With its appealing combination of classy looks, fine drive, and quality, the Audi Q5 is a strong choice in the hotly contested luxury compact SUV space. It faces many rivals, most notably its direct German alternatives the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Porsche Macan, as well as a host of others. The Q5 might not be the best in every area among these alternatives—the X3 and the Macan are likely to appeal more to enthusiast drivers—and it doesn’t offer as much value as others. But for many buyers, the Q5 remains the go-to premium compact SUV.
It’s easy to understand why—the Q5 offers an appealing mix of an easy drive, a finely appointed interior, decent if not class-leading space, and a choice of two engines. The regular Q5 models feature the 2.0T turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the more performanced-focused SQ5 uses a powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged V6. Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels are available, as are a number of option packages that let you personalize your Q5 as you like.