Audi’s Hybrid SUV: 2022 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e Buyer’s Guide
Audi’s only hybrid SUV, the Q5 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid, is one of two hybrid cars made by the automaker (the second is the Audi A7 TFSI e sedan). While Audi, like nearly all major automakers, continues to focus on adding electric vehicles to their lineup, their flagship Audi Q5 crossover luxury hybrid SUV remains popular among drivers and critics alike.
While hybrid models lack the fuel efficiency and advanced performance technology of their electric counterparts, hybrid SUVs like the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e remain a stylish and earth-friendly alternative to gas-powered family cars. It’s also a great entry-level vehicle for those not quite ready to go all-electric. Read on to learn a bit more about the Audi Q5 PHEV, its trim levels, price, and performance features.
Audi Q5 55 TFSI e Plug-In Hybrid SUV
The Audi Q5 PHEV is available in three different trim levels, with each progressing trim level built with the features of the one preceding it, plus additional options. Each trim features the same performance features, battery capacity, and MPGe.
Pricing and Trims
The base of Audi’s Q5 plug-in hybrid is the Premium trim level, followed by Prestige, and lastly Premium Plus. As of this writing, some features may not be available due to global supply issues affecting the auto industry. We suggest checking with your dealership to make sure the Audi hybrid SUV you choose has all the features you’re looking for.
Audi Q5 PHEV Premium
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP): $54,600
The base model or Premium trim of the Audi Q5 hybrid SUV does not come with navigation or premium audio, but it does feature Audi’s new “Virtual Cockpit.” This digital instrument cluster is a single screen that fits above the steering wheel where conventional analog dials like RPM and engine temperature would be. Drivers can customize the information they see there, from traditional speed and RPM readings to Caller ID.
Audi Q5 PHEV Prestige
MSRP: $58,700
The Audi Q5 Hybrid Prestige trim upgrades the standard audio equipment to a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. With the addition of a touchscreen infotainment system and navigation package, this second-tier trim also features LED headlights, heated and cooled front seats, and a head-up driver’s display, which projects your dashboard information onto your windshield for safer viewing. The Prestige trim Q5 is also compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Audi Q5 PHEV Premium Plus
MSRP: $64,050
The Audi Q5 PHEV Premium Plus trim gives drivers adaptive cruise control, power panoramic sunroof, a top-view camera system that gives you a bird’s-eye rendering of your surroundings, and leather seating throughout. The Sport plus package is also an option in the Premium Plus trim. This includes 20-inch wheels with performance tires.
It should be noted that the performance tires are summer-only, and will be far less effective in inclement driving conditions, even with Audi’s well-known quattro all-wheel drive system in action.
Performance
Each trim of the Audi Q5 plug-in utilizes the same hybrid drivetrain. The car is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 12-volt mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) electric motor. The car has impressive acceleration for an SUV, with combined gas/electric 362-horsepower capability and 369 lb-ft of torque. True to Audi’s performance-oriented roots, the car’s acceleration is pretty impressive, with a 0-to-60 MPH time of 5.3 seconds.
The Q5 PHEV’s powertrain is paired with a seven-speed S line dual-clutch automatic transmission, with Audi’s venerated quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system standard on all models. While quattro can assist with traction in poor weather, the system is more oriented toward deft cornering than combating poor road conditions.
Fuel Economy
The Audi Q5 PHEV has a fuel efficiency of 61 MPGe combined city/highway when utilizing both its gas and electric motors. This efficiency drops to 26 MPG combined city/highway when it utilizes gas only.
One slight drawback of the car is that it requires premium gasoline, certainly a potential drawback for drivers eager to save all they can at the pump. As of this writing according to fueleconomy.gov, it costs $59 to fill the vehicle’s 14.3-gallon gas tank. That said, the Audi Q5 can save drivers $1,250 over five years compared to the average gas-powered vehicle.
Cargo and Passenger Room
The Audi Q5 PHEV has seating for five. The rear hatch has a cargo volume of 25.8 cubic feet, which is certainly on the small side compared to other vehicles in its class. With the rear seats folded, that cargo space expands to 54.0, which is decent for moving most large objects, but also on the small side compared to other SUVs.
Charging
The 2022 Audi Q5 features a larger battery than the preceding 2021 model year. The car’s total battery capacity is 17.9 kWh, a 24% increase from the 14.1 kWh battery in the 2021 model. The increased battery size has extended the car’s efficiency over 10 MPGe from last year’s model.
When utilizing a 240-volt Level 2 charger, the Audi Q5 hybrid can be recharged in a little over two hours. The car comes with a standard 120-volt wall socket charger, which takes almost four times as long to return the car’s battery to a full charge.
Safety
The 2022 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid SUV comes with a variety of enhanced safety features, including an integrated backup camera and front and rear parking sensors. The car also has nearly all the contemporary safety features you’d expect from a 2022 model, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic high-beam headlights.
The latest Audi Q5 PHEV also features a surround-view parking camera system that gives drivers an overhead view (which is actually a digitized image of the car created by its numerous outside sensors) to make parallel parking a breeze.
Who is the Audi Q5 TFSI e Hybrid SUV Best For?
While it’s on the small side even for a luxury SUV crossover, the Audi Q5 is a more than adequate vehicle for young professionals and young families. The car’s fuel efficiency makes it a quality option for those with long daily commutes or frequent road trips, although it won’t offer you the kind of efficiency that Audi’s growing fleet of all-electric vehicles will.
The vehicle’s entry-level price point of $54,600 seems high at first glance, particularly given that the Premium trim lacks so much of the technology the Q5’s higher trims have in spades. But considering as of September 2021 the average price of a new car in the United States is $45,031, the Q5’s price is relatively reasonable, particularly for a luxury compact SUV entry. And don’t forget, the Audi Q5 PHEV is also eligible for state and federal tax credits.
Finding the Right EV for You
Still deciding whether a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle is right for you? Compare.com offers a comprehensive collection of guides that can help you decide which EV is right for you, your driving needs, the travel needs of your family, and most importantly, your budget.
While a new Audi A5 PHEV is a respectable choice, there is a wide variety of pre-owned EV options for drivers looking beyond luxury vehicles for something more affordable and utilitarian. You can utilize Compare’s price comparison tool to find the fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive EV or hybrid you’ve been looking for.
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