2021 Audi Q5 S line 50 tfsie with Comfort & Sound pack and Panoramic Sunroof
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22 Posts
Hi,
After just over 2 months ownership I thought I would share my experiences,so far, living with my Q5 50 Hybrid.
It is my first experience with an Audi automatic gear box and I have to say find it very smooth and easy to use. I just keep Drive Select in “Auto” and let it get on with it. All in all it is a very comfortable and refined driving experience with changes between electric and petrol drives virtually imperceptible. Power uptake with the electric motor is instant and makes for very fast yet near silent acceleration. Push your right foot hard and the petrol engine cuts in seamlessly. (I know some people talk of delays in the gear change with these boxes but coming from a manual box I find this is not an issue).
A couple of minor gripes: Firstly, there is an inconsistency when putting the gear lever in “Park” the electronic park brake sometimes comes on automatically but other times does not. I haven’t figured out yet whether this is a glitch or if I’m just not following the right sequence. Secondly, when driving over certain uneven roads, usually turning at junctions, there is a creaking noise from either the drivers door or the sunroof. My Q5 was one of the last to be released with a sunroof and my guess is that this is the culprit. Only happens in very particular circumstances and the car is otherwise pleasingly free from any rattles. I will be raising this with the dealer.
Spec wise I have the S Line with Comfort & Sound and find this perfect for my needs. The only item I miss from my previous Q3 is the speed limit recognition symbol in the main instrument cluster. Not sure if this is down to the “chip” issue or was never available (think maybe now part of a seperate pack).
Now, the important bit for a lot of potential Hybrid owners, my “mpg”experience - this is where it becomes complicated!
I had an Andersen A2 charger installed when I got the car and at full charge the battery registers 32-34 miles range which I have found fairly accurate. I am now in the process of changing over to “off-peak” which, on current tariffs, will reduce my electric charging cost by about 50%. I charge only at most once a day so this will work for me.
My journeys comprise primarily short trips which are completed on electric only. By default the car computer records petrol consumption at 313 mpg when running on pure electric with battery consumption ranging between a low of 1.9 miles/kwh to a high of 5.9 miles/kwh.
In addition I have one weekly round trip of 40 miles, primarily dual carriageway and motorway, where I set the car on auto hybrid with the destination set in the sat nav. Consistently the car has managed to achieve the round trip with the battery hitting zero within the last 1-2 miles of home. On these journeys the car computer records petrol consumption of 250-300mpg and electric consumption at 3m/kwh.
In addition to the above I have also undertaken two round trip journeys of 140 miles. (These two journeys will have eaten into my overall ppm calculation below). Using again auto hybrid with the sat nav the outward leg of 70 miles recorded petrol consumption down to 67mpg and electric consumption at 6.1m/kwh on the car computer. Battery recorded empty within 1 mile of destination. I didn’t bother with recharging for the homeward trip and was effectively driving with a depleted battery, relying instead on any natural recharge the battery might pick up. The car computer on this occasion recorded petrol consumption at 57mpg and electric at 5.7m/kwh for the 70 miles. I was actually surprised how often the electric motor cut in on these return journeys. These results were consistent for both times I did the trip.
As you will have seen the dual fuel figures quoted in the car’s computer are all over the place and difficult to make much sense of. They appear highly susceptible to journey distance/driving style and perhaps the best assessment is on long term fuel usage for a more accurate cost. To date I have covered 990 miles and spent:
Electric - 212kw @ 22p = £46
Petrol top up to bring tank back to where it was at start for accurate comparison - 29 litres @ £1.62! = £48
Total cost, £94 = 9.5ppm
I’m not sure what a Q5 45 tfsi might achieve but taking 27-30mpg (and £1.62/litre, which is now history) cost would be 27.5ppm, so about a third of the fuel cost overall. (I am not factoring in any additional capital cost of the Hybrid version or the one off charger cost which is a lifestyle decision).
In conclusion I am very pleased with the car - it is comfortable, refined and fast when needed but yet still economical. Hybrid works for me (it may not for all) and I hope this is of some help to those still considering which fuel is best for their circumstances.
After just over 2 months ownership I thought I would share my experiences,so far, living with my Q5 50 Hybrid.
It is my first experience with an Audi automatic gear box and I have to say find it very smooth and easy to use. I just keep Drive Select in “Auto” and let it get on with it. All in all it is a very comfortable and refined driving experience with changes between electric and petrol drives virtually imperceptible. Power uptake with the electric motor is instant and makes for very fast yet near silent acceleration. Push your right foot hard and the petrol engine cuts in seamlessly. (I know some people talk of delays in the gear change with these boxes but coming from a manual box I find this is not an issue).
A couple of minor gripes: Firstly, there is an inconsistency when putting the gear lever in “Park” the electronic park brake sometimes comes on automatically but other times does not. I haven’t figured out yet whether this is a glitch or if I’m just not following the right sequence. Secondly, when driving over certain uneven roads, usually turning at junctions, there is a creaking noise from either the drivers door or the sunroof. My Q5 was one of the last to be released with a sunroof and my guess is that this is the culprit. Only happens in very particular circumstances and the car is otherwise pleasingly free from any rattles. I will be raising this with the dealer.
Spec wise I have the S Line with Comfort & Sound and find this perfect for my needs. The only item I miss from my previous Q3 is the speed limit recognition symbol in the main instrument cluster. Not sure if this is down to the “chip” issue or was never available (think maybe now part of a seperate pack).
Now, the important bit for a lot of potential Hybrid owners, my “mpg”experience - this is where it becomes complicated!
I had an Andersen A2 charger installed when I got the car and at full charge the battery registers 32-34 miles range which I have found fairly accurate. I am now in the process of changing over to “off-peak” which, on current tariffs, will reduce my electric charging cost by about 50%. I charge only at most once a day so this will work for me.
My journeys comprise primarily short trips which are completed on electric only. By default the car computer records petrol consumption at 313 mpg when running on pure electric with battery consumption ranging between a low of 1.9 miles/kwh to a high of 5.9 miles/kwh.
In addition I have one weekly round trip of 40 miles, primarily dual carriageway and motorway, where I set the car on auto hybrid with the destination set in the sat nav. Consistently the car has managed to achieve the round trip with the battery hitting zero within the last 1-2 miles of home. On these journeys the car computer records petrol consumption of 250-300mpg and electric consumption at 3m/kwh.
In addition to the above I have also undertaken two round trip journeys of 140 miles. (These two journeys will have eaten into my overall ppm calculation below). Using again auto hybrid with the sat nav the outward leg of 70 miles recorded petrol consumption down to 67mpg and electric consumption at 6.1m/kwh on the car computer. Battery recorded empty within 1 mile of destination. I didn’t bother with recharging for the homeward trip and was effectively driving with a depleted battery, relying instead on any natural recharge the battery might pick up. The car computer on this occasion recorded petrol consumption at 57mpg and electric at 5.7m/kwh for the 70 miles. I was actually surprised how often the electric motor cut in on these return journeys. These results were consistent for both times I did the trip.
As you will have seen the dual fuel figures quoted in the car’s computer are all over the place and difficult to make much sense of. They appear highly susceptible to journey distance/driving style and perhaps the best assessment is on long term fuel usage for a more accurate cost. To date I have covered 990 miles and spent:
Electric - 212kw @ 22p = £46
Petrol top up to bring tank back to where it was at start for accurate comparison - 29 litres @ £1.62! = £48
Total cost, £94 = 9.5ppm
I’m not sure what a Q5 45 tfsi might achieve but taking 27-30mpg (and £1.62/litre, which is now history) cost would be 27.5ppm, so about a third of the fuel cost overall. (I am not factoring in any additional capital cost of the Hybrid version or the one off charger cost which is a lifestyle decision).
In conclusion I am very pleased with the car - it is comfortable, refined and fast when needed but yet still economical. Hybrid works for me (it may not for all) and I hope this is of some help to those still considering which fuel is best for their circumstances.