Is the Audi Q5 8R reliable?

Our reliability score for the Audi Q5 8R is 5.5/10 (55/100), which puts it as unreliable by our scoring. Major issues are common before 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 3/5.

How much does it cost to own a Audi Q5 8R per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Audi Q5 8R is approximately $3,500 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $3,230.

What is the Audi Q5 8R gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Audi Q5 8R is 22 MPG, with 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway.

What years does the Audi Q5 8R cover?

This generation of the Audi Q5 was sold from 2009 to 2017.

Is the Audi Q5 8R safe?

Our safety score for the Audi Q5 8R is 9.5/10 (95/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Audi Q5 8R a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Audi Q5 8R misses on at least one of these.

← All vehicles

Audi Q5 8R

09-17 · Audi Q5

73out of 100

The Audi Q5 8R is a well-built compact luxury SUV with standard quattro AWD and above-average interior quality for its price.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

55/ 100Reliability×2.5 63/ 100True Annual Cost×1.5 95/ 100Safety×2.5 70/ 100Practicality×2.0 80/ 100Repairability×1.5

76/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

58/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Timing belt noted. Good practicality and safety. Annual cost elevated by premium fuel and belt service amortization.

Our take

What it really is

Audi's most common luxury crossover. Quattro AWD is standard on all US models. The interior holds up better than most at this price.

Why it's on this list

Late 8R Q5s (2015-2017) are $14,000-20,000 with 60-80k Miles. Build quality and interior finish are above most of the class at these prices.

The honest trade-offs

Timing belt (not chain). Mandatory service at 40,000 Miles. Skip it and you are replacing an engine. The S tronic DCT can be jerky and fails at high miles. Oil consumption on early EA888 engines.

What to buy and what to avoid

2014-2017 Q5 2.0T quattro with tiptronic (not S tronic). Verify timing belt service in the records. Test for DSG shudder and check for oil consumption.

Annual cost of ownership

Premium fuel. Timing belt service at 40k is the major scheduled cost.

Fuel (12k mi)

$3,120 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$1,200 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$800 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,580 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,310 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$3,500 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$3,230 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

22^[5]

MPG city / hwy

20 / 27^[5]

Tank

19.8 gal^[5]

Engine

2.0L TFSI Turbo I4

Horsepower

211 hp

Torque

258 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

29.1 cu ft

Cargo max

57.3 cu ft

Tow capacity

4,400 lbs

Ground clearance

7.9"

Stock tires

235/65R17

Body

SUV

Rear seats

40/20/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

18.5%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Yes

Driver assists

Optional parking sensors; Audi pre-sense on later models

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Low

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Good corrosion resistance. Panoramic sunroof drains and brake lines worth checking in salt belt.

Known issues by mileage

30,000-60,000 Miles (48,000-97,000 KM)

Timing belt (NOT chain) — must replace by 40kSafety-critical$700 (USD)

EA888 gen 1 uses a belt. Non-negotiable service.

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

S tronic DSG mechatronic failureMajor$1,500 (USD)

Tiptronic 8-speed is much more reliable

Best and worst years

Best years

2014Post-refresh 8R.5; tiptronic preferred; EA888 gen 2
2015Best reliability of gen; clean CarFax availability

Years to avoid

2009First year; S tronic high failure rate on early examples
2010DSG mechatronic failures continued; avoid S tronic

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$1,000 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

3/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.8^[1]

Severe issue probability

13%^[1]

250k-mile survival

24%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Halogen

DIY replacement cost

$50 (USD)

At major retailer

Yes

Headlight benchmark

8/10

Timing belt (not chain) on EA888 gen 1 is a maintenance requirement. S tronic mechatronic unit can fail early on high-mileage cars.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Audi Q5?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist