The interior has a greater impact on the driver than the exterior does. After all, we spend the majority of our time there, so if the interior is subpar, drivers won’t be pleased. That was taken to heart by Audi, who made some of the most popular options standard.
Audi’s integrated toll module and Apple CarPlay are now necessities. This update is probably worthless for drivers who don’t frequently pass through toll booths.
The brand-new MIB 3 is another new feature that consumers will adore (Modular Infotainment Toolkit). It will offer “faster processing, more functionality, and more varied entertainment choices,” according to Kelley Blue Book.
A wide range of standard driving assistance features are also available, such as the parking system, lane departure warning, and Audi side assist with Pre-Sense rear (front and rear acoustic sensors).
You must upgrade to the Premium Plus trim if you want the top view camera system, adaptive cruise control, and active lane assist. Audi has improved significantly since then, though, by including additional features as standard. This fall, the 2021 Audi Q5 will go on sale.
In This Article...
Is lane assist available on the Audi Q5?
The driver assistance package for the 2018 Audi Q5 costs $1,800 and includes adaptive cruise control and traffic congestion assist. active lane support
Can you disable Audi’s lane-keeping aid?
You are correct; there doesn’t appear to be a method to permanently turn it off after reading my US handbook. I’m not sure if this is a Lane Departure assist issue. You should be able to disable the “vibration” warning, though. The Vehicle>Driver Assistance>COG>Lane Departure Warning>Vibration Warning menu item contains all of these driver assistance settings. There are also modifications for Audi PreSense, which provides active steering assistance, in that COG region. Maybe that has to be changed.
Which Audi has lane assist that is active?
Audi Pre Sense Plus, Active Lane Assist, the Corner View Camera System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and Power-Adjustable, Power-Folding, Auto-Dimming, Heated Exterior Side Mirrors with Memory are all included with Audi A7 Premium plus or A7 Prestige versions with Driver Assistance.
Can you disable lane assistance?
There is no other way to phrase it, even though lane assist is a fantastic safety function, it can also be pretty frustrating. On A and B roads, though, it does occasionally bleep or vibrate the steering wheel in a way that will fast throw you off the turn. It’s fantastic on motorways.
Equally annoying is active lane assist, which at best makes the steering wheel feel fake and at worst is overpowering.
The good news is that you can always switch off lane assist and active lane assist. Depending on your vehicle, you may find it on a stalk or button close to the steering wheel. On other vehicles, it may be hidden deep within the menus of the infotainment system. Unfortunately, safety requires that you switch it off every time you go in your car if you want it to be off.
The way lane assist works is by directing your car within the white lines on the road. However, if the road is heavily covered in snow, the system won’t be able to read the lines and won’t be able to function.
Although lane assist can be disabled, it automatically turns back on by default the moment you get inside your car out of safety concerns.
Most new cars come equipped with lane assist, a crucial safety technology that helps them earn a top Euro NCAP safety rating of five stars. In vehicles as basic as the Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai i20, you’ll find.
How can I activate the pre sense in my Audi?
On the infotainment system, pick one of the following: Driver assistance > Left control button > Audi pre sense > MENU button. System – It is possible to turn on or off the pre sense features.
How is the Audi side assist reset?
You must push the side assist button once more to turn out a side assist, at which point theMore You must push the side assist button one more to turn off a side assist, at which point the indication light will go out.
Is there a lane departure warning on the 2018 Audi Q5?
The 2018 Audi SQ5 is the best luxury compact SUV on the market. The SQ5’s driving aids and safety systems help it to be lightning fast in the dry and sure-footed on wet and snowy roads. Four persons can comfortably travel over long distances thanks to the upmarket, understated tastefulness of the Audi cockpit. In other words, there’s a justification for the high price.
Audis with premium equipment are not inexpensive. Starting prices for the Audi Q5 are in the low 40s. The price of my test SQ5 Premium Plus was just under $66,000, but it lacked adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, which are only included in the SQ5 Prestige trim line, which costs $4,000 more. The Q5 and SQ5 are comparable in size and pricing to other upmarket vehicles like Mercedes-Benz and BMW (X3) (GLC).
Second-Generation 2018 Q5 Is a Big Step Forward
From the outside, the 2018 Audi Q5 and SQ5 resemble the 20092017 model year first generation Q5. That is misleading. It’s a vastly superior vehicle. More on-board technology is available, the ride is smoother, there is less cabin noise, and the handling is still responsive, despite the power steering’s limited road feedback.
With a seven-speed sequential automatic manual gearbox, the Q5’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 252 horsepower (that is, no clutch pedal). The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 TFSI (turbocharged, stratified fuel injection directly into the cylinders) and eight-speed automatic transmission power the performance-oriented 354-hp SQ5. All-wheel drive with Audi Quattro is standard.
The Multi-Media Interface, or MMI, provides the driver with a wealth of information, especially after a few weeks of familiarization with the vehicle. You can’t just turn the key in the ignition and pull away from the driveway before you know how to operate the gear selector: Pushing forward initiates reverse, pulling all the way back initiates Drive, pulling back again initiates Sport Drive mode, and pressing a button at the base of the shifter initiates Park.
Two control wheels are used by the Audi Q5 for volume and driving options (left). Toggle buttons that move up and down are inferior.
Many Little Reasons You’ll Love the Q5/SQ5
When it comes to considering how people actually use automobiles, Audi has performed as well as any other automaker. The quickest way to quickly adjust the volume of your entertainment system is with a steering wheel scroll wheel (see image above) (or mute it with a tap on the wheel). Additionally, it regulates the volume for navigation and entertainment, and an on-screen notification lets you know which you are setting. A second scroll wheel allows for information selection on the instrument panel.
The electronic cockpit
that is, a 12.3-inch LCD behind the steering wheel can show only instruments, gauges and maps, or an easy-to-glance-down full-screen map. An old-fashioned map, a Google Earth image, or even (if you’re stopped) a street-view image are all acceptable options. The fact that the automobile has 4G telematics, Audi Connect, delivered over the AT&T network and featuring a shared Wi-Fi hotspot, makes it conceivable. Automatic crash notification, a vehicle locator for stolen vehicles, manual emergency calling, real-time information (traffic, weather updates, fuel prices, internet radio streaming, picture navigation, read-aloud personalized news headlines, and Twitter alerts), driver monitoring (curfew, speed, and valet alerts), remote lock/unlock, and a car finder are all included in Audi Connect.
Using the MMI controller, the ride quality can be adjusted. The additional ride setting, Comfort, that comes with the optional air suspension ($1,000), is as close to a limousine as a vehicle with a 111-inch wheelbase can go (the longer the wheelbase, the less the car pitches going over bumps).
A touchpad with handwriting recognition (write an address one letter at a time), map zoom using swipe/pinch motions, and eight radio button settings are now included in MMI on the Q5. The MMI control knob is still present, along with voice input.
Three separate pieces of information can be seen simultaneously in three different places thanks to the full-color head-up display: the center stack LCD, the instrument panel in virtual cockpit mode, and the HUD.
Adaptive Cruise, Lane Departure Warning Gets Costly
The Q5/only SQ5’s serious flaw, despite its overall perfection, is that ordering adaptive cruise control with lane departure warning requires specifying the priciest trim lines (“active lane assist in Audi terminology). You must get the top-tier Q5 Prestige trim line, which is $9,000 more expensive than the base Q5 Premium. The $1,800 driver assistance package must then be ordered. You also need the Prestige trim level for the SQ5.
Audi might dismiss the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V as competitors, yet both come standard with ACC, lane departure warning, and blind spot recognition. During my 1,000 largely highway miles, 100 of which were in stop-and-go traffic, it occurred to me that it is strange that a high-end automaker does not offer all three when the bulk of its vehicles have as-equipped prices that are more than $50,000.
The console bin’s dual USB ports and aux-in jack are lit so you can easily see where to plug things in.
Room for Improvement: the Little Things
Despite how nice the Q5/SQ5 is, the vehicle still has flaws. The console’s LED USB and line-in jacks are brilliant because they eliminate the need for a torch to help you position them in the dark. However, a five-person car only has two actual infotainment hookups. Both of these $30,000 vehicles, the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5, provide up to six jacks each. Rear seat passengers are limited to a single 12-volt accessory jack, which can be upgraded to include a USB charger. Additionally, there isn’t a 120-volt outlet available; you must supply your own using a 12-volt adaptor.
The center console has a smartphone cutout, however it is too small to accommodate an iPhone Plus or an Android device of a comparable size. A Plus-size iPhone will also not fit in the cubbyhole at the bottom of the central stack. The phone interface, whether using MMI or Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, is outstanding.
When you attempt a 0-60 run (which takes around 5 seconds) in the SQ5, it’s doubtful that any drink will topple over because the two console drink containers are firmly recessed to accommodate large beverages. However, Dunkin’ sold me a medium-hot lawsuit coffee that burned my hand as I attempted to remove it from the cutout, dislodging the top and dripping coffee into my fingers.
The Best Audi Q5 to Get
It was fun to drive the SQ5, especially with the air suspension. Audi’s S versions, which cost roughly $70,000 if you want full driver assistance, are designed to compete with BMW M-badged cars and Mercedes-Benz AMG variants. Furthermore, low-profile tires will be vulnerable to damage in areas with slow pothole filling. Most people will be content with the common Q5 and its turbo four. For 2018, outside of the US, you can get Audi’s fantastic 48-volt electric turbocharged V6 diesel engine, which provides hybrid operation and nearly 400 horsepower.
Except for driving assistance, the base Q5 Premium, which costs $42,475 with $975 freight, is decently equipped. It does offer a backup camera, Audi Pre-Sense Basic and Audi Pre-Sense City, which tighten seat belts and begin locking the windows and sunroof in the event of a potential crash (which detects pedestrians and cornering or stationary vehicles at speeds up to 52 mph or 85 kph and brakes in a potential collision situation). Optional features include heated front seats, telematics, a sunroof, and navigation. Traditional gauges and a 5-inch multi-information display in monochrome make up the instrument panel. The fuel for headlamps is xenon.
With a starting price of $46,475, the mid-level Q5 Premium Plus includes Pre Sense Rear, Audi Side Assist, and LED headlights. Blind spot detection, vehicle exit assist, which alerts you if you’re going to open the door as other cars or cyclists are about to pass your vehicle, and rear cross traffic alert are all parts of the side assist feature. To reduce the possibility of injury if you are rear-ended, Pre Sense Rear applies Pre Sense Basic to automobiles approaching from the rear. The panorama sunroof, keyless entry with an automatic tailgate opening, and heated front seats are also included.
Optional features for Premium Plus include 19-speaker, 755-watt Bang & Olufsen audio ($950), navigation with touchpad input and the virtual cockpit ($2,600), warm weather package ($1,450) with power-ventilated front sport seats and rear side sunshades, and cold weather package ($500) with heated steering wheel and rear seats. Although crucial, rear side airbags ($350) might be dangerous if kids doze off and lean against the side doors.
The virtual cockpit LCD, navigation, six months of Audi’s premium telematics service, the B&O sound system, and Parking System Plus are all included in the Q5 Prestige, which costs $51,775. (front and rear acoustic sensors, surround view camera, and superimposed lanes on the center display). Adaptive cruise control, Turn Assist (which detects oncoming traffic and warns you when you’re about to make a left turn at 1-7 mph), Traffic Jam Assist (slow speed follow), Lane Keep Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Traffic Sign Recognition are all included in the driver assistance package ($1,800), which is a must-have if you’re spending $50,000 on the vehicle. For comfortable passenger travel and thrilling driving, consider adaptive damping ($1,000 for air suspension). There are several options for cold and warm weather. A Q5 Prestige with all the options would cost $56,875.
If you truly want all the driver aidsand you shouldthe Q5 Prestige will cost you at least $53,575. The Q5 to buy is this one. Or a loaded SQ5 for around $70K.
If you check the options boxes, the Audi Q5 boasts a wide range of driver aid technologies.
Audi Q5 vs. the Competition
The major German automakers are Audi’s main rivals. The Mercedes-Benz GLC, which debuted in 2016, is an inch shorter than the Audi Q5 at 183 inches. (A small SUV measures 180 to 190 inches in length.) The inside isn’t quite as enticing as Audi’s, and all-wheel drive is an optional feature. First shipments of the 2018 BMW X3, which is 186 inches long, began in November. I’ve only had a brief experience driving an X3 vehicle, but it was fantastic. Upgrades have been made to the cockpit. It will have four- and six-cylinder models, just like Audi.
Other rivals include the Volvo XC60 (good highway cruiser, plenty of safety features), Cadillac XT5, and Lincoln MKC. The Porsche Macan (smaller cargo space), Jaguar F-Pace, Alfa Romeo Stelvio (amazing exhaust sound, reliability concerns), and Alfa Romeo Spyder are also contenders.
The 21018 Q5 has been on sale for the majority of this year and trails only the Lexus NX in sales, however there is less cross-shopping between Audi and European rivals. Currently, the Lexus NX, Audi Q5, Acura RDX, Mercedes GLC, and BMW X3 round out the top five.
The Audi Q5 is now the finest option for consumers who want their compact SUVs to be both luxury and dynamic, with good driver and safety assistance. Our only issue is that safety features that are offered as standard on popular SUVs from Honda and Toyota cost in the mid-fifties.