Audi Q5L

Model Overview

The Audi Q5L serves as a cornerstone mid-size luxury SUV under FAW-Volkswagen Audi. Since the first-generation Audi Q5 (B8) entered the Chinese market in 2009, the nameplate has evolved across three generations, racking up cumulative sales well into the hundreds of thousands to become an established benchmark in China's premium SUV segment. On 15 January 2026, the all-new third-generation Audi Q5L officially made its market debut. Underpinned by Audi's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, the new SUV is offered in four variants, with official retail pricing ranging from RM309,800 to RM384,800. Marking a massive leap forward in digital tech, it stands as the world's first luxury petrol-powered SUV equipped with Huawei Qiankun Smart Driving technology, taking the fight directly to segment rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the all-new Audi Q5L was spearheaded by the lead designer behind the Audi R8 and RS e-tron GT. Up front, it sports an upgraded wide-body octagonal Singleframe honeycomb grille, flanked by an illuminated "Phantom Halo" four-ring emblem exclusive to the Chinese market. Sleek Astral Matrix LED headlights flank the grille, incorporating 16 high-beam control units alongside dynamic sweeping indicators and bespoke welcome light animations. The lower bumper features prominent chrome-accented side air curtains for added visual aggression. Along the flanks, a sharp, blade-like shoulder line accentuates its muscular stance, complemented by semi-flush door handles that aid aerodynamic efficiency. Around the back, the full-width "Dragon Scale" tail lamps integrate second-generation digital OLED technology with 266 individual light segments, supporting Car-to-X interactive communication and eight customisable light signatures. Adding a distinctive touch is a China-exclusive quattro high-mounted stop lamp that projects the quattro script onto the rear windscreen under braking.

Dimension-wise, the Q5L measures 4,842 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width, and 1,660 mm in height, riding on an extended 2,945 mm wheelbase. That makes its wheelbase 125 mm longer than the standard global model, while gaining 38 mm in wheelbase and 72 mm in overall length over its predecessor. Five exterior paint finishes are on offer: Mythos Black, Glacier White, Qingcheng Green, Mandalorian Silver, and Khaki Brown—with the latter three reserved exclusively for China.

Inside, the cabin features an enveloping wrap-around layout, lavished with soft-touch materials and contrast stitching to deliver an upscale ambience. The dashboard is headlined by a sleek triple-screen cockpit consisting of an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch curved OLED central infotainment display, and a 10.9-inch front passenger entertainment screen. The passenger display includes an active privacy mode to prevent driver distraction on the move. The traditional gear lever has also made way for a minimalist electronic toggle selector. Cabin upholstery choices include Black as well as a dual-tone Black/Beige scheme.

Powertrain and Performance

Under the bonnet, the all-new Audi Q5L is powered across the range by the fifth-generation EA888 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The powerplant boasts segment-exclusive full-operating-range Miller cycle tech, an F1-grade 500-bar high-pressure direct fuel injection system, and variable-section turbocharger (VTG) technology derived from Audi's Le Mans motorsport programme. It is available in two output tunes:

• Low-output (40 TFSI): Delivers 150 kW (204 PS) and 340 Nm of torque, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.1 seconds.

• High-output (45 TFSI): Pushes out 200 kW (272 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, dispatching the century sprint in just 5.8 seconds.

Both engines are paired with a 7-speed S tronic wet dual-clutch transmission alongside standard quattro intelligent all-wheel drive. Furthermore, the entire range comes equipped with HDI dual-motor full-domain smart hybrid technology (a 48V mild-hybrid setup) utilising a P0+P3 parallel architecture—the transmission-mounted P3 electric motor dishes out 18 kW, enabling all-electric propulsion during pull-away and low-speed traffic crawls.

Chassis and Handling

Underpinning the all-new Audi Q5L is a five-link independent suspension setup front and rear. The upper and lower control arms adopt a decoupled design to create a virtual kingpin axis, cutting kinematic interference and maximising tyre contact patch. The suspension has undergone extensive bespoke tuning to suit Chinese road surfaces and local driving preferences. Higher variants can be optioned with an adaptive air suspension system expertly calibrated by Vibracoustic (a specialist with 35 years of air suspension heritage), offering up to 95 mm of height adjustment along with active damping control.

The electronically controlled quattro AWD system departs from old-school mechanical linkages, scanning 150 driving parameters per second to predict torque demand and cornering grip levels 0.5 seconds ahead of time. Under light-load cruising on dry tarmac, it seamlessly decouples the rear axle into front-wheel drive to save fuel, while instantly redistributing torque in milliseconds on slippery roads or through fast corners. A progressive steering rack provides a reassuringly weighted feel, delivering precise turn-in with minimal on-centre deadband.

Cabin and Features

On the tech front, the Q5L features Audi's next-generation infotainment operating on the E³ 1.2 electronic architecture, bundled with standard 5G connectivity across the board. The system is heavily tailored for the local market, embedding mainstream apps like AutoNavi Maps, iQIYI, and WeChat. The full-scenario voice assistant responds in just 0.2 seconds, capable of handling continuous multi-command dialogues and regional dialects. Higher variants can be optioned with a 13.1-inch W-HUD head-up display with an optical projection area enlarged by over 85%. Audiophiles are treated to a Bang & Olufsen premium audio setup complete with built-in headrest speakers. Seating comfort is taken care of by ergonomically sculpted "Cloud Feel" cushions tailored for Asian frames, complete with ventilation and massage functions on front seats (10-Million Users Edition). Cargo capacity is rated at 550 litres.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety is well-catered for, with the all-new Audi Q5L packing nine airbags as standard, covering dual front, front side, front centre, full-length curtain, and rear side airbags. Surrounding the vehicle is a 33-sensor intelligent perception suite (comprising dual LiDARs, 13 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 6 millimetre-wave radars).

Advanced driver assistance represents the Q5L's headline breakthrough. The SUV comes standard with Level 2 ADAS, while upper-spec variants can be optioned with Huawei Qiankun Smart Driving®—making it the first luxury petrol SUV globally to run Huawei's flagship autonomous driving solution. Backed by the 33-sensor array with dual LiDAR units, the system comprehensively supports City NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) and Highway NOA, along with automated manoeuvres such as multi-storey memory parking, reversing tracking assistant, and remote parking assist. Crucially, it incorporates a Vehicle Motion Management (VMM) module—where Huawei's software handles environment mapping and path planning, while Audi's VMM module executes high-precision coordination across the powertrain, steering, and braking systems.

Market Performance and Verdict

The Audi Q5L remains a perennial sales leader in China's premium mid-size SUV segment. In 2025, it posted an annual sales volume of 140,000 units to secure top spot in the petrol-powered luxury D-SUV segment; its January–October 2025 tally of 107,931 units outperformed both the Mercedes-Benz GLC (106,340 units) and BMW X3 (61,639 units). The 2026 iteration hit the market with an aggressive entry price of RM309,800—a significant RM40,000 reduction over its predecessor's RM349,800 base price, with top-tier variants seeing price drops exceeding RM100,000. In April 2026, the Q5L Smart Hybrid Selection variant officially went on sale at RM332,800, coinciding with the order books opening for the optional Qiankun Smart Driving pack.

Motoring media have widely lauded the all-new Audi Q5L for establishing a compelling market edge via its three-pronged strategy: aggressive pricing, cutting-edge smart tech, and expanded dimensions. Its standout strengths centre on the refined dynamics of the PPC platform, the potent punch of the Gen-5 EA888 engine, the class-leading intelligence of Huawei Qiankun Smart Driving, and the generous rear legroom afforded by its 2,945 mm long wheelbase. Launched to celebrate FAW Audi crossing the 10-million-customer milestone, the all-new Audi Q5L champions the philosophy of parity in digital smarts across petrol and EV platforms, setting a high-water mark for the intelligent evolution of internal combustion luxury SUVs.