Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 132,749 currently licensed in the UK, the Audi Q5 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Q5 5 stars in 2017, with 93% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 80.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,026 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £335/month or 50p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
80.2%
55,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£335
est. annual total
New From
£50,000
Euro NCAP tested the Q5 in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
93%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
73%
Safety Assist
58%
There are 27 known DVSA recalls affecting the Audi Q5. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/463
On affected vehicles there may be defective battery modules which may result in a fire hazard when charging the high-voltage battery.
Build dates: 2021-03-22 to 2024-07-26
R/2025/387
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Affected vehicles were originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Certain front airbags contain an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2008-10-31 to 2011-12-16
R/2025/184
Audi conducts programmes to constantly monitor the quality of its products. As part of this we have discovered that individual bolts in the cylinder head cover area on your vehicle may become loose as a result of a manufacturing issue. Depending on the extent to which the bolts become loose engine oil may leak and drip onto hot surfaces which poses a fire risk. If you notice smoke in the engine compartment park the vehicle safely and without delay.
Build dates: 2020-09-13 to 2024-08-03
R/2024/495
On affected vehicles battery modules may become defective over the course of the vehicle’s service life. This may result in a fire hazard when charging the high-voltage battery with the associated risk of severe or fatal injuries to people inside and/or outside the vehicle as well as significant material damage. To minimise this risk do not charge the high-voltage battery using an external charging source. In addition do not use the e-tron modes “Battery charge” and “Battery hold” (refer to Owner’s Manual) until further notice.
Build dates: 2021-03-22 to 2022-12-03
R/2023/052
If a front airbag is deployed it is possible that the gas generator housing in which the propellant is generated may burst on vehicles manufactured within a limited period.
Build dates: 2008-10-31 to 2012-08-15
+ 22 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 55,000 MOT tests, the Q5 has a first-time pass rate of 80.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Q5 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Audi Q5 are estimated at around £4,026 per year, or £335 per month.
Fuel
£1,156
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£2,020
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Q5 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 45.6 mpg (39.2 mpg urban, 50.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q5 | DIESEL | 45.6 mpg | 2.0L |
| Q5 | PETROL | 34 mpg | 2.0L |
| Q5 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 40.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| Q5 | DIESEL | 37.7 mpg | 3.0L |
| Q5 | PETROL | 33.2 mpg | 3.0L |
| Q5 | PETROL | 30.4 mpg | 3.2L |
| Q5 | PETROL | 30.4 mpg | 3.2L |
| Q5 SPORTBACK | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 40.4 mpg | 2.0L |
Starting from £50,000 new, a Audi Q5 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £37,500 | −£12,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £31,850 | −£18,150 |
| 3 years | 56% | £28,050 | −£21,950 |
| 4 years | 50% | £25,250 | −£24,750 |
| 5 years | 46% | £23,250 | −£26,750 |
| 6 years | 43% | £21,600 | −£28,400 |
| 7 years | 41% | £20,300 | −£29,700 |
| 8 years | 39% | £19,300 | −£30,700 |
| 9 years | 37% | £18,300 | −£31,700 |
| 10 years | 35% | £17,400 | −£32,600 |
The Q5 has a theft rate of 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 132,749 licensed and 2,238 SORN Q5s in the UK (134,987 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Q5 has a 80.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 55,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Q5 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 73% for vulnerable road users, and 58% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Q5 are estimated at around £4,026 per year (£335/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 27 known safety recalls affecting the Q5. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Q5 has a theft rate of 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Q5 starts from around £50,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
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Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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