seanka

I recently changed from the 3.2 gas motor Q5 (2011) to the TDI version (2014). It seems like it takes a long time (10-15 min) for the interior heater to warm up.

Anyone else who might have experience with both the gas and diesel versions of the Q5 notice this?

It's been unusually cold where I live this past week and so it was particularly noticeable, but I thought even before the very cold weather this week that it took a long time. I have had passengers ask "why the heck does your vehicle take so long to warm up?"

schnelldiesel

My TDI takes around 5 minutes or so before it starts giving off some decent heat, definitely not 10-15 though. The weather by me has been ranging from single digits to 20's, with wind chills as low as -20's. I can't speak for the gasoline version though.

How long do sit at idle before driving off? I usually don't idle for more than 1-2 minutes, then I drive slow until the engine warms up.

acadianbob

I live in Minnesota where we have just had a LOT of below zero weather. We have a 3.0T. My experience is that warm up time has most to do with the load on the engine. It does absolutely no good to "warm up" the engine before driving off. An extended warm-up idle produces virtually no benefit as the motor does not generate any heat. Similarly, if we are driving in stop n go on surface streets, warm up time is considerable. However, get it on the highway, and it warms up very quickly.

My guess is TDI or 3.0T, it has a lot more to do with driving circumstances than any substantive difference between the drivetrains.

Q5 TDI

Agreed - I can't compare it to the gas engine, but typically in about 5 minutes I've got heat in the TDI.

bpp

(edited) There's a supplemental heater on the '14 TDI, controlled automatically in the "Auto" setting. While it'll take some time for the TDI (or any tdi) engine to heat up, I get heat in only a few minutes, probably boosted from this supplemental heater.
Flex fuel, hybrid and TDI have this feature, pg 82 in the TDI manual.

Q5 Bob

I haven't noticed any unusual warm up times in our Q5. If anything, it warms up as quickly or even quicker than recent previous cars. It's been REALLY cold around here for a few weeks and I'm satisfied with the HVAC in this weather. It's set at 72 and I let it do its thing.

soonerfan

I think it takes a bit longer than my 2011 2.0 did. But the #3 setting on the seat heater certainly makes up for it. WOW!

Fred D

+1. That level 3 seat heater is pretty incredible!

acadianbob

Yes. Manufacturers have every incentive to have the engine warm up quickly; emissions, comfort, fuel economy, driveability, etc. So virtually everyone's engines warm up more quickly in today's world.

spijun

The petrol engine is better than diesel, because quickly achieves a higher temperature