The Q5 added the following features as standard: heated front seats, rear electric child locks, Audi Connect Care, a 7.0-inch instrument panel display, and roof crossbars. The Premium Plus trim level now includes a navigation system, two rear seat USB charging ports, and a wireless phone charger. A self-parking system is now standard on the Prestige trim. A Black Optic package is newly available and the Convenience package now includes blind-spot monitoring and Audi Pre Sense Rear. Lastly, the SQ5 is now available in the Premium trim. Audi’s Q5 is positioned above the smaller Q3 but below the larger Q5, Q7, and Q8 crossovers. Building off the Q5 Premium Plus and SQ5 Premium, the SQ5 Premium Plus adds an 8.3-inch center touchscreen. The SQ5 Prestige builds off the SQ5 Premium Plus and adds the media and safety tech from the Q5 Prestige. The newly available Black Optic package includes 20-inch wheels with a titanium matte finish, matte black roof rails, and titanium black exterior trim. The all-wheel-drive Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four that produces 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and delivers an EPA-rated 22/27 mpg city/highway.
The SQ5’s 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 makes 349 hp and 369 lb-ft and is rated at 19/24 mpg. Although the Q5 uses a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission, the SQ5’s is an eight-speed regular automatic. The 2019 Audi Q5 earned the NHTSA’s highest overall safety rating of five stars and received the highest rating of Good in all IIHS crash tests. The 2019 Q5 and SQ5 have 25.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 53.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Front and rear legroom is 41.0 and 37.8 inches, respectively. The Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class offers 19.4 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and 56.5 with the seats folded down. Front legroom measures 40.8 inches and rear legroom is 37.3 inches. The base Q5 Premium includes a 7.0-inch instrument panel display, a 7.0-inch central display with a rotary dial and control pad, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports.
The Premium Plus trim adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a navigation system. The top Prestige trim includes a head-up display, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, handwriting-recognition technology, an 8.3-inch central display, two 64 GB SD card slots, and SiriusXM satellite radio. During 2018 SUV of the Year testing, judges loved the SQ5 on the handling track and the Q5’s digital instrument cluster and high-end interior. But we felt the premium crossover “…doesn’t move the needle in terms of Audi design and engineering,” and that kept it from advancing to the finalist stage. Additionally, the driving experience is dull. The SQ5 improved the picture, but is still bested by the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe. In a First Test of the 2018 Audi Q5 2.0, we liked the crossover’s improved performance, quick and smooth transmission, and the unobtrusive stop/start system. The ride quality is excellent and the cabin is very quiet. During off-road testing, the Q5 performed almost flawlessly, never getting stuck, even when stopping in sand and halfway up a hill. We concluded by saying, “With legions of folks who already were snapping up the Q5 for their own reasons, everything Audi did to this vastly improved 2018 version will certainly keep it at the top of Audi’s charts.
Currently, Volkswagen also offers the SUV with a 227bhp version of the V6 diesel, which doesn’t quite have the same oomph as the more powerful offering, but is still more than adequate. Although it hasn’t arrived yet, it is expected VW will introduce a plug-in hybrid version at some point in the near future. The four-wheel drive system helps distribute the power to each wheel independently, while the all-wheel steering helps improve the model’s agility and makes the Touareg feel slightly smaller than it actually is. With the electronically adjustable suspension and steering aids though, it does lack feel - even if the cornering is still excellent. With the optional air suspension fitted, the Touareg feels supremely comfortable and even when driven hard through a series of bends, it is composed and doesn’t wallow despite the car’s heft. Volkswagen has also ensured that this car feels very refined, as wind and road noise is kept to a minimum in the cabin. As this model shows Volkswagen’s intent to be seen more as a premium brand, it’s clear to see where the brand has put most of its effort.
The interior finish is much better than ever before, as our test car was fitted with the top of the range InnoVision cockpit layout, which features the Virtual Cockpit instrument display alongside a huge 15-inch infotainment touchscreen. That layout brings the cabin right up to date and it is teamed with higher end materials that provide an excellent finish. Space-wise, the Touareg seats five - two less than rivals such as the Audi Q7 and Land Rover Discovery - but the interior is very spacious, with more than enough head and legroom for those sitting in the back. The 810-litre boot is very practical as well, but if that isn’t quite enough, you can fold down the rear seats to reveal a 1,800-litre load space. Prices for the Touareg start from £48,995, which gets you the entry level SEL model with the 227bhp version of the 3.0-litre V6 diesel that provides the most efficient package in the Touareg range. We got behind the wheel of the top-spec R-Line Tech model, which starts from £58,195 and does feature the most impressive package in the Touareg line-up. With that engine installed, the Touareg can achieve a claimed 42.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 173g/km, which isn’t too bad for an SUV of this size. This third generation of the Touareg is a very capable car and despite its chassis siblings being particularly excellent, the Volkswagen holds its own - even if the Audi Q7 is only marginally more expensive. With lots of good equipment as standard, a well-balanced driving feel and a high-end finish that customers will appreciate, the Touareg shows that Volkswagen can mix it with the more premium brands in the segment. Looking for a new Touareg? Get local available prices and offers from your local dealership.
