Top Safety Pick +

2017 Audi Q5

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2017 Audi Q5 4-door SUV — 2015 Audi Q5 shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-17 models built after January 2015

Tested vehicle: 2015 Audi Q5 3.0T Premium Plus quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was introduced in the 2009 model year. Beginning with 2015 models built after January 2015, the front-end and occupant compartment structure was reinforced to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Intrusion into the driver's space was reasonably well controlled, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1518
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	10
Footrest (cm)	9
Left toepan (cm)	6
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	6
Upper dash (cm)	9
Lower instrument panel (cm)	8

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1518
Head
HIC-15	161
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm)	8
Maximum Nij	0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm)	32
Femur (kN)
Left	3.8
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	1
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.39
Right	0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.8
Right	0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	112
Right	44

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2009-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was introduced in the 2009 model year.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound.

Forces on the lower right leg were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF0905
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	2
Left (cm)	3
Center (cm)	3
Right (cm)	4
Brake pedal (cm)	6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	-1
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-2
Rearward (cm)	-7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF0905
Head
HIC-15	423
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	10
Maximum Nij	0.34
Chest maximum compression (mm)	39
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.8
Femur force - right (kN)	4.3
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.24
Maximum tibia index - right	0.70
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	4.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	57
Right	67

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2009-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 quattro 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Audi Q5 was introduced in the 2009 model year.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	CES0908
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-23.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES0908
Head HIC-15	81
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	21
Lateral force (kN)	1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	26
Average deflection (mm)	22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.85
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.34
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.5
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.3
Combined force (kN)	2.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	52
A-P moment (Nm)	-15

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES0908
Head HIC-15	89
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.3
Compression (kN)	0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30
Lateral force (kN)	1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	21
Average deflection (mm)	14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.67
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.27
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.9
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.2
Combined force (kN)	4.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.3
L-M moment (Nm)	90
A-P moment (Nm)	17

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2009-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2010 Audi Q5 3.2 Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	4,237 lbs
Peak force	18,684 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	4.41

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power seats
Geometry
Backset (mm)	39
Distance below top of head (mm)	18
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.5
Head contact time (ms)	58
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	15
Max neck tension (N)	330

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

Prestige trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and both left curves and fair on the sharp right curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Prestige trim
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	84.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	53.4 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	71.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	55.5 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	62.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	54.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	124.4 m
Straightaway left edge	128.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	76.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	81.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	63.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	66.6 m

Trim level(s)

Premium trim
Premium Plus trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both left curves and inadequate on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Premium trim Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	84.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	53.4 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	59.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	53.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	47.0 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	124.4 m
Straightaway left edge	128.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	61.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	69.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	50.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	56.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Optional Audi Pre Sense Front

Package name

Optional Audi Adaptive Cruise Control

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017 models

Advanced

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-17 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	3.0T Premium Plus
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	3.0T Premium Plus
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	hard-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	12
Clearance angle (degrees)	47
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	10
Clearance angle (degrees)	49
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	14
Clearance angle (degrees)	51
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	14
Clearance angle (degrees)	47
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation