It’s already Audi’s second-best-seller in the U.S., but the Q5 may have just become even more appealing with its hybrid version nearing its introduction. The automaker had announced earlier this year it would be bringing the Q5 Hybrid to America, and in an era of swollen pump-prices, the newly released Q5 EPA fuel economy ratings are more pressing than ever. About the only thing American auto-shoppers love more than trendy hybrid badges are crossovers. So what will happen when Audi’s most popular crossover sports hybrid badges?
Mayhem.
Actually we don’t really know that, and we’ll be curious to see how the new models are received at dealerships. But we do know that 24 mpg city, 30 on the highway, and an impressive 26 mpg combined rating will at least give Q5 buyers pause. The regular entry-level, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline powered Q5 gets 20 mpg city and 27 on the highway. The hybrid version takes that same 2.0T engine and pairs it to a 40 horsepower electric motor. The result? Three to 4 mpg more, depending on driving environment. Not bad.
And over the lifetime of your Q5, that could really add up. Quattro all-wheel-drive is also standard, and with a 0 to 60 mph time reading a hair over seven seconds, this hybrid isn’t exactly a slouch either. But as it turns out, premium efficiency comes at, well, a premium. The 2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid starts at $51,795, about $15,000 over an entry-level Q5. With such a considerable difference, will Americans take the hybrid bait?
Source: Audi, fueleconomy.gov
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