Sports utility vehicles have overtaken sedans to become America’s favorite type of vehicle, and it’s easy to see why. With an elevated driving position, more interior space and increased off-road capability, an SUV strikes the perfect balance between comfort, practicality and performance.
When it comes to luxury German cars, Audis are known for their understated styling, quiet cabins and refined driving dynamics – and their SUVs are no exception.
From subcompact to mid-size and gasoline to fully-electric, luxury German automobile manufacturer Audi offers a range of SUVs in their “Q” range to suit every kind of driver.
Let’s go ahead and take a closer look at the current lineup of Audi SUV models.
Audi Q3
In the US at least, the Audi SUV lineup starts with the Q3. Technically belonging to the subcompact size classification, this is the smallest Audi SUV you can buy, and it’s also the most affordable.
However, the Audi Q3 certainly doesn’t feel like an entry-level offering. As standard you’ll get Audi’s excellent Quattro all-wheel drive, a power panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and a high tech interior featuring a digital instrument cluster and Audi MMI® touch response system. You can also equip it with more luxurious amenities including a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit and Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system on higher trims.
Audi Q3 Base Spec Details
- Starts from $34,000
- 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline engine
- 184 horsepower
- 221 lb-ft max torque
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 8.6 seconds
- Max. cargo capacity: 48 cu.ft.
Audi Q5
The best-selling Audi SUV model in the US, the Audi Q5 is a compact SUV crossover which offers more interior space for passengers and cargo. As well as that, and a higher sticker price, it also opens you up to a number of advanced features such as Matrix-design LED headlights and a head-up display.
Read more: Audi Q3 vs Q5 comparison
Audi also offers the Q5 Sportback, which has a more athletic, coupe-inspired body. Aside from the styling differences the sportback variant is more or less the same as the standard Q5, but is only available with the more powerful 45 TFSI engine.
Sticking with the Q5, Audi also offers the SQ5 and SQ5 sportback SUVs which are high performance versions of the model. They are equipped with more powerful 349 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engines that take them from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, and can reach speeds of up to 155 mph.
Audi Q5 Base Spec Details
- Starts from $43,300
- 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline engine
- 261 horsepower
- 273 lb-ft max torque
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.7 seconds
- Max. cargo capacity: 54 cu.ft.
Audi Q7
The biggest SUV in Audi’s Q range, the Q7 is a mid-size SUV that can seat up to 7 across its three rows. It boasts an impressive 70 cubic feet of cargo volume with seats folded down and a maximum towing capacity of 7,700lbs when optioned with the larger 55TFSI V6 engine.
Read more: Audi Q5 vs Q7 comparison
Like the Q5, the Q7 also gets the “S” performance treatment in the more expensive SQ7, which features a beastly V8 that is capable of producing a whopping 500 horsepower.
Audi Q7 Base Spec Details
- Starts from $54,950
- 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline engine
- 248 horsepower
- 273 lb-ft max torque
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 6.9 seconds
- Max. cargo capacity: 69.6 cu.ft.
Audi Q8
First introduced in 2018, the Q8 displaced the Q7 to become the flagship model in Audi’s SUV range. If the other models in the Q family are anything to go by, you’d assume the midsize Audi Q8 is bigger than the Q7. But the Q8 in fact weighs less and only seats up to 5.
Read more: Audi Q7 vs Q8 comparison
It might not be the biggest, but the Q8 is certainly the most flamboyant. A crossover coupe designed to compete with the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE coupe, it represents the pinnacle of Audi’s engineering and craftsmanship.
The Q8 is also available as the faster SQ8, and even faster RS Q8. The track-tuned RS Q8 is manufactured by Audi Sport GmbH, and is capable of getting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and hitting an incredible top speed of 190 mph. Those modifications come at a cost though – its $114,500 sticker price makes it almost twice as expensive as the base Q8.
Audi Q8 Base Spec Details
- Starts from $68.200
- 3.0-liter six cylinder gasoline engine
- 335 horsepower
- 369 lb-ft max torque
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.6 seconds
- Max. cargo capacity: 60.7 cu.ft.
Audi e-tron
The company’s first mass-production electric car, the e-tron is a fully electric midsize SUV built with Audi DNA. It sits somewhere between the Q5 and Q7, size-wise, but has a starting price higher than that of the Q7. With an impressive range of 222 miles and access to Audi’s latest tech, it embodies Audi’s electric future.
As is the case with many other Audi crossovers, the e-tron is also available in a sportier form, the e-tron sportback SUV.
Audi e-tron Base Spec Details
- Starts from $65,900
- Twin electric motor
- With Boost Engaged – Up-to 402 HP
- With Boost Engaged – Up-to 490 lb-ft max torque
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): With Boost Engaged – 5.5 seconds
- Max. cargo capacity: 56.5 cu.ft.
Audi Q2 (unavailable in the US)
Audi’s smallest ever SUV was deemed too niche for the US market, but is worth mentioning nonetheless. Like the Audi Q3, it is technically a subcompact SUV, but even smaller. It is the only luxury German SUV of its size, and in European markets it exists as a premium alternative to smaller subcompact crossover vehicles like the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.
Audi Q4 e-tron (Release date TBA)
Audi is determined to establish itself as a powerhouse in the luxury electric-vehicle marketplace, and the Q4 e-tron is expected to arrive in 2022 to bolster their current EV selection.
Smaller than the existing midsize e-tron crossover, the Q4 e-tron will be Audi’s answer to the Tesla Model Y.
Audi Q9 (Release date TBA)
With BMW rolling out their first full-size SUV in 2019 with the BMW X7, it was just a matter of time before Audi would act.
The gigantic Audi Q9 has already been spotted on Audi’s own test tracks, so expect more news about it this year.
