Audi Q5 55 TFSI e PHEV Review

Electrifying.com score

7/10

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The Q5 55 TFSI e hybrid is as polished as you'd expect from an Audi, but the electric range isn't as impressive as rivals.


  • Battery size: 14.1 kWh
  • Company car tax: 13%
  • Emissions: 49 g/km
  • Range: 26 miles (electric only)
  • Fuel economy: up to 108 MPG
  • Battery size: 14.1 kWh
  • Company car tax: 13%
  • Emissions: 49 g/km
  • Range: 26 miles (electric only)
  • Fuel economy: up to 108 MPG
  • Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
  • Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
  • Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
  • Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
  • Audi Q5 55 TFSI e

Nicki Says

“The Q5 PHEV is clearly a very desirable and competent car, and the plug-in powertrain means company car drivers will save a fortune in tax compared to a diesel version. But rival PHEVs and pure-electrics will save you more if you can make them work for you.”

Ginny Says

“The Q5 is a spacious and well built family car which has a lot going for it, but it's let down by a pretty poor electric only range. It means you'll need to plug in to charge after all but the shortest journeys if you want to get the best savings and economy.”

The SUV body shape means you get decent practicality, but the battery cables take up valuable luggage space.

  • Length:4,682mm
  • Width:1,893mm
  • Height:1,662mm
  • Load space:450/1,550 litres
Audi Q5 55 TFSI e
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Practicality and Boot Space

The interior of the Q5 is spacious and well built – so just what you’d expect to find from an Audi SUV. The front seats are supportive and there’s tons of oddment storage too, while the driving position is also spot-on. Those in the back aren’t going to be complaining about a lack of space, either, though it can feel a little dark and claustrophobic at times.

When it comes to boot space there isn’t too much of a penalty levelled at the Q5 because of its batteries. It’s down by 95 litres compared to the standard Q5, but that still puts boot room at a very useable 450 litres – so there’s more than enough room for most occasions. What is annoying, however, is the sheer size of the charging cables and the bag in which to put them – there’s no underfloor storage area for them, and they take up a huge portion of the load area.

Technology

As a result of being a facelift rather than an all-new model, the Q5 doesn’t benefit from the very latest in-car tech that Audi has to offer. So rather than the new twin-screen setup that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in cars such as the Q7 and Q8, the Q5 makes do with an older, ‘floating’ style screen without touch-sensitive capability.

This isn’t so much of a bother for the most part but the lack of touchscreen makes using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto particularly cumbersome and puts you off from using them. It’s a small niggle, but one which does detract from the overall user experience.

Safety 

The Q5 is as strong as they come when it comes to crash performance with a five-star rating from the independent testers at Euro NCAP in both front and side impact assessments. 

It also features a number of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, electronic emergency braking, lane assist, high beam assist, parking sensors and all-round cameras.

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