Audi Q5 Review 2019

Having been the last of the big three premium german brands to join the SUV party, Audi has strengthened its line-up from the top down over the years. The Audi Q5 is its second-biggest offering, and mirrors much of the appeal of its larger, costlier stablemates in a more manageable and economical package. Clearly cut from the same cloth as the Audi Q7, the Q5 goes without a third row of seats but still packs enough practicality to match large SUV rivals. That's important when its rivals are as diverse as the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Volvo XC60 and Land Rover Discovery Sport. And, while far less expensive than its bigger sibling, the Q5 also needs to match the value-for-money of mainstream rivals such as the the Kia Sorento, Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq. Q5 buyers can choose from petrol or diesel power, and quattro four-wheel drive is standard across the range. With four trim levels, there's no shortage of choice, and the options list gives scope to tailor your Q5 to your tastes. Whichever version you choose, it comes with Audi's strong reputation for build quality and the prestige of that four-ringed badge on the grille. Sure, it doesn’t offer the option of seven seats, but there’s enough space for a family of five and their luggage, and a sliding, reclining rear bench is available. Not only is it impeccably screwed together, but the minimalist looks should appeal to anyone with an eye for design.

The clutch is smooth and linear, but the shifter throws are long and stiff, so it’s not a performance choice. Overall, the Jetta is peppy around town, with 184 pounds-feet of peak torque coming at just 1,400 rpm. It’s also fun on backroads and more confident than I expected in highway situations, though the limitations of the small turbo engine are much more apparent during highway passing and with cruise control response. Reponse is best in the Sport driving mode that comes with higher trim levels. Driving modes alter throttle and transmission settings and adaptive cruise control response, as well as (in the Eco mode included on all Jettas) climate system operation. Sport is not very aggressive; I treated it as my go-to mode on models that had it. By contrast, Eco dulls things to the point where you can’t see why anyone would use it except for EPA mileage testing.

While the 2019 Jetta gets new low-rolling-resistance tires to improve mileage, they didn’t seem to sacrifice much in cornering and grip until taken to limits few compact sedan buyers are likely to approach. The new Jetta’s EPA rating rose to 30/39/34 mpg city/highway/combined for automatic-equipped versions, up from the 28/38/32 mpg of the best-rated 2018 automatic version. Mileage is now more competitive with rivals such as the 2019 Civic, rated 32/42/36 mpg (with the available turbo 1.5-liter engine and continuously variable automatic transmission) and the 2019 Corolla (28/36/32 mpg with CVT). Modifications VW used to squeeze out the extra mileage, beyond the new automatic and tires, include a standard engine stop-start system (thankfully with an on-off switch that lets you decide if you want to use it). The 2019 Jetta does not yet have crash-test ratings; when available, they’ll replace the 2018 results here. Improvements on the tech front go beyond infotainment to new and more widely available driver assistance and safety systems.

450 option on the base model. A longer list of features for the SEL and SEL Premium includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, high-beam assist, lane departure warning and lane keep assist. The 2019 Jetta’s pricing better matches rivals — not something it has done well in the past. It’s now configured to have competitive features for the dollar against comparable rival trim levels, particularly the Civic and Corolla. Compare them here for trim-level features and prices. 19,845 with the safety tech option. 19,620 with standard emergency braking. Notably, the Jetta S is a base model worth buying, not a fleet offering. 28,195 for the similarly loaded Civic Touring. 24,000, but it also stops short of the VW and Honda in terms of premium goodies, such as leather seats. Adding value, the 2019 Jetta, like all 2018 and newer Volkswagens (except the e-Golf), comes with VW’s six-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that can be transferred to a subsequent buyer. Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.