Used 2018 Audi Q5 Premium Plus for sale 

All the trims of the 2018 Audi Q5 offered are offered with AWD as a standard, however, channeling the power only to the front wheels while cruising is also made possible through a touch of a button. Along with the 3 trim configurations set up, each of them can be upgraded to the “Tech” version which adds a host of new safety and driver assistance features along with some enhancements in the infotainment sections. 

As standard, Audi offers plenty of goodies in the likes of three-zone climate control, a power liftgate & garage door transmitter, a backup camera, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, leather interior upholstery, and automatic emergency braking. The Premium Plus trim gets a sticker MSRP of $46,475 and adds satellite radio, heated front seats, panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and driver aids like blind-spot monitor and rear-cross traffic alert. 

The Prestige trim gets all the cutting-edge tech like Audi Virtual Cockpit, B&O surround sound system, head-up display, surround-view camera, Park Assist system, and adaptive cruise control for another $5,300. That said, lower Premium trim can be had with the $3,000 Navigation telematics package to add some of these techs, while the Premium Plus trim adds a Cold Weather package and Warm Weather package for $500 and $1,450 respectively, to better suit your needs.

The 2018 Audi Q5 comes powered by an updated 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder motor that channels power to all 4 wheels via the Quattro AWD system. The power output is rated at 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and the engine is mated to a new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As a default setting, the Quattro system powers the front wheels, and when the terrain gets challenging or demanding, the system can channel almost the same amount of power to all 4 wheels equally or rearwards only. 

Audi has discontinued the V6 engine from the 2018 Q5 lineup but you won't really miss the grunt with the updated powertrain on offer this year. In terms of Handling, the Audi Q5 doesn't disappoint irrespective of whether you take it on mountain roads or doing city commutes. The 5 Driving modes, namely Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, off-road, and individual alter the steering settings and suspension settings accordingly, that said, the steering lacks feedback and feels disconnected from the road. 

Despite being an SUV, this powertrain pulls effortlessly, taking it to 60 MPH in just 6.2 seconds, while the quarter-mile is reached within 14.7 seconds flat. The top speed on the other hand is rated for 140 MPH and the Q5 has a maximum towing capacity of 4,400 lbs, which is also one of the best in the segment. Audi also offers strong brakes with the 2018 Q5, as it manages to halt the SUV in 136 feet in the 60-0 MPH braking tests. 

Audi offers impressive performance for an attractive price, as it is not only quick in a straight line but also has impressive towing prowess. The BMW X3 is the least powerful of the lot yet offers better pulling power and is on par with the segment standards in terms of acceleration performance. The Volvo on the other hand is the slowest of the lot, and while Mercedes impresses with its ride comfort and 0-60 MPH times, the lower towing capacity lets buyers down a little. 

Audi has tuned the engine of the 2018 Q5 for both efficiency and performance. The same can be verified by its MPG figures as well. The Q5 uses some clever technologies like active disengagement of the drivetrain from AWD to FWD or vice versa via the Quattro AWD system. This allows Audi to maintain a balance between both - efficiency and power, as and when needed. The fuel consumption is claimed (EPA) to be 25 MPG on the combined cycle with 23 MPG for the city and 27 MPG for the highway which offers a maximum of 500 miles of range with the 18.5-gallon fuel tank. 

Comparatively, the BMW X3 squeezes out the most from each gallon of fuel while the others showcase almost identical overall MPG figures. Where the Volvo XC60 has the edge, is in the range as it manages to offer the longest range amongst all the SUVs present here. Audi does well to offer impressive range and efficiency with the updated powertrain in spite of the power hike. 

Comfort and luxury have been Audi’s forte for years and the 2018 Audi Q5 is one of the finest examples of this notion. You're greeted with a typically German layout composed of the best materials available for today's modern car. There's ample space for five adults who will sit in comfortable seats, which have been redesigned from the ground up. It sports power-adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support. For taller drivers, there are manual thigh extensions to maximize comfort. You can even add wood trims on the dashboard and a sunroof for some extra zing to the interiors. 

The rear seats get an extra 0.4 inches of legroom now. While this is enough for most people, the taller passengers may face a problem when the front seats are slid all the way to the back. The back of the front seats is made of hard plastic, and although there are knee cutouts, it still might feel a bit cramped. Meanwhile, visibility is great in all directions too and the wood trim and leather surfaces in 4 color options accentuate its appeal. The standard 25.1 cu-ft of trunk capacity is impressive and can further be extended to 53.1 cu-ft by folding down the rear seat. 

The compact nature of Volvo can be felt as soon as you step inside its cabin, with its small trunk space. The interior of the Mercedes GLC also falls short in this regard while the X3 triumphs over the Q5 in terms of boot space. While the Q5 2018 offers the most balance interior space in this comparison, the GLC feels more luxurious. Where Audi leads the pack is in terms of the technology that it has to offer. 

Audi has revised its MMI interface for the Q5 and updated it for the 2018 Q5. The MMI still remains the easiest to use and intuitive system in the class. All buttons have been remapped and perform more than one function hence reducing the number of buttons in the system and making the interface less clumsy and cluttered. Eccentric to all this, the 7.0-inch touchscreen system handles all the commands for infotainment. While this size is standard, another interface with a screen size of 8.3 inches is also available as an option. 

• Power heated front seats & reclining rear seats w/driver seat memory
• Leather interior upholstery and High Gloss Dark Brown Walnut Wood interior inlays
• 3-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic sunroof & ambient LED lighting
• 7-inch MMI Navigation Plus w/755W 19 Speaker B&O audio system with 3D surround sound
• 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster & Head-up display w/navigation
• HD/SiriusXM/INRIX XD Radio and Real-time traffic system

It may not look all that different for 2018, but the 2018 Audi Q5 is all-new underneath. Its exterior follows Audi's more sinewy design language that emphasizes a shapely belt-line and a nose that appears longer than before. The difference is mostly in the detailing, with standard HID and optional LED headlights projecting the way forward and flanking the latest version of Audi's shield grille. At the rear, the Q5 sports a new set of LED lighting, and the Q5 2018 is now available for sale in 11 different color options. 

The single-frame grille at the front reminds us of the Q7 at large. Almost all the sections feature some sort of character lines. From the side, the Q5 has a slant to the back, but it doesn’t impede headroom or cargo space. The side profile remains unchanged other than a few sharp creases along the length of the car. At the rear, you get two horizontal exhaust outlets on the silver rear diffuser. While the 18-inch alloy wheels are upgraded to a set of 20-inch wheels only on the top Prestige trim, one can also get 19-inch alloys as an option for an added price.  

While both the Mercedes and Aud are similar in terms of dimensions, the GLC is lighter by a small margin. The BMW X3 is the heaviest of the lot but is also the longest one here and yet feels the most agile around the bends. The low ride height of the GLC 300 does not inspire much confidence in the rough, while Audi and Volvo excel in this regard. In terms of styling, it is the Mercedes that will attract the most attention on the streets. 

The 2018 Q5 has an above-average safety score for the class. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it as the 'Top Safety Pick' and gave it the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests. It received a Superior rating for its front crash prevention, and its headlights received the second-lowest rating of Marginal for how well it illuminates the road ahead. 

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, the Q5 received an overall five-out-of-five-star rating, earning five stars in all but the rollover test, where it received four stars. Besides, the 2018 package includes a lot of safety features as standard and Audi takes it a step forward with the advanced driver aids on offer. Some of the few safety features include:

• Audi Pre Sense Basic and City w/Pedestrian Detection 
• Forward Collision Warning with brake assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring & Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Front and Rear Parking Sensors
• 360-degree parking camera
• Heads-up Display
• Adaptive Cruise control and Vehicle Exit Assist 

2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 BMW X3

Picking between the Q5 and the X3 is troublesome. They are similarly valued, convey a satisfying driving background, and offer a far-reaching set of highlights. If you want a feature-loaded cabin without paying a lot, the BMW will be the best. In case you're after a more pleasant interior and tech-laden cabin with the best-in-class infotainment system, the Audi Q5 could be your SUV of decision.

2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

The Q5 and the GLC are the best of their respective brands in terms of midsize SUVs. But on paper, it's the Q5 that clean sweep the GLC in every parameter. The Q5 delivers better mileage, performance, towing capacity, and interior space. The GLC on the other hand offers a more luxurious interior and should be your choice if you prefer to be chauffeur-driven.

2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Volvo XC60

Both cars offer great value for money and offer the best safety in the segment. Both of them even offer similar performance. However, Audi has an upper hand when it comes to handling and built quality. The Audi is a much more reliable car than the Volvo. So, if reliability is your priority the Audi is the way to go. The Q5 also offers more range overall. It does turn up as the more value for money bought. 

With its new and powerful 4-cylinder motor, luxurious and feature-rich interiors, and striking-looking exteriors, the 2018 Audi Q5 has everything you would want from an SUV of this class. It’s loaded with features that exude comfort, luxury, safety, and connectivity. And with features like the virtual cockpit, Audi has ensured that you don’t take your eyes off the windshield and what’s in front of you. While the high cost of ownership and not-so-engaging driving dynamics will affect buying decisions, the 2018 Q5 does offer great value for money.