Used 2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
What a crossover should be.
Michael J., University Park, PA, 03/21/2019
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 6/18 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
I purchased my 2018 Q5 used with 30k miles six weeks ago. For those concerned about Audi switching from a Torsen-based Quattro to the Quattro Ultra (Haldex) all I can say is not to be. Many car review sites have it 100% wrong that this system on the A4/A4 Allroad/Q5 is now a front-wheel drive biased system that engages the rear wheels when it detects traction is needed. That is 100% … BACKWARD. It is an all-wheel drive car that disengages the rear wheels when not necessary. That is an IMPORTANT difference. I have driven RWD, AWD, 4WD, FWD cars for 35 years. I can tell you at no time does a Q5 ever feel like a front-wheel drive car. I've driven it now on a couple long freeway trips in the dry and rain, and have been through a few Erie PA snows. It is the equal in the snow (even with the crappy Continental tires it came with - I purchased too late in the season to justify the snow tires I always run) to my Jeep GC with the Quadra-Trac II. You can disable the FWD mode by using the Audi Drive Select to put it in Offroad mode. The ride on rough roads is smooth and controlled. If you like a cushy luxo-car you may think it is a little harsh, but if you like a tight drive, the Q5 is for you. All the controls feel like they are moving on lubed ball bearings, especially the smoothness and solidity of the steering wheel. The interior materials are awesome. My 6'1" frame (long legged) has plenty of head room and leg room, even with the panoramic sunroof. Power is awesome. Audi, and other European manufacturers under-rate HP. Many tuners have dyno-ed stock Audis with the 252 hp 2.0T and found it is really 262-266 hp with 280-290 ft-lb of torque. For the average driver, you will never fear an on-ramp, passing on a country road or climbing any hill. I'm having my ECU aftermarket tuned just to have a bit more fun. The DSG transmission will take getting used to if all you have driven is automatic cars. I you ever drove a manual, you quickly get how it works. Basically a DSG is a manual transmission where the computer does all the shifting for you. It saves gas by giving a direct connection to the drivetrain, is is somewhat lighter and allows the driver to use the shift paddles to treat it as a manual. The only foible with it is in low speed maneuvering in a parking lot, it will hesitate at times, then surge more than you expected. I love it, because having driven a lot of manual cars, I can predict its behavior, but I can see where someone may not. Plenty of rear seat room, it will slide back and forth, but it is only over 3-4 inches, not going to make a huge difference. My Q5 has the virtual cockpit which will cause any new passenger you have to ooo and aaah (and so will you the first couple drives). I leave mine on map, 500 ft resolution, with small gauges as my dash and my media on the side screen. You can arrange however you chooses and for many functions there are multiple ways to access. Two USB and one 1/8 input in the console, plus two SD slots in the glove box. The car also has a 10Gb drive to store favorites. I've gotten 23-25 mpg on country roads and in town with my lead foot, easily. The computer calculated mileage matches my gallons to trip odometer almost exactly. I absolutely love it. Has all the traction of my former Jeep, excellent luxury and quality, and is faster and much better on gas. Next winter I'm putting Nokian Hakkapaletta tires on it for ultimate grip. Another great feature is there is a washer for the rear camera lens. Very helpful in places where it gets grimed up. Just hit the rear window washer and your camera lens is washed at the same time. The LED headlight package has a nice country road mode that takes the place of foglights. Rather than have a separate fog light package, it uses the aiming geometry of the LED to put out light to the sides of the car as well. I like it better than fogs I have run on anything in the past.
UPDATE: 56k miles. Tuned car at 35k (Unitronic 91 octane) no issues. Apart from the recall regarding the wheel liners the car has had ZERO repair issues. I change oil more often than the factory interval, at 7500 miles and use the Audi OEM filter and Liqui Moly 2332 Leichtlauf High Tech 5W-40 oil. The oil level (via the electronic gauge) never goes down between changes. OEM tires wore out, replaced with Kumho Crugen Premiums (which are available through Audi, so they are 'approved' for the car) at a good price from Priority Tire on eBay. I run Cooper Evolution snow tires in the winters here. Grip is phenomenal in braking and cornering. Unless there is ice, you can go the speed limit with no worries, and never lose momentum on unplowed roads.
Lemon!
Julie, Chicago, IL, 06/04/2018
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 6/18 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
Like other reviewers, I was very excited to have decided to buy a brand new 2018 Audi Q5. I did months of research and based on reliability and owner satisfaction scores in Consumer Reports, I went with the Q5 over a Volvo XC60. I am regretting that choice. I have owned the vehicle for less than 2 months. The night I brought it home the front driver's side turn signal stopped … working. It sat in the shop for 4 days while they replaced both headlight assemblies. Then last week, with just 2500 miles on the car, the engine failed which landed me broken-down on the side of the road with my 90-year-old Grandpa on a short road trip. Now the dealer said that an entire new engine has to put in the car. The dealer acts like they are doing me a favor, instead of being embarrassed and apologetic for this poor quality vehicle. Owning an Audi has been nothing but a nightmare.
Buyer beware: Major reliability issue 2018 Q5
Rich, Farmington, NH, 08/03/2018
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 6/18 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
Purchased car in November of 2017. Have been very happy with it until August of 2018 (13K miles) when the engine self destructed. Audi is in the process of replacing the engine. Dealership has been ho-hum about the whole thing and haven't even managed to provide me with a loaner vehicle going on a week now. Given the catastrophic failure of their product, I assumed that a higher level … of customer service would be in play but that is not the case.
Beautiful vehicle but....ABS clicks at 25mph
Brenda, Raleigh, NC, 06/01/2017
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 6/18 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
This car is gorgeous. I love how it drives and brakes and the technology is the best! HOWEVER, the gas mileage averages ~20mpg and there is a clicking under the gas peddle at 25mph. Between stop signs, red lights, and traffic, it makes my teeth grind every time because it's constant in traffic. It seems to be worse on some days. Audi says there will be a fix pushed out to the … vehicles but I have seen posts regarding the same issue for several years back. This alone is making me think I should have considered another model.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro SUV
What’s new
- Redesigned this year
- More powerful engine
- New tech features and new styling
- Part of the second Q5 generation introduced for 2018
Pros & Cons
- Pro:All-new chassis helps deliver smoother ride than before
- Pro:Quiet, comfortable cabin features top-notch interior craftsmanship
- Pro:All-wheel drive comes standard
- Pro:Wide array of technology options
- Con:Only one engine offered
- Con:Diminished space for luggage behind rear seats
Which Q5 does Edmunds recommend?
A Premium Plus model with the Navigation package will hit the sweet spot for most buyers. That includes most luxury features buyers expect (panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and heated leather front seats) while satisfying tech and safety needs, with in-car Wi-Fi, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking.
Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Audi Q5 SUV
Driving
7.5Overall, the Audi Q5 gets strong scores for performance. Were it not for the overly intrusive stability control, this score would be a bit higher. For the typical driver, however, this drawback will probably never arise. Otherwise, we consider it one of the best in the class.
Comfort
8.0In every comfort metric, the Audi Q5 does well. It has a good balance of compliance and road-hugging reassurance. Like most of the cars in the class, it's easy to drive for many hours at a time with little to no fatigue.
Interior
8.5Audi's interior design continues to impress us. The design is minimal and tidy, and the smart use of multipurpose switches and knobs reduces the clutter of buttons suffered by rivals. Materials quality is excellent regardless of trim level and contributes to the way it makes you feel special.
Utility
7.0The Q5 will easily hold all of your items, whether it's cargo in the back or your personal effects up front. Cargo capacity is about average for the class and includes plenty of smart features to keep things in place. The rear seats don't fold flat with the cargo floor but are easy to push past.
Technology
8.0Not only does Audi have a lot of tech features built in, but the automaker makes them easy to use. The doubling up of functions for switches, buttons and knobs keeps the cabin from getting cluttered with controls. We were surprised the stability control was overly sensitive, unusual for an Audi.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Audi Q5 in Kentucky is:
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