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The 2022 Audi Q5 remains a handsome, tech-forward SUV, but its price increase over the 2021 model is hard to justify considering how little has changed. In fact, the one major change—a less powerful base engine—is hardly much to get hot-and-bothered about.
Audi’s
Q5 compact luxury SUV has remained remarkably consistent over the years—and that’s a good thing. Featuring debonair style, a tech-rich cabin, a refined ride, and top-notch safety ratings, the Q5 has been a luxury SUV go-to for the better part of a decade. Sure, it might not be as powerful or fun to drive as some of its rivals, but the Q5’s well-rounded, luxury experience boasts enough performative guts to keep most drivers happy. It’s an SUV that stands the test of (recent) time.But if you’re contemplating whether to ferry yourself around in a new 2022 Q5 or a 2021 Q5, which to choose?
2022 Audi Q5 vs. 2021 Audi Q5: what’s the difference?
Sandwiched between Audi’s subcompact
Q3
and electric Q4 SUVs, and its full size Q7
and Q8
SUVs sits the Q5, with all of the charm—but none of the awkwardness—of a middle child. In fact, the Q5 more than holds its own with the rest of the neighborhood luxury compacts, including the powerful Porsche Macan
, the exquisite Mercedes-Benz GLC 43
, the nimble BMW X3
, and the under-the-radar Volvo XC60
.So, what are the big changes from the 2021 Q5 to the 2022 Q5? Well, not a whole heck of a lot. There is an additional engine option (the 40), but it acts as the new base engine and is less powerful than the 2021 Q5’s base engine. There are also some aesthetic changes and improvements, but are they worth the price increase? We’ll let you be the judge.
Pricing
The 2022 Audi Q5’s base trim rises by $100, but the most well-rounded trim—the
Premium Plus
45—saw a price bump of nearly $2,600. Here’s a comparison of the prices for both the 2022 and 2021 Q5 trim lineups:Model | 2022 MSRP | 2021 MSRP |
|---|---|---|
$44,495 | N/A | |
Premium 45 | $46,995 | $44,395 |
$49,495 | N/A | |
Sportback Premium 45 | $51,295 | $48,895 |
Premium Plus 45 | $51,995 | $49,195 |
Sportback Premium Plus 45 | $54,695 | $52,095 |
$55,195 | N/A | |
Premium 55 PHEV | $55,695 | $52,895 |
Prestige 45 | $57,695 | $55,095 |
Premium Plus 55 PHEV | $59,795 | $56,795 |
Sportback Prestige 45 | $59,995 | $57,595 |
Prestige 55 PHEV | $65,145 | $62,695 |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversGeneral specs
Considering the price hikes across the board, it would have been nice for the volk over at Ingolstadt to throw in some significant upgrades and improvements, but that didn’t quite happen. Aside from the new and less-powerful base engine, there’s not much difference between the mechanical guts of a 2021 and 2022 Q5.
Wondering which is the better choice for off-roading between the 2022 Q5 and the 2021 model? The answer is neither. Sure, either Q5 can handle gravel roads and the occasional bump here and there—but if you’re planning on riding your Q5 through the toughest underbrush and gnarliest terrain you can find, we suggest choosing another vehicle.
For the most part, the 2022 and 2021 Q5s match up in terms of performance. Here’s the nitty-gritty on the general specs for both model years:
2022 Audi Q5 | 2021 Audi Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
Base engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (201 horsepower) | 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (261 horsepower) |
Upgrade engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (261 horsepower) | N/A |
Hybrid engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine + AC motor (362 horsepower) | 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine + AC motor (362 horsepower) |
Transmission | 7-speed automatic transmission | 7-speed automatic transmission |
Drivetrain | Quattro (AWD) | Quattro (AWD) |
Maximum towing capacity | 4,000 lbs (2,000 lbs on PHEVs) | 4,000 lbs (2,000 lbs on PHEVs) |
Fuel economy
The fuel economy on the 45 engine, which is the base on the 2021 and the upgrade on the 2022 Q5, is the same for both years—23 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.
The new 40 engine, the new base engine for the 2022 Q5, gets slightly better gas mileage, rating 23 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.
The Q5’s plug-in hybrid scored the same for gas mileage, with both the 2022 and 2021 PHEVs registering 25 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.
In testing, the 2022 Q5 PHEV actually did better in terms of all-electric range, registering 23 miles of battery-only driving. In contrast, the 2021 Q5 fared slightly worse, recording just 19 miles of all-electric range.
Safety ratings
Both the 2022 and 2021 Audi Q5s are safety superstars—both received the coveted 5-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), along with both being named a Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
There are plenty of driver-assist features, but you’ll have to travel higher up the trim ladder if you want more of them. Both model years feature automatic emergency braking with forward-collision warning as standard, but you’ll have to move up to pricier trims (at least the Premium Plus) in order to get more advanced driver assist-technology, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and a surround-view camera.
The only safety weak spots on both the 2022 and 2021 Q5s were the headlights (called “Acceptable” by the IIHS) and the structure and safety guide (also rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS). Other than that, both the 2022 and 2021 Q5 SUVs received sterling safety ratings across the board.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversStyling and interior changes
Step into either a base 2022 or 2021 Audi and we guarantee you one thing—it won’t feel base in any way. Why? Because we’re talking about an Audi, and even the lowest trim models are handsome, comfortable, and tech-stuffed. The Q5 cabin from 2021 to 2022 is virtually unchanged, so here are the standard highlights on the base Premium trim:
- Leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat
- Sliding and reclining 40/20/40-split folding rear seats
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Integrated toll collection module
- 10.1-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Connected services including emergency calling
- Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app
If you want even more luxe, upgrading yourself to the Premium Plus 45 (the upgraded engine) trim gets you the best of both worlds—a luxurious, well-rounded cabin experience combined with a refined and punchy drive. Here’s what else you’ll get on the Premium Plus 45 interior (including everything you get on the Premium trim), which includes Audi’s nifty Virtual Cockpit:
- Power-adjustable steering wheel with hands-on detection
- Simulated leather trim on the center console and door panels
- Digital instrumentation display (Virtual Cockpit)
- 12.3 inch touchscreen
- Wireless charging pad with a signal booster
- Panoramic sunroof
Premium 40
The biggest difference between the 2022 and 2021 Audi Q5 is the addition in 2022 of the 201-horsepower 40 engine, which supplants the 261-horsepower 45 engine as the base engine for the 2022 model.
The biggest draw for the new 2022 base model with the less-powerful engine is that it doesn’t require premium fuel, which will certainly mean you’ll get less of a kick in the wallet than you would with the bigger engine. That said, you can make the argument that a less powerful (and slightly cheaper) base engine requiring lower-grade fuel will make it easier for a bigger slice of the buying public to get themselves into an Audi. But is it enough to carry the torch for the 2022 Audi Q5? We think not quite.
2022 Audi Q5 vs. 2021 Audi Q5: which should you buy?
We’ll have to give the nod to the 2021 Audi Q5 as the one to buy. One, you’ll get it cheaper than the newest model, and you won’t have to worry about saddling yourself with Audi’s newer-but-less powerful Premium 40 engine. Two, if you can find a lightly-used 2021 Q5, you’ll make off like a bandit by paying less, getting as much power (if not more) than a 2022 Q5, and riding in an interior with tech features that the average person would never guess is the cabin of a year-old luxury SUV. Consider us sold.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers
By Jason Tushinski
Expert Insurance Writer
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger.
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