wheels. You also have a chrome strip on the tailgate that stretches between the LED tail lamps, which is similar to the Q7 showcased globally. Overall, the design of the Q5 now feels crisper and more contemporary, while still feeling beautifully understated when compared to its rivals.
Step inside the cabin of the Audi Q5 and you’re greeted by an interior layout that is familiar to most Audis. Mind you, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as the interiors of the Q5 continue to press on with high-quality materials and a design that can’t be faulted with. You get a beige and black colour scheme the dashboard is neatly split by a wooden garnish that runs across the length of it – a nice touch.
The Q5 will be offered in two trim levels – Premium Plus and Technology, and in terms of creature comforts, you get all the modern niceties such as wireless charging for your smartphone, and the most prominent addition is the latest generation Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment that can be operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. There’s also a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium 3D Sound system on offer for cranking up your tunes, and the Q5 also gets Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus for the digital instruments. The SUV also features Audi Park Assist.
Powering the Audi is a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine that sends power to all four wheels via a 7-speed S-Tronic transmission. There is no diesel on offer and this is the sole engine-gearbox combo that the Q5 will be sold with in India, with the engine producing a healthy 245bhp of power and 370Nm of torque. The SUV also comes with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard.
The prices of the facelifted Audi Q5 start from Rs 58.93 lakh, ex-showroom for the Premium Plus variant and the top-spec Technology trim is priced at Rs 63.77 lakh, putting the Q5 up against rivals like the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Volvo XC60. While an outright comparo is awaited, you can read our first drive review of the Q5 here.