Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2023 Audi Q5 Sportback

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

2023 Audi Q5 Sportback 4-door SUV
2021 Audi Q5 Sportback shown
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
No Credit

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

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 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi. These ratings also apply to the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1709
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 10
Left toepan (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 10
Lower instrument panel (cm) 9

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1709
Head
HIC-15 110
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 22
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 3.0
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.64
Right 0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.7
Right 0.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 80
Right 51

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi. These ratings also apply to the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1728
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 10
Right toepan (cm) 8
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 6

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1728
Head
HIC-15 230
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 5
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.46
Right 0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 59
Right 81

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1728
Head
HIC-15 159
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 35
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.19
Right 0.20
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 53
Right 85

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi. These ratings also apply to the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1713
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1713
Head
HIC-15 159
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.18
Maximum tibia index - right 0.39
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.6
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44
Right 42

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi. These ratings also apply to the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Even though the side curtain and side thorax airbags deployed, they missed contacting and protecting the dummy's head. Instead, the head was hit by the intruding window sill. According to Volkswagen/Audi, this surface satisfies the federal standard to provide some protection for occupants' heads.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1711
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -22.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1711
Head HIC-15 184
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 25
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.92
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.34
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.0
Combined force (kN) 2.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 69
A-P moment (Nm) 24

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1711
Head HIC-15 239
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 29
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 25
Average deflection (mm) 19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.84
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.28
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.7
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 78
A-P moment (Nm) 17

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Audi Q5 40 TFSI quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi Q5 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. These ratings also apply to the Audi Q5 Sportback.

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

View of the vehicle 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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2307
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2307
Head
HIC-15 96
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 18
Lateral force (kN) 0.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 25
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.43
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.30
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.0

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2307
Head
HIC-15 346
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 44
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.96
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.74
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.6

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2021-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus quattro 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,114 lbs
Peak force21,215 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.16

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 25
Distance below top of head (mm) 5
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.5
Head contact time (ms) 65
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 387

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
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the sharp left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Prestige trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 115.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 65.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.7 m 19.4%
250m radius left curve, right edge 70.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 65.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.7 m 0.6%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 163.2 m
Straightaway left edge 147.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 90.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 90.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 69.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 66.1 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium trim
  • Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium trim
  • Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 81.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 73.5 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 46.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 64.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.0 m
Straightaway left edge 157.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 70.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.1 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Audi Pre Sense Front

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2023 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle nearly avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Pre sense city

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-25 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 21 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 29 mph. A warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Pre sense city

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2023-25 models
No Credit
No Credit

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 1 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 13 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 2 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 2 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow when using its high beams and a warning was issued 0 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow and a warning was issued 0 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim2.0T 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.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim2.0T Premium Plus
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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

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

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 2
Clearance angle (degrees) 96
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 93
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

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
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

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 91
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