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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Engine | 2.0L 4-Cylinder |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic (S7) |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| City / Hwy MPG | 23 / 27 MPG |
| Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
| Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,250 |
| CO₂ Emissions | 363 g/mi |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $38,458–$48,500 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2018 Audi Q5 is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 7.3/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 8.6/10, while Safety at 7.0/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 7.3/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 7.0/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 8.6/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining suvs to actually drive. At 7.5/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $38,458–$48,500, 21 MPG, seating 5, the Audi Q5 sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. Its value score of 8.0/10 confirms that the price reflects the quality — you're getting a lot for your money here. At 8 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2018 Audi Q5 sits in the middle of the field. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2018 Audi Q5 ranks #1384 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 44% of the segment. Its 7.3/10 overall score is 0.1 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $38,458 starting price is about 7% above the segment's median of $36,079.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $50k →
Smart-money pick: the 2015 Audi Q5 scores 7.2/10 — within striking distance of the 2018's 7.3 — and starts roughly $4,000 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.7/10 | $48,307 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.7/10 | $48,307 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $46,900 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.7/10 | $45,493 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.6/10 | $44,086 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.5/10 | $42,679 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.5/10 | $41,272 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.3/10 | $39,865 | Read review → |
| 2018 (this review) | 7.3/10 | $38,458 | |
| 2017 | 7.4/10 | $37,051 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.3/10 | $35,644 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $34,237 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Foundation components / Disc / Caliper 01/06/2018 · 18V369000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient… |
|---|---|
| Wheels / Hub 05/06/2019 · 19V416000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach. |
| Structure / Body 16/10/2019 · 19V737000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle. |
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Foundation components / Master cylinder 08/04/2019 · 19V277000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short. |
| Seat belts / Pretensioner 29/12/2016 · 16V955000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may… |
Showing 5 of 6 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
We rate the 2018 Audi Q5's reliability 7.3/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
6 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.3/10 overall, ranking #1384 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 44% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2018 Audi Q5 starts at $38,458 and ranges up to $48,500 across trims (MSRP when new). At 21 MPG, expect roughly $2,500/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Audi models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.