Taller and Stronger

The Second-Generation crossover features a new powertrain and more tech.

- Erick Ayapana

Audi is unleashing a barrage of new products this year, but the Q5 crossover is the most important. The midsize luxury crossover segment has grown significantly since the original Q5’s 2009 launch, so Ingolstadt’s best-selling model has its work cut out. But based on our initial impressions of this new Audi, it has a good chance of coming out on top.

The 2018 Q5 isn’t due in showrooms until spring, but we’ve had plenty of seat time in the redesigned second gen model. In October, we sampled European-market Q5 prototypes in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A few weeks later, we tried the U.S.-spec version on the same route, right down to the rural dirt roads dotted with local bovines occasionally blocking our path.

Overcoming our déjà vu, we found enough differences between the two versions to keep our pen busy.

A few items might have us envying our friends across the pond. For starters, European versions get gas and diesel engine choices, including a strong 3.0-liter TDI turbo diesel that churns out 282 hp and a whopping 457 lb-ft of torque. We should be a tad jealous about that one. Audi is still hopeful it can overcome its diesel scandal and bring that new TDI here, but it’s unclear if it’s destined for both the Q5 and Q7 or just the latter. For now, the Q5 we get will offer one engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 good for 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. That’s a bump of 32 horses and 15 lb-ft from a comparable first-gen Q5. A new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic replaces the previous eight-speed auto, and Audi’s new Quattro Ultra all wheel-drive system is standard. Audi claims the new Q5 will run to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds—about 1.1 seconds quicker than its predecessor.