Overview

In its day, the Audi Q5 was one of the best SUVs on sale. It’s considerably smaller than its contemporary Q7 sibling, which makes it far easier to drive and park – but it shares the same imposing looks, it’s still vast inside and it was available with an impressive amount of technology for its time.

What it can’t do is go off-road. But the first-generation Q5 comes from an era when manufacturers were just starting to figure out that most SUV drivers didn’t need a car to go mud-plugging in. They needed a car to lord over other, less fortunate motorists in – and this posh Audi fulfils that brief well.

And because Audi didn’t need to design the Q5 to go off-road, its engineers could focus on making it drive well. For something so vast, body roll is astonishingly well-controlled. It even rides well and, thanks to its broad range of petrol and diesel engines, there should be a model to suit you, whether you value performance or economy.

Audi Q5 known faults and common problems

The original Audi Q5 is more than a decade and a half old, so owners are starting to find the limits of the car’s capability. We’d recommend you steer clear of the cheapest cars. A quick search on the Parkers classifieds will throw up plenty of sub-£7,000, high-mileage Mk1 Audi Q5s, which we can guarantee have been run on a shoestring.

Spend a bit more money and find a car that’s had a gentler mileage schedule, a better service history and a more careful owner. A good gauge for how well your car’s been cared for is to check its tyres. If there’s a different brand on each corner, or brands of tyres you’ve never heard of, simply walk away.

And if you can’t find a Q5 nearby that fits your needs, remember this car has plenty of rivals. They include the Land Rover Freelander, Range Rover Evoque, Volvo XC60 and the original BMW X3. The first two are a bit better at going off-road, while the latter two focus on comfort and on-road driveability.

Buying guide

Common issues and what to look out for if you’re considering buying one

1. Excessive oil consumption

The Q5’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine suffers from excessive oil consumption. It’s a known fault which, in the worst-case scenario, will see the engine chew through a litre of oil every 1,000 miles. That’s unheard of in modern cars. If left unchecked, the engine won’t have enough oil to run smoothly and will rip itself to shreds.

The fixes for the issue are varied. Audi was made aware of the problem shortly after the Q5 hit the showrooms and, in the most extreme circumstances, its technicians were tearing the 2.0-litre TFSI engines apart and replacing piston rings. Check the dipstick of your potential purchase before handing over the cash. If it’s low, walk away.

2. Clogged diesel particulate filters

Audi’s 2.0-litre diesel engine was a popular choice on the Q5 for its fuel economy. But not all drivers have used the engine properly. Cars that have spent their lives bumbling around town often suffer from clogged diesel particulate filters – and there’ll be a warning light on the dash to tell you about it. If you’re lucky, a long motorway drive will clear it. If you’re unlucky, you’ll need to fork out for a replacement.

3. Gearbox faults

The Q5 automatic gearbox can develop a fault that makes it jolty when stopping and starting. The fixes are varied. The luckiest owners have solved it with an oil change or a software update, while the more unfortunate ones have had to spend some extra cash on a new mechatronics unit. The most hapless owners have had to source a new gearbox. If your car is juddery on the test drive, proceed with caution.

4. Control arm bushes

The Q5’s a big, heavy car – and that puts strain on its suspension components. Its control arm bushes are a known weak point. The good news is that the replacement bushes are available pre-pressed into their new suspension arms so, if you’re mechanically competent, this should be job you can do on the driveway at home.

5. Power steering trouble

This is another common fault but, just to keep you on your toes, lots of owners have reported it’s an intermittent fault. The Q5’s power assistance is known to fail, which can make the steering feel unnaturally heavy. To fix it, you’ll probably need to flush the system and replace the power steering pump.

6. Parking sensors

The Q5 was available with Audi’s parking assist system, which has a reputation for breaking. A good place to start your fault-finding journey is the parking assist module, which is in the boot of the car on the left-hand side behind some trims. They can burn out – and, with a bit of luck, replacing that will solve the problem.

7. Air conditioning

It’s normal for cars of this age to need an air conditioning re-gas. However, the Q5 has a slightly more awkward issue. Audi put the condenser in a rather stupid location, just behind the front grille, right in the path of all the stones being kicked up by other cars. To get the system working again, you’ll need to replace the condenser.

8. Water leak

Are you buying a Q5 with a sunroof? Check under its boot board before you hand over the cash. The drainage pipes for the sunroof run down each side of the car, past the rear seats and into the rear wheel arches, where the water can drain out. However, the exits of those pipes can become clogged with dirt and, over time, the channels fill up and leak into the boot. You can clear the channels with a piece of thin wire.

9. 3.2-litre V6 problems

The 3.2-litre engine fitted to early Q5s has a few known faults. These include a strange vibration at low rpm which is sometime due to an incorrectly set idle or flogged engine mounts. Other owners have reported coolant leaks and oil filter housing leaks, too.

10. Boot switch failure

The external button above the numberplate on the tailgate of original Q5s are about as rugged and dependable as a chocolate hunting knife. Check it works and, if it doesn’t, use the fault as a bargaining chip and get a replacement switch on order.

What models and trims can you buy?

The Audi Q5 was available in a broad range of specifications, most of which were well equipped. Unless very cheap, try to avoid SE models. They’re the most basic option – and the more attractive S line versions aren’t normally much more expensive.

When the Q5 was new, most buyers chose to spec up their cars from Audi’s extensive options list. Key options to look out for on cars include satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control and larger alloy wheels. Just bear in mind that you’ll pay a penalty in ride comfort by opting for the biggest bling-tastic wheels.

Scroll through the following pages to read our detailed review of the Audi Q5. We’ll walk you through the car’s practicality, safety credentials, interior quality, driving experience and running costs before offering our final verdict on the car. And, if you’d like to learn more about how we reached our decision on the Q5, check out our how we test cars explainer page.