I have come to the Gold Coast in Queensland to drive the new 2026 Audi Q5. This is Audi Australia's third generation of its most popular model so let's have a look at how this luxury five-seater family SUV fares as a BabyDrive…
Quick Links
- How much does the 2026 Audi Q5 cost and what are the options?
- How big is the boot of the Audi Q5?
- How many child seats will fit in the Audi Q5?
- How comfortable is the Audi Q5 for families?
- How safe is the 2026 Audi Q5 for families?
- What is the 2026 Audi Q5 like to drive?
Quick Overview
- ✓ Fits three child seats across the rear row
- ✓ Rear seats slide 10cm for flexible boot/legroom configuration
- ✓ Nine airbags including front centre airbag
- ✓ Innovative OLED rear lights with safety warnings
- ✓ Optional passenger media screen with navigation sharing
- ✗ No ANCAP safety rating yet available
- ✗ Central rear footwell hump affects middle passenger comfort
- ✗ Premium features require expensive option packages
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price Range | $81,000 – $122,400 |
| Warranty | 5-year/unlimited km |
| Safety Rating | 5-star Euro NCAP (no ANCAP yet) |
| Engine Options | TFSI petrol / TDI diesel (all mild hybrid) |
| Drivetrain | FWD (base) / Quattro AWD |
| Child Seat Capacity | 3 seats across rear row |
How much does the 2026 Audi Q5 cost and what are the options?
| Model Grade | Price (Before On-road Costs) |
|---|---|
| Q5 TFSI | $81,000 |
| Q5 TDI Quattro | $87,600 |
| Q5 TDI Quattro Sport | $94,100 |
| SQ5 TFSI Edition One | $106,400 |
| SQ5 TFSI | $122,400 |
The 2026 Audi Q5 pricing starts at $81,000 (excluding rego, stamp duty etc) for the front-wheel-drive Q5 TFSI and ranges up to $122,400 for the top-spec SQ5 TFSI variant. All versions feature Audi's new mild hybrid technology, making this their most efficient petrol Q5 yet!
Optional Packages
Three optional packages are available on the 2026 Audi Q5:
Premium Package ($5,400): Adds head-up display, Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system, dynamic interaction light, higher-capacity USB charging, and acoustic glazing for front door windows.
Tech Pro Package ($5,700): Includes heated steering wheel, front passenger media screen, electric steering column, heated rear outer seats, and digital OLED tail lights.
Style Package: Features 20″ Audi Sport alloy wheels, black exterior package, and privacy glass.
Service Plans
Audi offers five-year service plans:
- Q5 TFSI, Q5 TDI Quattro, and Q5 TDI Quattro Sport: $3,520 over five years
- SQ5 TFSI Edition One and SQ5 TFSI: $3,560 over five years
The entry level petrol, front wheel drive, Q5 TFSI starts off the range at $81,000 before rego, stamp duty and other on-road costs.
It includes the S line interior, 19″ alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights with selectable light signatures and LED tail lights with rear projection light. An 11.9″ virtual cockpit, 14.5″ media screen, 8 speaker Audi sound system with subwoofer, colour interior ambient lighting, wireless charger with adaptive cooling, 360 degree cameras with assisted parking, speed sign recognition, auto dimming mirrors with memory, nine airbags including front centre airbag, extended upholstery package with contrast stitching inlays in matt brushed aluminium, rear seat bench sliding and reclining and four way adjustable front seat headrests.
The Q5 TDI Quattro, AWD diesel, is priced at $87,600
The Q5 TDi Quattro Sport, AWD diesel, is priced at $94,100 and adds 20″ alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof w/ electric sunshade. Sport front seats with integrated headrests. S line interior w/ S embossing on front seats, 3 spoke sport steering wheel, flattened at the top w/ S badging and side perforations. Inlay in matt brushed aluminium with linear embossing in anthracite. Stainless steel pedals and Black headlining.
The SQ5 TFSI edition one, petrol is available for a limited time only, is priced at $106,400 and includes 20″ Audi Sport alloy wheels in metallic black.
S sport suspension, red brake callipers, Privacy glass Black exterior package including; single frame grille, front and rear bumper trims, window trims, lower door trims, roof rails, exterior mirror housing, dark tail pipe trims, Audi rings in anthracite grey.
The top spec SQ5 TFSI, petrol is priced at $122,400 and highlights metallic paint, 21″ Audi Sport alloy wheels, S exterior aluminium look styling elements, acoustic glazing for front side windows.
Inside premium leather upholstery with diamond stitching, interior elements in Dynamic, front seat ventilation, front seat massage function, Interior dynamic integration light, HUD, 16 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, higher charging capacity for USB-C interfaces (60 watts front and 100 watts rear).
With five variants in the range there are service plans available for them.
The Q5 TFSI, Q5 TDI Quattro and Q5 TDI Quattro Sport are available with a five year service plan costing $3,520 across the five years and the SQ5 TFSI edition one and SQ5 TFSI five year service plan costs $3,560.
The Audi Q5 is available in 10 different exterior paint colours, metallic paint coming standard with the top spec SQ5 TFSI.
There are four different interior upholstery colours. The Sport models having quilted diamond stitch detailing on the central seat panels and S branding…
…all other models have simpler paneling.
Three optional packages are available.
The premium package costing $5,400 will add the Head-up display, Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system, dynamic in interaction light, USB interfaces with higher charging capacity and acoustic glazing for front door windows.
The $5,700 Tech pro package adds a heated steering wheel, front passenger media screen, electric steering column, heated rear outer seats and digital OLED tail lights.
The Style package adds 20″ Audi Sport alloy wheels, black exterior package and privacy glass.
All models have Audis new mild hybrid engines and Audi say that it is their most efficient petrol Q5 yet.
The exterior of the Audi Q5 looks fantastic, it's clearly recognisable as a Q5 with a modern and fresh step forward. On the outside of the new Q5, Audi have put a lot of thought and effort into the light designs for the new Audi Q5, we can see that at the front with the new Matrix LED headlights.
Round at the back even more design has gone into the OLED rear lights as they also work as a safety measure displaying a warning hazard signal in the rear brake lights for approaching/overtaking vehicles. if the rear passengers are opening their doors. This works alongside an internal warning system alerting the passengers to the presence of another vehicle approaching.
It's in the interior that we can see more changes. With a rear seat that can now slide 10cm backwards and forwards so you can distribute legroom and boot space depending on how your family needs it.
How many child seats will fit in the 2026 Audi Q5?
In the rear there are ISOFix in the two outer seats, they are with plastic guides with a cover over them. The ISOFix are easy to connect to.
There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three seat backs that are easily accessible through the boot.
I could fit three child seats across in the back of the Audi Q5. Three forward facing child seats fit across as well as two forward-facing and a rear-facing child seat.
With a rear-facing child seat installed in the back a 184cm driver can fit in front of it. With forward-facing child seats installed in the back a 186cm or taller driver can sit in front.
There is a hump in the central rear footwell so rear passengers do have to straddle that.
How comfortable is the Audi Q5 for families?
Rear passengers are kept comfortable with rear aircon vents in the back of the central console box and USBC sockets so rear passengers can charge devices while driving.
There are handles above both rear doors so you can hang a toy for little passengers to keep them entertained on long journeys.
In the rear ceiling on each side there is a light so you can see to get your kids in and out of the car at night easily.
The front of the new Audi Q5 is just as comfortable, with 4-way adjustable headrests, so no matter your hairstyle there's a comfortable position for you.
There are 4 air vents across the dash, two in the centre below the media screen and one at each end.
Ventilated and massage seats are optional and the front seats are lovely and comfortable.
The Audi Q5 has a new Media System on a 14.5″ touch screen that is intuitive to use and navigate.
It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can easily access your phone's navigation, messaging, music and podcast apps while driving. The climate controls remain along the bottom of the screen so you can easily access them while driving.
With excellent 360 degree camera images for parking and manoeuvring.
A 10.9″ Passenger media screen is standard in the top spec SQ5 TFSI model but an additional extra in the $5,700 Tech pro package. One of the features I like most with the passenger screen is the front passenger can send directions over to the main media screen for the driver to follow.
The Q5 also has an 11.9″ driver display screen, on which you can customise the layout.
As well as an all new customisable head up display standard on the top spec SQ5 SUV or an added extra as part of the $5,400 premium package.
There is plenty of storage in the central console and USBC charging ports and a wireless phone charging pad.
How big is the boot of the Audi Q5?
Storage in the boot of the Audi Q5 is very good too. It's a good size boot with a retractable roller blind and 12V socket.
The Thule Spring one handed folding stroller fits really easily in the boot of the new Audi Q5 with heaps of room around it for other bags, shopping etc.
The cargo net on the boot floor is great for securing loose kids items like balls, lunchboxes etc so they don't fly around the boot while you're driving.
How safe is the 2026 Audi Q5 for families?
The new 2026 Audi Q5 has a five-star Euro NCAP rating but no ANCAP rating as yet. In the Euro NCAP crash testing the Q5 scored 86% for child occupancy protection and 85% for adult occupancy protection.
The 2026 Audi Q5 comes with comprehensive active safety technologies as standard, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with active front assist, swerve assist, front turn assist and front cross-traffic assist, adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop and go function, lane departure warning with emergency assist, and speed assistance system with speed sign recognition.
The driver-assist safety features also include proactive occupant protection, side assist blind spot warning system with exit warning and rear turn assist, rear cross-traffic assist, driver attention and fatigue monitor, and comprehensive parking assistance including parking sensors front and rear with park assist plus and 360-degree cameras.
The new Audi Q5 has 9 airbags as standard including side curtain airbags that extend to the second row passengers and a front centre airbag.
What is the 2026 Audi Q5 like to drive?
When it comes to driving, the Audi Q5 you feel grounded and connected to the road more so in the AWD models. The transition between the mild hybrid system and the engine is quite seamless and you don't really hear or feel the change over from battery to engine.
Visibility is very good in the Q5 and the turning circle is nice and tight and with the light steering and good cameras parking and manoeuvring is easy.
I really enjoyed driving the new 2026 Audi Q5 on the Gold Coast and through the beautiful hinterland. I look forward to testing it in the coming weeks with my family on board and using our full range of Thule prams in the boot and child seats in the back.
Hi There,
We are looking at car and had our eye on the Q5 but we couldnt find any photos of three forward facing car sears. Would you have a photo of three forward facing car seats as tyour article sats if would fit 3 comfortably.
Thank you for your time.
Here (this is the SQ5)