2023 Audi Q5 Review & Buyer's Guide
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What Are the Strengths of the 2023 Audi Q5?
Luxurious Interior
Owners highlight the high-quality materials, comfortable seats, and quiet cabin that make long trips enjoyable, with seamless Apple CarPlay integration.
Smooth Ride and Handling
Provides a comfortable, quiet ride with excellent handling and sporty performance, customizable settings via key fob memory.
Strong Fuel Economy
Achieves 31-32 mpg on highways, reducing refueling stops on long drives.
Quick Acceleration
The 2.0T engine offers lightning-fast pickup for highway merging and overtaking.
Advanced Safety Features
Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA 5-star ratings, with owners feeling safe.
Tech Connectivity
Flawless phone pairing and user-customizable features enhance daily usability.
What Are the Weaknesses of the 2023 Audi Q5?
Frequent Tech Glitches
Persistent issues with infotainment, parking assist alarms, check engine lights, and LTE software updates that techs struggle to resolve.
High Repair Costs
Average $928 annually post-warranty, with owners reporting $10,000 in fixes like motor mounts and transfer cases.
Reliability Concerns
Below-average ratings from Consumer Reports; high shop visits (1.2/year vs. 0.6 luxury average).
Brake and Suspension Issues
Stiff ride, brake booster replacements, and auto stop/start failures reported early on.
Overpriced Maintenance
Some owners view it as a money pit compared to rivals, especially after warranty.
What Are the Most Common 2023 Audi Q5 Problems?
Clutch hesitation/jerking
HighLow-speed engagement problems from purchase (1538 miles), required 7 repair visits and lemon law buyback under service bulletin.
Engine failure
HighLoss of power and clicking sounds leading to full engine replacement around early ownership.
Fueling system faults
ModeratePump stops prematurely or overfills tank, hard for dealers to replicate.
Transfer case/differential
HighFailures post-warranty (around 45,000+ miles), known issue costing thousands, no recall.
Tech and warning lights
ModerateFrequent check engine lights, parking assist errors, and dash warnings at 45,000 miles.
What Owners Say
Sentiment is split: many love the luxury, ride quality, and performance, but frustration grows over recurring tech glitches, repair visits, and post-warranty costs leading some to vow never to buy Audi again.
"The car lost power and a clicking sound from the engine... dealership told me that they will replace the engine." — Consumer Reports
"At just under 45,000 miles, we still like our Audi... but the tech issues still continue. Every time my wife takes the car out of the state, she ends up getting some kind of warning message." — Edmunds
"I love my Audi Q5. This car is dependable, sporty, gets AWEWSOME gas milage. The ride is smooth." — Kelley Blue Book
"It's been in the shop 3 times since the warranty expired... motor mounts, then the transfer case module and now the transfer differential case. $10,000 later." — Kelley Blue Book
"Clutch struggles to engage at low speeds, jerks and hesitates... seven times for repair... will be purchased by Audi under a buy-back program." — Consumer Reports
Reliability Rating
AverageRepairPal: 3.0/5.0 (11/14 luxury midsize SUVs), 1.2 repair visits/year, $928 avg. cost, 9% severe issue risk; Consumer Reports: below average for 2023, 6 recalls; J.D. Power: 76/100 overall, 75 quality/reliability.
Final Verdict
The 2023 Audi Q5 excels in luxury, comfort, and driving dynamics, making it appealing for buyers prioritizing refinement over long-term dependability. However, frequent minor repairs, tech woes, and high costs post-warranty deter those seeking hassle-free ownership. Ideal for leased or short-term use with diligent maintenance.
See price guide for the 2023 Audi Q5
Market values, cost of ownership, depreciation data, and buying tips.