2023 Audi Q5 PHEV: German Plug-in Hybrid SUV is now at U.S. dealers

Update: ‘Price & Release Date’ section updated.

The 2023 Audi Q5 PHEV (2023 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e) has arrived in the U.S. to replace the model announced in April 2021. Here’s everything we know about the model year update of the Q5 Plug-in Hybrid.

Design & Features

The 2023 Audi Q5 PHEV carries over the updated design introduced in June 2020. For MY2023, Audi has replaced the Quantum Gray color of the Q5 55 (55 TFSI e) with Chronos Gray. The new color is available in all the trims at an extra charge of USD 595.

Audi offers the 2023 Q5 plug-in hybrid in the same three trims as the 2022 model: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. However, there are two changes when talking about the features these trims include. The Premium Plus trim comes with a new Bang and Olufsen sound system. The Sport Plus package, optionally available when choosing the Prestige trim, includes new OLED tail lights. We are yet to get a hold of the new model’s order guide, but the rest of the features should be the same as in the old model.

Audi equips the Premium trim with features like LED headlights, LED taillights with dynamic turn signals, 19-inch alloy wheels, power tailgate, 8-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar support, 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Audi virtual cockpit, and a three-zone climate control system.

The Premium Plus trim adds wireless smartphone charging (with Audi phone box), a top-view camera system, cabin preconditioning, and a premium steering wheel with hands-on detection and electronic adjustment. It includes the Convenience package (power-folding ORVMs, passive keyless entry, auto-dimming iRVM, and steering wheel heating) as well. Moreover, with Audi Active lane assist and adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam assist also included, it offers more safety.

The Prestige trim includes the most high-end features like Matrix-design LED headlights with headlight washers, headlight and tail light animation, Bang & Olufsen sound system, HUD, park steering assist, traffic sign recognition, etc. Plus, the Navigation (MMI Navigation plus) and Warm weather (manual rear window shades) packages are also part of this trim.

Specifications

Gas mileage & Range

The 2023 Audi Q5 PHEV has no mechanical changes, which means its EPA-est. ratings should be no different from the outgoing model. For reference, the previous model delivered 23 miles of electric range, 390 miles of total range, and 61 MPGe (electric + gasoline)/26 MPG (gasoline) of efficiency.

Audi employs a 2.0L TFSI engine with an electric motor mounted between the engine and the 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. This combination results in 362 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. The quattro AWD system is standard in the Q5 PHEV. The Q5 PHEV has a 17.9 kWh battery pack enabling its electric motor.

A 0 to 60 mph sprint in the 2023 Q5 PHEV takes five seconds flat, which is just 0.3 seconds more than the 2023 SQ5’s 0-60 mph acceleration time (4.7 seconds). While the gas variant can achieve a top speed of 155 mph (130 mph with all-season tires), the plug-in hybrid variant tops out at 130 mph. The latter can go up to 84 mph when driving in electric mode.

Price & Release Date

The 2023 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid has started reaching U.S. dealerships. We’ve seen it in stock at Ellisville, Missouri-based Audi West County, Highland, Illinois-based Audi Exchange, Tinley Park, Illinois-based Audi Orland Park, Knoxville, Tennessee-based Audi Knoxville, and several other dealerships.

Configuration	2023 Audi Q5 PHEV Price
2023 Q5 55 TFSI e Premium	USD 57,400
2023 Q5 55 TFSI e Premium Plus	USD 61,700
2023 Q5 55 TFSI e Prestige	USD 67,000

Audi’s sales chart is dominated by Q5

The Audi Q5 is the company’s best-selling model, both globally and in the U.S. Between January and September 2022, Audi delivered 222,400 units of the Q5 worldwide, marking a 1.6% decline over the same period in 2021 (January-September 2021: 226,084 units). In the U.S., the company did 43,132 units of the Q5 between January and September 2022. Compared to January-September 2021 sales (49,920 units), that was a 13.6% decline.

TopElectricSUV says

The Audi Q5 PHEV remains one of the few plug-in hybrid SUVs from the German Big Three sold in the U.S. MY2023 merely brings more advanced tail lights in one of the optional packages, and a new exterior color option. The SUV’s pure electric range isn’t impressive by current industry standards, and isn’t expected to improve until the arrival of the next-gen 2024 Audi Q5. It makes sense to switch to the all-electric Mercedes EQB or Genesis GV60 for a few thousand dollars more if you truly want to make a difference to the air quality.

2023 Audi Q5 PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Audi