The plug-in hybrid 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV (or Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line to use its official title) is a luxury five-seater SUV, which, as the name suggests, is like the Audi Q5 I previously reviewed with a sleeker, sportier shape at the back. In some cars, this affects visibility, boot space, legroom and headroom, especially in the rear seats. So let's jump in and see how the Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV fares as a BabyDrive and put it through our family car testing with Infasecure child seats and Thule prams…
BabyDrive Verdict
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV has a battery range of around 53km, which we found to be good enough for around town, or the school run!
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are within plastic guides, and they are nice and easy to connect to.
All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are in the back of the rear seatbacks and easily accessible through the boot.
I have three Infasecure child seats in the rear seats of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback. I installed the Infasecure Achieve More and Momentum More, both forward-facing, and the Infasecure Cocoon Go Infant Carrier, rear-facing behind the driver.
This combination of child seats fits across the rear seats; however, you can't fit three forward-facing child seats across the back seats as they are too narrow across the shoulders where the head support of the child seats is. This is a consideration for families that need to fit three across and I found the Sportback wasn't much different to the conventional SUV shape version of the Q5 which is also a bit narrow across the shoulders.
Legroom is good in the Q5 Sportback, and we could fit a 180cm driver in front of the Infasecure Cocoon Go Infant Capsule or taller front passengers in front of the forward-facing child seats.
There are aircon vents in the back of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback so rear passengers can be kept at a comfortable temperature while driving along. There are also USB-C sockets and 12V for charging devices while driving too.
Rear passengers have good storage in the Q5 Sportback. Cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup or a child's drink cup.
There are net map pockets on the back of both front seats.
The rear door bins will fit a refillable water bottle.
Storage is good in the front, too. The central console box has two cup holders inside it that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind them is a wireless phone charging pad, and underneath that is a storage area.
There are three storage wells around the gear lever for keys and phones.
The glove box will fit a wallet and iPad with the manual.
The front door bins will hold a refillable water bottle, a wallet and an iPad.
The Audi Q5 Sportback's boot has good storage for families. The boot floor is nice and flat for an emergency nappy change.
… with the back wheels removed, it will fit in the boot of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback with two shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the Audi Q5 Sportback with seven shopping bags.
The Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV's boot can also accommodate a 90L and two 70L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
You can put a medium-sized dog in the boot of the Audi Q5 Sportback.
There is a window lock button in the driver's door control panel for locking the rear windows so little passengers can't fiddle with them.
The Media system in the Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV is lovely, modern and easy to use.
It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can easily access your phone's music, podcast, navigation and messaging apps while driving.
The climate controls are on the dash below the media screen and air vents so they are easily accessible while driving.
You can keep an eye on your battery and fuel range in the driver's display.
When you put the car in reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear and fill the lovely large screen.
You can turn the parking sensor noise off with a button on the dash.
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback feels like a solid luxury car on the road. Its wind and road noise are good, and it is very economical on fuel. However, the Sportback's shaping affects visibility, and with three child seats onboard, you can not see very well out of the rear windscreen.
Overall, the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV makes an enjoyable, practical and economical BabyDrive for those looking at luxury electric cars but remain concerned about charging on road trips. Two Infasecure child seats fit very comfortably in the back, three at a squeeze. With good legroom, the boot can hold the Thule Urban Glide 3 Double pram.
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV does not have an ANCAP crash test rating because the plug-in hybrid was not included in ANCAP tests and this generation of Q5 was launched a long time ago and its ANCAP rating (five stars in 2017) expired at the end of 2023. It has airbags that cover front and rear occupants in the event of an accident.
BabyDrive Indepth
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV?
The Audi Q5 Sportback's boot has good storage for families. The boot floor is nice and flat for an emergency nappy change and there are netted storage areas behind both rear wheel arches.
… with the back wheels removed, it will fit in the boot of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback with two shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
… fits in the boot of the Audi Q5 Sportback with seven shopping bags.
The Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV's boot can also accommodate a 90L and two 70L Thule Chasm duffle bags.
You can put a medium-sized dog in the boot of the Audi Q5 Sportback.
How good is storage in the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV?
Storage in the front of the Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV is good. The central console box has two cup holders inside it that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind them is a wireless phone charging pad, and underneath that is a storage area.
There are three storage wells around the gear lever for keys and phones.
The glove box will fit a wallet and iPad with the manual.
The front door bins will hold a refillable water bottle, a wallet and an iPad.
In the back, rear passengers have good storage in the Q5 Sportback. There are cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup or a child's drink cup.
There are net map pockets on the back of both front seats.
The rear door bins will fit a refillable water bottle.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV, and how easy is the media screen to use?
When running in fully electric mode, the Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV is a quiet and smooth drive. Being a luxury vehicle, you are cocooned from any outside road or wind noise, even when the engine is running.
The Media system in the Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV is lovely, modern, and easy to use.
It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can easily access your phone's podcast, music, navigation and messaging apps while driving.
You can see your battery and fuel usage easily on the driver display screen and there's a clear seatbelt removal visual on this screen too.
You can customise many aspects of the car within the media screen, including the sounds and announcements, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off.
You can keep an eye on your battery usage and optimise your battery usage, too, in the charging and efficiency screen. It's possible to use only the petrol engine and save your battery's electricity when on motorway or country road journeys for when you get back to your town, or divert some of the petrol engine's power to charge up your battery during a long journey. Of course you can also charge the battery at home or at some public charging stations too.
There are some other nice aspects like built-in sat-nav and weather.
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV is a nice car to drive with your family onboard. You are nicely cocooned from the outside road and wind noise, especially for motorway driving, and the steering feels nice and light with a tight turning circle, although it feels firm and slid on the road. The 53km battery range is good for around town or local school drop-offs or to sit while your little one naps in the car and you have the aircon running.
The Q5 S[ortback's indicator sound is not too loud, so it did not disturb my kids while they were sleeping in the back.
The doors and windows are not baby-waking to close either.
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child/baby seats can you fit in the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV?
When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats.
They are within plastic guides, and they are nice and easy to connect to.
All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are in the back of the rear seatbacks and easily accessible through the boot.
I have three Infasecure child seats in the rear seats of the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback. I installed the Infasecure Achieve More and Momentum More, both forward-facing, and the Infasecure Cocoon Go Infant Carrier, rear-facing behind the driver.
This combination of child seats fits across the rear seats; however, you can't fit three forward-facing child seats across the back seats as they are too narrow across the shoulders where the head support of the child seats is. This is a consideration for families that need to fit three across and similar to the Q5 SUV in that regard rather than worse as I'd expected given the sleeker shape at the back.
Legroom is good in the Q5 Sportback, and we could fit a 180-cm driver in front of the Infasecure Cocoon Go Infant Capsule or taller front passengers in front of the forward-facing child seats.
When inserting Bub into their child's seat from outside the car, the Sportback shape means the roof line is quite low toward the back of the door openings when you bend down and in to fasten their harness. There is room to feed Bub in the back if there is only one child seat installed.
Australia being a country of weather extremes- blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfy is the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV?
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback has air conditioning vents in the back, so rear passengers can be kept at a comfortable temperature while driving. There are also USB-C sockets and 12V for charging devices while driving.
The rear seats are comfortable for passengers who are not in child seats, too. They are quilted leather in the model I tested.
The front seats are also quilted the same and are super comfortable.
There are four air-conditioning vents across the front of the dashboard, two underneath the media screen and one at each end of the dashboard.
The air-con controls are along the bottom of the central air vents and are easily adjusted while driving.
Visibility is limited out of the back of the Audi Q5 Sportback when you have three child seats on board because of the shape of the Sportback's rear window.
Excellent cameras in the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback compensate a little for the lack of rear visibility, making maneuvering and parking a little easier.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. The Audi Q5 Sportback is easy to park with the help of the cameras when reversing!
BabyDrive Indepth - Safety
How safe is the 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV?
The 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback PHEV does not have an ANCAP crash test rating because the plug-n hybrid was not included in ANCAP tests and this generation of Q5 was launched a long time ago and its ANCAP rating (five stars in 2017) expired at the end of 2023. It has airbags that cover front and rear occupants in the event of an accident.
Eight airbags are standard:
Dual frontal airbags, side airbags front and rear and curtain airbags.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
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About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.
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