I don’t recall a colour piquing my interest in a test car as much as this fetching shade of District Green on the Audi Q5. Close to a military green, it’s such a welcome break from the usual whites, silvers and blacks luxury cars are typically finished in. This would be my spec of choice were I shopping for a Q5, of that I’m sure.
Before I get ahead of myself, let me introduce you to the latest addition to our long-term fleet. Latest in order of joining date, that is. You see, this generation of Q5 has been around since 2018 and got its last update in 2021. In fact, the next-gen model is already on sale abroad and will make its way to India in 2026. What we want to know is if there’s merit in considering this Q5 at the tail end of its life.
I had a relaxed few days with the Audi to find out, headlined by a weekend trip with family to Vaitarna Dam near Nashik. Travelling isn’t as simple as chucking a few bags into the boot anymore. We’re new parents, so there’s a full checklist; a pre-flight run-through of baby essentials, dog supplies, snacks, and whatnot. The Q5’s boot gobbled it all up without complaint, though I admit I did gulp when I discovered there’s no spare wheel under the boot floor. Hopefully, I won’t need one.
Inside, the Q5 made it very easy to get comfortable. The ISOFIX child seat anchors are well placed and easy to access, and even with the bulky child seat taking up a chunk of space, there was more than enough room for my wife and our dog to sit in comfort at the back.
From my point of view in the driver’s seat, it’s not an interior that wowed with big screens or flashy ambient lighting. But it nails the basics. The driving position is spot-on, visibility is great, and the seats are large and accommodating. What I took very happily to were the physical controls for the climate control and audio system. There are no fiddly touch panels on the steering wheel or screen-based AC controls here – just proper rotary knobs that click satisfyingly as you twist them. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sadly, the next-gen Q5 is set to go down the touchscreen-only route.
What really gives away the Q5’s age, though, is the absence of wireless smartphone connectivity. I’m not too fond of keeping my phone plugged in for long drives, but there was no question of navigating without Google Maps giving me turn-by-turn instructions – especially on the confusing, broken stretches leading out of Mumbai.
And that brings me to the roads. The condition of the highways leaving the city is disappointing in places and appalling in others, filled with diversions, potholes, half-baked repairs, the works. But the Q5’s suspension handled all of it in earnest. Ride comfort continues to be one of this SUV’s biggest strengths. There’s no harsh European firmness here – just a beautifully damped setup that smoothens out everything.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg is more the environment the Q5 is built for. It’s a happy cruiser, one that can sit comfortably at the 120kph speed limit all day long. If you’re upgrading from a more affordable SUV (I drive a Creta otherwise), the general hush in the Q5’s cabin will reassure you that your money’s been well spent.
The final leg of our 160km journey was a mix of narrow, twisty roads, and it’s here that the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol’s punch came in handy to get past slow-moving traffic. I wouldn’t call the Q5 a driver’s car, but there’s a satisfying smoothness to the way it delivers its power and the way it handles corners.
Breaking away from the highway, the scenery changed dramatically – the distant green hills from a few minutes ago were now close enough to touch with the vast lake glinting besides as we wound our way down. Of course, much to my family’s irritation, the final stretch was interrupted by several photo stops. Occupational hazard, I suppose. Then again, how often do you get a car that fits so beautifully into the landscape?
A quick check of the trip computer at our destination showed a figure of 10.9kpl – with three adults, a baby, a dog and a boot full of luggage. Not a standout number, but certainly better than the 6-8kpl I’d been getting in Mumbai’s traffic grind.
The Q5 didn’t see much action during the relaxed weekend, and the return leg was largely uneventful – until we hit Thane, where chaos resumed. Thousands of vehicles, cratered roads, and a fight for every inch of tarmac. Yet, inside the Q5, it was calm. The suspension and overall refinement kept the outside world exactly where it belonged – outside.
And that’s really what defines the Q5 for me. It’s an SUV that delivers luxury not in a showy, flashy way but by getting the fundamentals right. The fundamentals of performance, refinement and comfort. The strong and silent type, that’s the Q5.
| Audi Q5 test data | |
|---|---|
| Odometer | 7559km |
| Price | Rs 69.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) |
| Economy | 10.2kpl (highway) |
| Maintenance cost | Nil |
| Faults | None |
Also see:
Audi Q8 long term review, 6,500km report
2025 Mercedes E 450 long term review, 4,500km report
