Third-Gen Audi Q5 & SQ5 Bows With Sharp New Looks And More Tech

Here's your first look at the new third-gen Audi Q5 and SQ5 mid-sized SUVs.

Audi has finally unveiled the successor to one of its global best-selling nameplates – the Q5 mid-sized luxury SUV. Pictured here are the latest third-generation Audi Q5 and its sportier Audi SQ5 twin, both rocking stylish new looks, overhauled interiors, plus a slew of new tech.

Despite its size and dimensions, Audi have arguably made the new Q5 and SQ5 look sleek thanks to clever styling touches. Evidently, the new Q5’s base design favours more curves and creases over sharp lines and dramatic angles.

Key elements include the adoption of the Audi’s second-gen digital OLED taillights to match the Matrix LED headlights un front. The former boasts custom taillight graphics whilst the latter now boasts eight adjustable light signatures for its DRLs.

In terms of styling, Audi have made the new Q5 and SQ5 look rather sleek.

Underneath, the new Q5 shares the same Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) base as the new A5 fastback saloon revealed prior. For the European market, three powertrain choices have been readied by house Ingolstadt, all paired with mild-hybrid tech.

The latter partial electrification sees the Q5 adopt a compact 1.7 kWh battery that juices a e-motor providing a 24 HP and 230 NM boost. Both a 2.0-litre TFSI 4-cyl petrol and 2.0-litre TDI 4-cyl diesel mills are available with 201 HP, 340 NM and 201 HP, 400 NM outputs respectively.

European market models sees both 2.0-litre 4-cyl TFSI and TDI mills available in the Q5, followed by a 3.0-litre 6-cyl TFSI mill for the SQ5. All harness Audi's mild-hybrid tech and share a 7-speed DCT box.

The sportier – and pricier – SQ5 variant instead gains a peppier 3.0-litre TFSI 6-cyl mill rated at 362 HP and 550 NM. Both front- (FWD) and quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) options are available for the Q5, whilst AWD is standard in the SQ5. All also share 7-speed DCT automatic boxes.

Only North American-bound models see a slight difference. Just the standard Q5 and SQ5 guises will be offered sans the mild-hybrid tech noted. The base Q5 for this market harnesses a 2.0-litre TFSI 4-cyl petrol mill rated at 268 HP and gets mated with AWD.

The new PPC base brings revised suspension and steering systems for the Q5, along with Frequency Selective Dampers. Notably, air suspension and adaptive dampers are optionally available too.

With the new PPC base noted, Audi has endowed the new Q5 with revised suspension and steering systems promising noticeably more comfort than its predecessors. Standard Q5 models also gain Frequency Selective Dampers for this, along with the option for air suspension with adaptive dampers.

Naturally, the sportier SQ5 gets a sportier suspension setup and hardware instead.

On board, the new third-gen Q5 and SQ5 both boast more space than their predecessors. There's also a new cabin design concept with a slew of added tech too.

On board, the new Q5’s cabin promises more space than its predecessor with its rear seats now offering tilt-adjustment. Visually, the cabin now don a new tech-forward concept featuring a curved display module housing both the 11.9-inch digital instrument and 14.5-inch MMI infotainment displays.

A third 10.9-inch passenger display and heads-up display (HUD) are optionally available, whilst a new flat-bottom steering is standard. There are no physical controls, buttons or switches for the climate control as these are all now housed in the screen that runs on the Android Automotive OS.

New curved display module leads the tech bill on board. Additionally, both a third passenger display screen and HUD are available as options too.

Other key amenities primed include wireless and cooled smartphone charging pad, as well as four USB-C charging ports offering up to 100 watts for rear passengers – enough to power laptops.

In Europe, the new third-gen Audi Q5 is set to command a starting price figure of €52,300 (approx. RM250,302.39) whilst the peppier and sportier new Audi SQ5 starts off from €82,900 (approx. RM396,750).