Audi Q5 News

Audi has issued a recall for its plug-in hybrid Q5 SUV for a potential fire risk.

Electric car sales are still growing, but as the ‘early adopter’ phase comes to an end, the rate of uptake has slowed the past few months.Some brands have bet heavily on electric vehicles early in their explosive sales climb, this latest slow-down in pace might have actually handed Audi an advantage as its Q4 and Q6 e-tron SUVs finally arrive in Australia.Audi bet less heavily on EVs than its most direct rivals, BMW and Mercedes in the past few years. Rather than try to replace some of its most hallowed nameplates with electric versions, Audi instead added low-volume electric flagship offerings to its range in the form of the e-tron GT and now the Q8 e-tron.In Australia, the delayed launch of the Q4 e-tron has coincided with the arrival of the government’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES), giving it the leverage it needs with its international head office to expand its range of hybrid offerings to live alongside its new electrics.Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the Q6 e-tron, Audi Australia’s managing director Jeff Mannering explained how the game has changed in Audi’s favour.“It’s an overall strategy we’ve got now” he said of the brand’s new MHEV+ hybrid tech arriving at the same time as the Q6, “because what we have to think about is whether it’s just going to be battery electrics going forward.”“The market has switched around a little bit, I think the spike in battery electric sales where everyone was saying it was going to be fifty per cent of the market that’s simply not the case anymore.”“Q4 and Q6 are important because it adds volume to our battery electrics - we need that, and we need plug-in hybrids as well because the C02 targets are now there.”“You’re not so reliant on a BEV if you have a PHEV. It’s our clear direction to have something for every customer in every segment.”Not every brand has managed to navigate the tightrope of emerging technologies quite the same way. BMW has led the way with its competitively priced and well-received electric cars, although its plug-in hybrids have struggled. BMW leads the German three, amassing a whopping 25,341 units last year, nearly 30 per cent of which were electric. Over at Mercedes, plug-in hybrids were pulled from its range altogether after years of slow sales in Australia (although they will return), while its electric offerings have been shunned. It was down a notable 17.8 per cent last year, with its car division falling to 19,989 units.Audi remained in third position, moving 15,333 units. It was down a sizeable 19.5 per cent compared to 2023, which the brand is hoping its nearly entirely refreshed range will reverse in 2025.Not only has the Q4 and Q6 arrived, but they will be joined in the third quarter by the Q5 and A5, debuting the entirely new PPC combustion platform and MHEV+ technology. Other less significantly upgraded nameplates include the A1, A3, Q2, Q7, and Q8, all due before year’s end.As Mannering said, replacements or updates to some of the brand’s longest running models will give it a shot at more impressive sales volumes in 2025.“If you look at the lifecycle of our cars, some are up to their eighth or ninth year now - We’ll have the newest line-up in the market this year and it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to say that.”Will this range let it beat out Mercedes or even challenge BMW in 2025? Check in later this year to find out.

If you’ve seen a lot of BMWs on the road lately, there is a reason for it.The Bavarian giant is officially Australia’s favourite premium automotive brand.According to 2024 sales figures, BMW capped the year with 26,341 sales. That represents a modest 0.6 per cent bump over its 2023 results, or in actual figures, BMW sold 157 more cars last year than the year before.For years BMW was the number two marque in Australia behind archrival Mercedes-Benz. But that shifted a few years ago and now BMW is the dominant force in the premium segment.Mercedes splits its sales between two business units — Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Given none of its premium rivals offer commercial vans or utes, we will focus on cars.BMW was the 14th best-selling brand overall in 2024, wedged between Volkswagen in 13th and Suzuki in 15th.But how did it do so well last year? A couple of factors — SUVs and EVs.Sixty two per cent of BMW sales were for its ‘X’ SUV range. And the leader of that pack was the X1 small SUV with 4536 sales. Despite these solid numbers, it was beaten by the Audi Q3 for sales in the small SUV segment.The X3 was BMW’s next best seller, capturing high sales in runout ahead of the new-gen model arriving, and X5 was third best, while the X7 and 7 Series saloon had their best sales results ever.BMW’s EV sales were also a strong point, with just under 30 per cent of its total sales coming from electric cars. The iX1, i4, iX2 and iX3 made up the bulk of deliveries.Mercedes-Benz recorded 19,989 units in 2024, which was down by 17.8 per cent compared with 2023. Despite having a broader model range, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer saw double-digit sales declines for some of its most popular models including the C-Class (-26%), CLA (-32.7%), A-Class (-16.5%), GLC (-19.3%) and GLE (-41.4%).Benz fared better with some of its EV range, with the EQE medium SUV up by more than 200 per cent to 759 sales and the EQS large SUV also in positive territory (+126.7%). The GLA small SUV was the brand’s best seller, recording 3103 sales, up a healthy 65 per cent year on year.Coming third in the premium car sales race was Audi with 15,333, which represented a 19.5 per cent drop on its 2023 result.The decline can in part be put down to the delayed launch of the Q4 e-tron electric SUV, which now arrives in February, as well as some ageing model lines like the A4 and Q5 mid sizers. Both will be replaced in 2025 with new-gen models.The end of sales for the A1 hatch and TT sports car have also likely had an impact.Like Mercedes, Audi’s sales were a mixed bag. The Q3 was the brand’s star performer, capturing 5497 sales (+23.3%) to top the premium small SUV segment.The only other Audi model in positive sales territory was, interestingly, the A6 (+12%). Large sedans aren’t super popular these days so it’s a great result for a solid offering.On the flipside, the Q7 and A3 went backwards, but the SUV is about to get a big refresh in February, and the A3 has just been updated, too, so they should pick up in 2025.Aside from BMW, Porsche was the only premium brand to achieve sales growth in 2024, with 7029 units up 16.1 per cent. Every model line except the Panamera (-5.7%) and Taycan (-47.3%) saw double or triple-digit growth.Other premium contenders Lexus (13,642, -10.2%), Genesis (1400, -26.9%) and Volvo (8898, -20%) all had sales drops in 2024.

Audi has revealed the last generation of its Q5 Sportback SUV with petrol or diesel engines.Headlining the upgraded model are new exterior and interior design upgrades, along with a brand new mild-hybrid system that delivers improved performance.Starting at the front, there is a beefier front grille in matte black and larger air intakes, both of which are underscored by a new geometric octagonal pattern. There’s sleeker LED headlights with more menacing LED light signatures.At the rear, the sloping roofline is even more dramatic than before, losing the sharply contoured tailgate for a more rounded edge and a brand new OLED light bar.The rear diffuser is new as well, continuing the same geometric pattern in matte black that we see up front.On the SQ5 variant, exterior trims on the grille, diffusers, doors and windows come in a chrome finish that Audi calls Scantium Grey, whereas the base Exterior Advanced package comes in standard Tambora Grey.Both variants boast 18-inch alloys with unique designs, while the SQ5 also adds double shotgun, chrome-tipped exhausts.As usual, you can upgrade to the SQ5's exterior trims – bar the exhausts – through optional S-Line packaging.The new design means cargo space is slightly less than the standard Q5 wagon, which packs 520 litres behind the second row compared to 515 litres on the Sportback. The SQ5 variant carries even less at just 470 litres.Inside, Audi has completely overhauled the interior, with a new triple-screen panoramic dash display now coming as standard.It boasts an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display, a 14.5-inch multimedia touchscreen and an additional 10.9-inch passenger’s display. The latter features a privacy screen to prevent the driver from being distracted while their passenger is browsing the web.The infotainment system is built on Google’s Android Automotive software, although it is still expected to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Optional features include a head-up display, along with a premium 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.There’s a flat-bottom, leather-wrapped steering wheel with haptic controls, which adds the Audi ‘S’ logo depending on whether you opt for the S-line or SQ5.Interior materials across the seats, door panels and dash come in a mixture of metallic, microsuede and cascade materials, which Audi said are made primarily from recycled materials. There is also ambient lighting across the dash and lining the cupholders.Underpinning the Q5 Sportback is Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture, which is designed to serve as the brand's last internal combustion engine architecture. It debuted on the Audi A5 earlier this year.It carries Audi’s 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and 1.7kWh battery pack, which the brand said reduces driving emissions while increasing driving performance and comfort.Fuel economy estimates aren’t available yet, nor is a 0-100km/h time, but the new platform does allow for limited all-electric parking and manoeuvring and the new powertrain generator delivers up to 230Nm and 13kW.The 48-volt electrical system also allows for the air conditioning to run at full capacity even when the car’s engine is switched off, such as when coasting or stopped at a red light.In Europe, the Q5 Sportback will be sold with three engine options, with a plug-in hybrid variant set to join the lineup later.That starts with a 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder petrol engine, available with either front- or all-wheel drive. It boasts 140kW/420Nm.The TDI diesel version comes standard in all-wheel drive, or quattro in Audi-speak, with outputs of 150kW/400Nm.Finally, the all-wheel drive SQ5 gets a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TFSI petrol engine that leads the range with 270kW and 550Nm.Audi said mild-hybrid technology can deliver up to 18kW of additional power across the range. All variants use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.Prices in Europe start at €54,800 ($88,459) and rise to €137,872 ($137,872) for the SQ5 variant.We expect prices in Australia to start north of $90,000 once it arrives here from the second half of 2025. Keep your eyes peeled for local pricing and specifications closer to that date.

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By mid -2025, Audi's entire model range will look significantly different.

Audi's new Q5 has been revealed ahead of it's Australian arrivals and the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC has ever reason to be worried

It's not unusual for carmakers to test their vehicles in Australia before being launched - or even revealed - globally. Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Toyota have all done it, Holden did before it closed and Ford still has a significant engineering and testing program in Victoria.

Audi has given most of its range a safety and features updated for its 2024 model year, with just about the entire Audi range now coming with features like adaptive cruise control as standard.