Audi Q5 Model History

Released three years after Audi's first foray into the luxury crossover vehicle marketplace, the smaller Q5 emerged to appeal to buyers seeking a more compact, affordable model. Arriving for 2009, the five-passenger Audi Q5 came standard with quattro all-wheel drive, electronic stability control, power liftgate and three-zone automatic climate control. For the first two years on the market in the United States, the Q5's sole powerplant choice was a 3.2-liter V-6 engine. For 2011, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine was added to the small crossover as a more fuel efficient standard powerplant. In 2013, along with a minor styling update, the Audi Q5 offered a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 and hybrid powertrain model. The latest of four powertrain options for incorporated on the 2014 model year crossover, a TDI diesel version of the Q5 was finally brought to the United States. A high-performance variant of the Audi Q5 called the SQ5 was also introduced with a 354-horsepower engine. For 2015, the debut of the Audi Q3 meant the Q5 became the brand's mid-level crossover.