A look at the Q5’s relaunched design

Audi has reintroduced the Q5 to its Indian line-up. The upcoming SUV on our shores is the face-lifted model which brings with it some subtle cosmetic and equipment updates as compared to the old SUV. The biggest change though is under the bonnet. While the old Q5 came with Audi’s sleek and refined diesel engine option, the Q5 is now petrol only. So should this still be on your list?

Starting with the exterior, the updates are few and subtle. You’ll find new designs for the LED headlamps and tail-lamps, a wider, flatter, now-octagonal grille with aggressive brushed metal vertical slats, a metal stripe between the tail-lamps, new bumpers, and a bit of silver at the bottom. Trim. doors. They have increased the wheel size from 18 to 19 inches keeping in mind the trend of the segment, but the design is a bit plain. Overall, the changes are not dramatic, and it remains a sharp, streamlined, albeit safely styled SUV.

Inside, the changes are minimal, only visible with the move from an 8.3-inch infotainment screen to a 10.1-inch unit, a touchscreen interface, and Audi’s new-generation MMI software. It’s got a clean UI that’s smoother and, unlike more expensive Audis, you still get physical controls for the AC, which is welcome. The virtual cockpit digital dials are also updated with higher-resolution imagery and sleeker animation.

It’s also a practical luxury SUV, with a spacious rear seat and a large, 550-liter boot. I wish they’d added some USB ports for the rear passengers too; You just get a 12V socket. The cabin now uses Piano Black instead of the traditional brown wood trim, and the top technology trim on the features list gets the notable addition of a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. It was always very well equipped though, and returns this time with wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, park assist, adaptive dampers, and 8 airbags.

Talking about the engine, the 45 TFSI petrol is quite impressive. The 2.0-litre unit produces 249hp (down 3hp after moving to BS6) and 370Nm, both numbers that are par for the segment, and like before, it all gets through a seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox and quattro AWD. is broadcast from

It’s a smooth and sophisticated experience like never before, with a good amount of punch for when you need to move. It’s not quite as exciting as the petrol engines of some rivals, but the gearbox snaps down quickly when you’re in a hurry, or responds to a tug on the pedals. The dual-clutch box, in regular auto mode, doesn’t feel too clunky when you’re running around at low speeds.

There are drive select modes, including off-road, which set you in a lower gear and auto-engage hill-descent control. With more than enough ground clearance, we were able to do a quick game with this setting on a broken path up and down a hill, and it performed admirably. Potentially more important for owners is that in the different ‘on road’ modes, the firmness of the dampers also changes. This works well for adding more control over body movements in corners, in dynamic mode, but as before, sharp handling and aggressive driving are not the point of the Q5. The steering is still not a bit flashy for being a totally fun car. Incredibly, ride quality remains excellent at any speed, despite the move to larger wheels and lower-profile tyres. It’s nice and cushiony at low speeds, and even left in Comfort mode, the SUV offers plenty of traction as you accelerate.

Once the luxury market leader, Audi India’s shrunken model range and diesel losses over the past 18 months have put it at a disadvantage against its two main rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Q5, however, heralds a turnaround for the brand, which will be fueled by the return of the Q7 and more mainstream models next year.

Yes, things haven’t changed much with this update in Q5, but did they really need it? Our reviews of the old car praised it for being a jack of all trades (and a master of some), and it seems to be doing so once again. With prices ranging from ₹58.93 Lakh to ₹63.77 Lakh, Audi has positioned its mid-sized luxury SUV competitively with the rest of the segment. But, is this enough to get the Indian luxury SUV back on the buyer’s driveway? We’ll have to wait and see.