Audi Q5 review: the mid-size SUV that gets quattro right for Bahrain
4.1/5motorssouq Editorial Team
The 45 TFSI quattro is close to a default-right answer in this segment for Bahrain: enough power, real all-weather security, and cabin space that works for a family of four without compromise. Watch for a new-generation Q5 pushing FY prices down further over the next year or two, which only strengthens the used-buying case.
Pros
- Standard quattro gives real traction advantage on rare wet days
- Right-sized cabin and boot for a family of four
- 2.0-litre turbo four never feels strained, even fully loaded
- Physical switchgear alongside digital displays ages well
Cons
- A newer Q5 generation means FY values are entering steep depreciation
- Servicing costs above a Japanese-brand equivalent
- Ride is firmer than a GLC on the standard suspension
- Options load the price quickly on higher grades
The Q5 has been Audi's best-selling model in most Gulf markets for good reason: it gets the size right. Smaller than a Q7, with none of that car's third-row and turning-circle compromises, but with enough cabin and boot space that it does not feel like a compromise choice the way a Q3 can for a family of four.
Quattro that earns its keep
Standard quattro across the GCC 45 TFSI range means real traction advantage the few days a year Bahrain sees heavy rain, and a planted, secure feeling on the long, fast stretches of highway toward the King Fahd Causeway that a front-wheel-drive rival cannot quite match. The 2.0-litre turbo four's 265 hp is enough that the Q5 never feels like it is working hard, even fully loaded with four adults and luggage.
The cabin, shared in architecture with the smaller Q3 and larger Q7, uses physical switchgear alongside the digital displays in a way that has aged better than some full-touchscreen rivals launched since — climate controls you can operate without looking are worth more on a hot commute than they get credit for.
Buying one now
A new-generation Q5 has already reached some markets, which means facelifted FY examples like this one are entering their steepest depreciation phase — good news for used buyers, less good for anyone who bought new in the last two years. Servicing sits at typical Audi-GCC pricing, above a Japanese equivalent but not unreasonable for the segment, and parts availability in Bahrain is solid given how common the Q5 is on local roads.