cmd28

I'm looking to purchase a Q5 and need some help deciding which engine to pick. I currently drive a Prius because I was commuting a lot with my kids, but it's time to upgrade. I've never owned a SUV, so I'm not sure if I'm going to love/hate having a bigger car (honestly, it will be hard going from a 50mpg Prius to a 26mpg Q5). I live in Seattle, drive mostly highway, we don't get a lot of snow and we will never be towing anything. I also tend to change cars every ~5 years.

With that in mind, do I get a 2015 2.0T (cheaper), 2015 3.0 TDI (better mpg but is it worth the higher cost of the car and gas?) or do I wait a few months and order a 2016 (and hope it's still built in Germany and may have slightly better mpg)

Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

DennisMitchell

2016 will change very little from 2015, so no help there.

You drive a hybrid, but do mostly highway driving which defeats benefit of hybrid. I have the TDI and love it. It has start/stop system which boosts MPG when at a stop. 3.0T as start/stop as well, but MPG in city is bad.

The 2.0T doesn't have the start/stop system as far as I know. So it will suffer in stop and go compared to hybrid or TDI.

The bottom line is the 2.0T is much cheaper. +$2500 for 3.0T, another +$2500 for TDI. You have to decide what is important to you: value, power, economy, or some combination of those. TDI is power + economy. 3.0T is power. 2.0 is value and economy.

Go test drive them all and then decide. Good luck.

ilikeaudiq5

Before deciding on the 2015 2.0T, I did a cost comparison vs. the 3.0 TDI. Given the vehicle price difference, annual miles driven, mpg of each vehicle, and premium vs. diesel price difference in CT, the "pay back" period for the TDI for me would have been 15+ years. So I chose the 2.0T and it's working great for me. I drive about 70% city and I'm getting about 23 mpg.

Don Keener

I love my TDI. In my view, the TDI is not about saving money on fuel... its about 'mountains' of torque which results in incredible performance in legal speed traffic.

Coolieman1220

exactly. it's nice to not have to downshift ALL the time like the 2.0t does.

abegwit

I did a similar calculation and the payback period for me was more like 4-5 years. But as others have said, it's about more than just the numbers. If you love that TDI motor, the payback period becomes secondary.

And fwiw, there will be one more model year for the current Q5. The new generation will be a 2017. Production begins in Mexico in mid-2016.

lja36

You guys forgot that there is a Q5 hybrid... Haven't driven it, have no idea if it's any good.... Of course it is astronomically priced and Audi was dragged kicking and screaming into making it so I wouldn't have very high expectations for it.

Q5 Bob

Although a great design, with the 2016 model year, that would make it 8 model years for the current gen Q5. A really long time in the automotive world. It's starting to get just a little long in the tooth now but sales will probably hold up as a lot of buyers will wait a model year or two to see how the new plant in Mexico does.

Avant4Adam

I've had the 2.0T, which was a very good Q5, but you need to make the engine work to earn its keep. Have the TDI now, getting better MPG than the 2.0T, and having a ridiculous amount of fun driving it. The TDI is an awesome engine in the Q5.

cmd28

Thanks everyone for your input! I test drove the 2.0 and 3.0 TDI for the 2nd time and I really noticed a big difference. With the 2.0, it felt like I was driving my Prius. With the 3.0 TDI, I just barely hit the gas and it responds immediately. At first I didn't think I need all that torque and extra power since I just drive to/from work in moderate traffic, and shuttling my kids around on the weekends. I think I'll enjoy the 3.0TDI a lot!