Audi Q5 vs Renault Austral

Audi Q5

Audi’s mid-size premium SUV.

Renault Austral

Renault’s modern compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi Q5

Pick the Q5 for refinement, a big boot and quattro traction in a premium mid-size SUV.

Best engine: The 40 TDI (diesel) or 40 TFSI (petrol).

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Austral

Pick the Austral for a modern compact SUV with an efficient E-Tech hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech Full Hybrid 200.

Read the full guide

Performance

EA888 45 TFSI · Petrol vs 1.2 E-Tech 200 · Hybrid

	Audi Q5	Renault Austral
Power	245 hp Winner	200 hp
Torque	370 Nm	—
0–100 km/h	6,3 s Winner	8,4 s
Top speed	237 km/h Winner	175 km/h
Power-to-weight	136,5 hp/t Winner	128,2 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	183 g/km	108 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	8,1 L/100km	4,7 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi Q5	Renault Austral
Boot	550 L Winner	430 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.550 L Winner	1.525 L
Wheelbase	2,82 m Winner	2,67 m
Length	4,66 m	4,51 m
Width	1,89 m	1,83 m
Height	1,66 m	1,62 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi Q5	Renault Austral
Platform	MLB Evo (longitudinal, shared with the A4/A5)	CMF-CD3
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel · plug-in hybrid	1.2 TCe · 1.3 TCe · E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Hybrid
Transmission	7-speed S tronic (DSG)	6-speed manual · EDC7 · E-Tech automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi Q5

S tronic (DSG) needs maintenance on early cars
AdBlue/SCR issues on 2.0 TDI diesels
Early MMI infotainment quirks

Renault Austral

Infotainment software needs updates
Electrical gremlins on early cars
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

Audi Q5

Big boot (550 l) & roomy cabin
Refined, composed ride (quattro)
Efficient, torquey EA288 diesel

Renault Austral

Modern interior with a big screen
Efficient E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Roomy, modular boot (430–527 L)

Cons

Audi Q5

Firm ride on S line / big wheels
Pricier than most rivals

Renault Austral

No diesel offered
Infotainment takes getting used to

Driving experience

Audi Q5

Refined, effortless and supremely polished. Steering is light and accurate rather than talkative, the ride is supple and isolating, and the Q5 settles into a calm, confident lope. quattro ultra shuffles torque seamlessly for all-weather security, though it favours safe, neutral grip over playful engagement. Adaptive suspension keeps it composed and hushed on rough roads. The 40/45 TFSI petrols are smooth and willing, the 2.0 TDI pulls strongly and sips fuel, and the 55 TFSI e plug-in glides on electric power. The 7-speed S tronic is quick and smooth; the V6 8-speed tiptronic even more so. Overall a quiet, tech-rich SUV that puts long-distance comfort and easy confidence ahead of outright driver involvement.

Renault Austral

A refined long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car, helped by optional rear-axle steering (4Control) that tightens the turning circle in town. Steering is light but accurate enough for daily use, with Sport mode adding more weight. The ride is firmer than many rivals, especially on larger wheels, and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps, though body control is reasonable. The E-Tech full hybrid feels responsive in mixed driving and can cover short distances on electric power alone, while the 1.3 mild hybrid is adequate once moving. Low-speed transmission behaviour can show hesitation or judder on early hybrid examples.