2012 Audi Q5 Trims and Specs

Compact and crammed with features, the 2012 Audi 2.0T Quattro Premium makes luxury-oriented crossover ownership fun again. This downsized 5-seat luxury mini-ute sports some nifty moves, a turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, standard all-wheel drive and a feature-laden cabin packed with plush. Unfortunately, a somewhat limiting 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats folded) may make for a few extra trips to the home improvement store should the handyman take the day off.

In any case, this compact crossover sports standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack and heated power-adjustable mirrors adorning its handsome profile, with leather upholstery, height- and power-adjustable front seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat cast about the cabin. This posh people-hauler also boasts a reclining and sliding rear seat, as well as leather, alloy and wood cabin accents, full power accessories and tri-zone auto climate control.

Cruise control, of course, remains standard, as do telescoping tilt-wheel steering and a 180-watt entertainment system with an MP3-capable single-CD player, 10 speakers and satellite radio, all under the wing of Audi’s touted (but far from perfect) Multi Media Interface (MMI) system.

Options for this entry-level trim, meantime, include a power sunroof, upgraded and upsized wheels, Bluetooth hands-free calling and heated front seats, with an auxiliary iPod interface and a navigation suite available to be inserted into the MMI system.

As its moniker implies, the 2012 Q5 2.0T Quattro Premium gets its go from a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) powerplant that totes variable valve timing (VVT), and combines with a standard 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Look for respectable mileage estimates of 20 mpg city/27 highway out of the four-banger, with towing maxed out at 4,400 pounds when properly equipped.

Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, meantime, allows normal cruising with a 50/50 torque split to the front and rear axles, with torque automatically switched from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip when the snow flies or the mud gets deep.

Finally, standard safety features aboard this cute ute include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection. Additionally, this downsized Audi crossover sports turn-signal-integrated mirrors, daytime running lights, front fog driving lights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm.

Add some extra bling to Audi's 2012 2.0T Quattro Premium to behold the up-ticked 2.0T Quattro Premium Plus. A 5-passenger luxury-oriented compact crossover, this midlevel trim totes 57.3 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded, as well as some nifty moves, standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and turbocharged 4-cylinder power.

Enhancing an already handsome profile are 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, a power rear liftgate and heated, power-folding and power-adjustable mirrors, while leather upholstery, height- and power-adjustable front seats, reclining and sliding rear seats, wood, leather and alloy cabin accents, a fold-down front passenger seat and full power accessories grace the well-wrought cabin.

Cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering remain standard, as does tri-zone auto climate control, while Audi’s imperfect-but-trying-to-do-better Multi Media Interface (MMI) system attempts to juggle the 180-watt audio system with its MP3-capable single-CD player, 10 speakers and satellite radio reception.

Need more? A power sunroof, auxiliary iPod interface, heated front seats, a navigation suite and Bluetooth hands-free communications are all optional in Audi’s 2.0T Quattro Premium Plus, as are upgraded and upsized wheels and side steps.

The economical 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine again comes standard aboard this classy crossover and mates with the 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Mileage, helped by standard variable valve timing (VVT), remains estimated at 20 mpg city/27 highway, while towing is again capped off at 4,400 pounds with the proper equipment.

Audi’s Quattro AWD system that’s delivered in the amped-up 2.0T Premium Plus allows normal cruising with a 50/50 torque split between the front and rear axles. When roads get slippery, the system automatically transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip for that extra measure of driving confidence.

Again, standard safety features include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection. Additionally, this base Q5 trim sports daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm.

Put a V6 powerplant into the 2012 Audi Q5 Quattro, and it becomes the Q5 3.2 Quattro Premium Plus. This 5-seat luxury compact crossover again boasts the 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats folded) and the standard all-wheel drive (AWD) of its turbocharged brethren while toting a few added appearance doodads, like 19-inch alloy wheels and headlight washers as well as S-Line exterior trim upgrades.

Further standard appearance features aboard the V6-toting 3.2 Quattro Premium Plus include a power sunroof, a roof rack, a power rear liftgate and heated, power-folding and power-adjustable mirrors. Inside, look for leather upholstery as well as heated, height- and power-adjustable front seats, reclining and sliding second-row seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and full power accessories. Wood, leather and alloy cabin accents again adorn this classy crossover’s interior spaces, as do cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and tri-zone auto climate control.

Entertainment in the up-powered Q5 3.2 Quattro Premium Plus mirrors its four-banger-toting siblings, with Multi Media Interface (MMI) technology again controlling a 180-watt system with a single-CD player and 10 speakers, as well as a USB connection, memory-card slot and satellite radio. Oh, and Bluetooth hands-free calling also comes standard.

Optional equipment that can be added to this cute ute includes the S-Line Plus Package that’s new for 2012 and sports performance tires, embossed leather upholstery, a sport steering wheel mounting paddle shifters and brushed aluminum upgraded cabin accents. Furthermore, an available navigation suite can be added to the MMI audio interface system and comes bundled with a rear-view camera, while 20-inch upgraded wheels are another available add-on.

Powering the 2012 Q5 Quattro 3.2 Premium Plus is a variable-valve-timed 270-hp 3.2-liter normally aspirated V6 engine that combines with a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 243 lb-ft of torque. Mileage estimates come in at 18 mpg city/23 highway, while towing remains maxed out at 4,400 pounds with the proper equipment.

Again, Audi’s quattro AWD system allows a 50/50 torque split to front and rear axles under normal driving conditions and stands ready to automatically transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip when the snow flies… or the mud gets deep.

Finally, standard safety features in this high-end highway handler include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection. Additionally, front fog/driving lights, LED daytime running lights and turn-signal-integrated mirrors are bolstered by adaptive xenon headlights and a post-collision safety system, as well as the security of a remote antitheft alarm.

Topping the feature-flaunting 2012 Audi Q5 lineup, and thereby boasting a number of upgrades to a wealth of amenities, is the Q5 Quattro 3.2 Prestige. Along with 5-passenger seating, V6 power, standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and the ubiquitous 57.3 cubic feet of cargo area, this classy compact crossover flaunts some nifty moves on its standard 19-inch alloy wheels, as well as S-Line trim accents, heated, power-folding and power-adjustable mirrors, a power sunroof and a roof rack.

On the inside, Audi’s flagship Q5 flaunts leather upholstery, height- and power-adjustable front seats, reclining and sliding rear seats, full power accessories, and a fold-flat front passenger seat for some additional cargo-bearing responsibilities. Cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror also come standard, with all of this embraced by tri-zone auto climate control, and leather, wood and alloy cabin trim accents.

Bluetooth hands-free calling again comes standard aboard the 3.2 Quattro Prestige, while Audi’s touted, if imperfect, Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, meantime, governs the standard Bang & Olufsen premium audio upgrade, along with its 14 speakers, memory-card slot, USB connection, satellite radio and auxiliary iPod functions. Additionally, this top-shelf trim boasts standard MMI-integrated navigation and a rear-view camera.

One of the more exotic options available to this flagship trim is radar-interfaced Adaptive Cruise Control, while the Luxury Package, with ventilated front seats and upgraded leather upholstery, is another available add-on. The new-for-2012 S-Line Plus Package, meantime, can also be selected and offers a sport steering wheel mounting paddle shifters, upgraded S-Line interior and exterior trim pieces, and performance tires. Finally, 20-inch upgraded wheels remain a standalone option, with the available Drive Select system offering 4 selectable modes of throttle, transmission and stability-control interface, along with suspension adaptability, all ready to serve the mood of the moment.

As its moniker implies, the top-shelf 2012 Q5 3.2 Quattro Prestige runs on a variable-valve-timed (VVT) 3.2-liter normally aspirated V6 engine that combines with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 270 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Mileage remains estimated at 18 mpg city/23 highway, and towing is again maxed out at 4,400 pounds with the proper equipment.

Audi’s Quattro AWD system, meantime, operates by allowing a 50/50 torque split to the front and rear axles under normal cruising conditions, and will automatically and instantaneously transfer torque from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip when roads get treacherous.

Noteworthy standard safety features in the 2012 Q5 3.2 Quattro Prestige, finally, include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags, and front head restraint whiplash protection. Front fog/driving lights also come standard, as do LED daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, a post-collision safety system, a blind-spot warning system, headlight washers and adaptive xenon headlights.