Refreshing or Revolting: 2018 Audi Q5

The second-generation Audi Q5 debuted at the Paris auto show this week, sporting a lighter body and more powerful engines. It also features a new design that more closely matches the look of the Q3 and Q7 crossovers. The question is: are the design changes too conservative, or just enough to keep the Q5 looking fresh against its competitors?

Although the new Q5 has grown in size, its proportions don’t look much different from those of its predecessor. Up front, the first thing you’re likely to notice is the slimmer headlights that replace the square modules on the old crossover. Like other new Audi models, the headlights are now attached to the grille. On the previous generation, Q5 models had vertical slats inside the grille and SQ5 models had horizontal ones. The new Q5 also features the horizontal slats and this pattern is repeated near the foglight units. A bolder chrome piece frames the edge of the grille, and subtle creases provide added definition to the hood.

From the side, the new Q5 looks similar to the old model. Chrome accents surround the windows and accentuate the vehicle’s raked roofline. But the new model receives more well-defined hips, highlighted by the character line that runs the entire way from the hood, through the side doors, to the rear of the vehicle.

The back end of the Q5 adopts a squarer shape for 2018. New taillights give the Q5 a more menacing look. A sharp crease runs a straight line across the bottom of both taillights, and other deep creases frame the bumper area.

Fortunately, Audi gave the interior just as much attention, if not even more. The cabin of the 2018 Audi Q5 is a major upgrade from the outdated interior of the previous version. Much like the Q7, it receives a standalone display screen that sits on top of the dashboard. The gear shift has also been redesigned, and the vents and knobs have been repositioned. Overall, it’s a cleaner, more refined look.

Do you think the 2018 Audi Q5 is refreshing or revolting? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week, we asked for your thoughts on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and the responses were mixed.

“Definitely refreshing. Well styled without being over the top,” said NE Guy.

“I’d love to comment on the amazing interior that’s light years ahead of the old one, but then again it took GM 7 years to get it here,” Katie Pennington van Dijk lamented.

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