• Rear-world fuel consumption very impressive
• New mild-hybrids are some of the best around
• Concerns over reliability of software

What are the running costs?

Depending on which 2.0-litre petrol variant you choose, Audi claims between 37.7 and 40.4mpg for the standard Q5 TFSI. The difference in fuel consumption is due to differences in specification and wheel size. For the V6-engined SQ5, Audi claims 33.6mpg.

Naturally the diesel is far more frugal, claiming up to 47.1mpg in its thriftiest configuration. Though there might not seem much difference in running costs on paper, the diesel will be considerably more frugal for those doing lots of longer journeys and on motorways.

We have been very impressed by Audi’s new generation of mild-hybrids, which feel a step up compared to the previous Q5’s engines. They’re able to turn on without the engine and reverse as an ‘EV’, while the engine-off coasting function is seriously impressive. Over 600 miles across a mix of city, rural and motorway driving we averaged 42mpg, though 50mpg was possible on a steady run. That’s highly impressive for an SUV of this size.

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Audi is yet to officially announce the plug-in hybrid variants of the new Q5, but it has confirmed they’re coming in Autumn 2025. It’s set to use the same setup as the Audi A5, which means a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor for a combined 299hp. A 25.9kWh battery will also be around 45 per cent larger than the previous Q5’s battery and should give it an electric driving range of around 55 miles. That’s similar to the BMW X3, but some behind the claimed 80 miles you can get from a Mercedes GLC.

Servicing and warranty

Audi offers a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is average for the class. However, it buyers can expand that warranty to four years/75,000 miles for £605 or five years/90,000 mile for £1,415. If you want a premium SUV with a long warranty, we’d point you in the direction of a Lexus NX, which has a warranty lasting up to 10 years, providing its serviced annually with a Lexus main dealer.

Service intervals on the Q5 are every two years or 19,000 miles, whichever comes sooner, though we recommend doing basic maintenance checks regularly within this period.

Reliability

The Q5 is based on fresh underpinnings called Premium Platform Combustion. It’s shared with quite a few models in the Audi range now – but it’s quite a new and unproven platform.

The engines are also newly developed, so there’s an unknown as to how they will behave long-term. The latest generation of Audis have, however, been riddled with various software bugs. It seems like the Q5 isn’t immune to these issues, either. Our first test car had an engine light on which, although it didn’t impact the car’s running, is not something you want to see on a new car.

We also had issues with the Q5’s electric driver’s window – again, not what you expect on a brand-new vehicle. This would be fine if it was an isolated incident, but similar issues have also been reported with Parkers editor Keith Adams, who is running an Audi A5 Avant long-termer.