Driving the new Audi Q5 after the deluge of EVs from luxury brands in the last few years, it’s nice to be behind the wheel of an honest-to-goodness midsize petrol luxury SUV once again. Don’t get me wrong; electric cars are superb, and they may well be the future.But it’s clear from the current global EV slowdownthat the industry may have jumped the gun a little, and that future is still some time away. Internal combustion has several good years left in it, and it’s good to see big auto giants now re-investing in keeping it alive.
Audi Q5 uses new PPC architecture
For Audi that means the new PPC or Premium Platform Combustion architecture, which will underpin most of its medium to large ICE models going forward. It’s a further evolution of the outgoing MLB Evo architecture, but, crucially, incorporates the latest E&E (electrical and electronic) architecture we first saw in the brand’s new-gen EVs, the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron, that promises to be modular, updatable, scalable, and thus relatively future proof.
For the buyer, however, all this tech talk is meaningless without a tangible product to showcase it. Enter the A5 sedan and Q5 SUV, the first two products off the PPC, both of which will be coming to India. We’re driving the Q5 (and its more athletic variant, the SQ5 Sportback) in Spain to get an early preview of what will become a critical addition to Audi India’s model range, which has gotten quite long in the tooth.
2026 Audi Q5 exterior design
Retains some classic Audi design details
Luxury car design has been more polarising than usual lately, and Audi’s two German rivals have been at blows, each making some questionable choices with its recent models. In contrast to such bombast, the new Q5 seems to have played it safe, but if you think about it, it’s actually quite bold by Audi’s typically restrained standard.
It’s still unmistakably Audi, with some instantly recognisable elements – the overall silhouette and window line, and the large, single-frame grille, for example. Get up close, however, and you’ll notice a rounder, more three-dimensional sculpture to the bodywork, where previously were flatter surfaces and more obvious character lines.
Design is restrained and not over the top
The headlamps, for example, aren’t completely flush with the bodywork; they’re sunken in, with the surrounding panels leaving an organic-looking visual gap – like eyeballs in their sockets. It’s a similar story at the rear, where the tail-lamps and their connecting light bar push outward like a shelf from the tailgate, while bold details like the customisable LED signatures and huge, ingot-like grille slats really shout out at you.
And yet it looks cohesive, natural and more palatable, with no shock-and-awe design elements just for drama’s sake, which should help endear it to a wider swathe of luxury car buyers without alienating the more conservative crowd.
2026 Audi Q5 interior
The interior, too, is bold by Audi standards, and virtually identical to what we saw in the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron. To that end, brings some techy flash to the brand’s typically business-like cabin, but in my opinion, it isn’t executed as successfully as the exterior.
Audi Digital Stage uses dual OLED screens
The huge, dual-OLED ‘digital stage’ panel is certainly a statement, but its upright placement and large bezels make it look disconnected from the rest of the dashboard, while the optional passenger touchscreen feels like an unnecessary afterthought.
While fit and finish are typically excellent, perceived quality is not. There’s visibly less metallic or wood trim in your line of sight or on regular touch points (like the doors), than in Audis of old. The beige trim on this test car actually works to its detriment, as it simply highlights the amount of black plastic trim used around the cabin.
Interior design too similar to other new Audis
Moreover, where every old Audi interior had a distinct look, there’s a greater homogenisation across models now. Apart from the aforementioned EVs, the interior design is barely different from the A5 sedan and recently revealed A6 Avant, with the same dual-screen unit used everywhere.
It is practical, though, with plenty of storage spaces and good ergonomics all around. Though the classic Audi volume and track seeker knob has been mercifully retained, just about every other function is in the touchscreen. Selecting a drive mode is now a two-step process, and even the AC controls take 2-3 seconds to display on screen; simple buttons would have done the job a lot quicker.
2026 Audi Q5 features and tech
The screens themselves look great, with sharp, clear graphics and slick animations, as well as an audible ‘click’ cue for each tap. I wish the digital dials were configurable, though; while the fighter-jet look is cool, it makes vital data too small and difficult to read on the go.
Gets ADAS and Bang & Olufsen audio
The features list is long, though it remains to be seen what makes it to the Indian car. Some of the highlights on our test car were ADAS with Level 2 autonomous driving, a 685W Bang & Olufsen sound system, a heads-up display, an AI voice assistant, heated and ventilated front seats and active ambient lighting. What it didn’t have was a sunroof, but we’re assured that will be added in before it comes to India.
Audi Q5 rear seat is spacious and flexible
The rear seats are high set, which affords a good view forward, despite the large front seats. It also allows Audi to use the SUV’s height to maximise space, so while you’re sat a little upright and outright kneeroom doesn’t look like a lot, you never feel wanting for space. Should you, though, the seat slides back and forth by 100mm. In fairness, this is more to liberate more boot space, should you need more than the 520 litres (the same as the outgoing car, incidentally) it offers. What remains to be seen is if and how Audi India will incorporate a spare tyre, as much of the under-floor area is now taken up by the additional battery for the 48V mild hybrid system.
2026 Audi Q5 engine, gearbox and performance
Likely to use the same 2.0 TFSI engine as before
This, incidentally, is silently the biggest change to the powertrain, and one I hope comes over to India unchanged. Audi has had mild hybrid systems before, but this latest ‘MHEV Plus’ tech takes things tangibly forward. On paper, the 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine and its 7-speed dual-clutch auto don’t seem too different from what’s in the old car; however, the outputs have dropped by 45hp and 30Nm to 204hp and 340Nm.
Engine and gearbox are refined and relaxed
In driving too, the character hasn’t changed a whole lot. The Q5 2.0 TFSI feels smooth, refined, not hugely exciting or rev happy, but strong and eager enough when you need it to be. However, so good is the refinement, you don’t realise – unless you look down at the extremely small tachometer – that an unusually large portion of your drive, the engine is switched off! It’s not just during coasting either; under light accelerator load even at highway speeds (we tested it at 90kph), it will run on electric power alone.
MHEV Plus tech lets you park on EV power
Parking manoeuvres, too, are done on electric power, the Q5 even emitting an EV-like humming noise to let pedestrians know a car is moving. And, crucial for scalding hot India, when the engine cuts out, the AC works at full power, as it runs on an electric compressor on the 48V system.
2026 Audi Q5 mileage should be high
Audi doesn’t classify it as a strong hybrid, but in practice, it’s almost there, and the real-world fuel savings should be immense. The 1.7kWh 48V lithium-ion battery uses LFP chemistry and powers an ISG motor to enable the aforementioned functions. The Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI average fuel economy is rated at 13.58kpl on the WLTP cycle.
Air suspension unlikely for Audi Q5 in India
It’s almost meaningless to comment on the ride quality of the new Q5 for India based on this European model as it rides on large 20-inch wheels and air suspension, neither of which are likely for our market. The good news is Audi’s India-spec steel-sprung suspensions have been excellent on just about every model – outgoing Q5 included – and we expect the same for this new one. Handling, as ever, is neutral, predictable and safe, which is no bad thing; it makes getting used to the car easier for any driver.
2026 Audi SQ5 Sportback sports SUV
Audi hasn’t decided if it’s bringing this hotter version of the Q5 to India, but if it does, it’s got to be in this rakish Sportback guise. With sporty performance must come the requisite look, and it serves as a good visual differentiator. For a car that’s meant to be owner driven, the slightly compromised rear-seat space is less of a problem, and Audi India has already seen a surprisingly good uptake of both the Q3 Sportback and S5 Sportback, based entirely on their added style quotient.
Audi SQ5 Sportback uses S5’s 3.0 V6 turbo petrol engine
The formula is simple. Six-cylinder engine in place of the four pot, sportier suspension setup, silver mirrors, quad exhaust tips, aggressive body kit and racy interior. On that last point, a dark grey on black (with contrast red accents) is your only option, and frankly, it works better with this interior design, making it look more cohesive. The steering wheel has grippier contact points and some of the soft-touch trim and parts of the upholstery are replaced with Alcantara.
The 367hp V6 is plenty strong enough, though stops short of being outright mighty (best to leave some room for the inevitable RS Q5), but more tantalising is the sound, which though not too loud, is melodious in the most encouraging way. Shifts from the 7-speed dual-clutch auto are snappy and keep you in a quick rhythm on the right road.
Audi SQ5 Sportback to rival Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe
Handling isn’t the last word in tightly wound precision, but again, that’s in keeping with this performance SUV’s more accessible nature, and ultimately is for the best. It’s quick to change direction and body control is very good.
If the SQ5 comes to India, however, it will be a CBU import, as Audi says the volumes won’t justify local assembly. Still, even at a price upwards of Rs 95 lakh, it would make a welcome competitor to the four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe.
2026 Audi Q5 India price and verdict
There hasn’t been an all-new ICE-powered Audi model launch in India since the Audi Q3 in 2022; everything since has either been a facelift, a performance model or an EV. So the Q5 couldn’t come a moment too soon, and there’s the rub. The new Q5 won’t come to India before 2026, and till that time, the ageing current model will have to fend off the impressive Mercedes GLC and the recently launched BMW X3.
2026 Audi Q5 expected price of Rs 75 lakh
When the new Q5 does arrive though, it will pick up right where its predecessor leaves off, as it delivers more of what we loved about it, only better. It manages to look bolder without going over the top, and this restraint in design comes as a breath of fresh air as others try grab attention with controversy. The interior may not feel quite as impressive, but it has its fundamentals of space, comfort and practicality right.
New Audi Q5 retains predecessor’s strengths
They’ve played it safe with the powertrain too, whose most impressive new addition – MHEV Plus – arrives silently and under the radar. It’s evolution rather than revolution, and maybe that’s just what the doctor ordered. The new Q5 could just be the SUV to bring back the momentum that Audi India has lost in recent years.
Also see:
Audi Q3 Sportback long term review, 23,500km report